South Riding – 1938 | 85 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Melodrama setin a hot-bed of passion and political corruption in Yorkshire’s fictitious SouthRiding. Director Victor Saville carries off Winifred Holtby’s witty exposé of corruptionin Yorkshire local politics with breathtaking style. The ease with which rivalriesare resolved, and the philanthropic concept of converting stately homes intoschools and building council houses in the grounds is unfortunately implausibleand sentimentality creeps into the story as it closes. Richardson, Best andJohns are all excellent in their respective roles, but sadly little depth isgiven to John Clements character.

The impoverished local squire of Maythorpe Hall, RobertCarne (Ralph Richardson), is going broke keeping his wife, Madge (Ann Todd), inan expensive mental hospital. His spoiled daughter, Midge (Glynis Johns), isneurotic and deeply unhappy at home. Carne is unable to afford the fees to sendhis daughter to a private boarding school so swallows his pride and sends herthe local Kiplington high school. The school headmistress, Sarah Burton (EdnaBest), whose appointment Carne had been hostile to, initially finds herself ideologicallyopposed to him but gradually they fall in love.

Meanwhile, idealistic socialist town councillor, Joe Astell (John Clements), wants to clear away the shacksin the town and build decent housing for the lower classes. He is supported inhis desire by a few fellow council members, many of whom have a vested interestin real estate or building contracts. The idea is toget the town council to buy a worthless plot of land named ‘the Wastes’, and connivinghaulage contractor Huggins (Edmund Gwenn) and land owner Snaith (Milton Rosmer)scheme to make a killing from the development. Carne uncovers the real-estate scam,and offers his own resolution to realise Astell’s housing scheme.