Trottie True – 1949 | 96 mins | Comedy, Musical | Colour

Plot Synopsis

This film tells the story of Trottie True, a middle class girl who becomes a child star of the Bedford Music Hall, graduates to the heights of being a successful Gaiety Girl, marries a Lord and eventually leaves the stage. It is not a particularly original or thrilling storyline, and it could be a very dull film if it were not for the sumptuous costumes and scenery that are so beautifully selected to display the TechniColour process. The on-stage scenes (which are few and far between) show some colourful costumes as do the various ballroom and restaurant scenes. This newly restored print enables us to have a good idea of what the film would have originally been like to see the cinema, and it must have been a wonderful way to forget the aftermath of the war.

Apart from the lavishness and brightness of the film, the female performances are a delight, especially that of Jean Kent as ‘Trottie True’. Miss Kent gives a truthful performance of a rising star that falls in love with a Balloonist, becomes a successful stage performer, and marries a Lord. The story all sounds rather far-fetched, but Jean Kent‘s performance makes it work. So often, characters that are aiming for stardom become untruthful, but Miss Kent was totally believable. She aimed to get to the top of her profession, and did so without becoming the usual ‘bitch’, a trap that these types of roles can easily fall into. She is also totally believable towards the end of the film when she marries the Lord and becomes a Duchess. A particularly moving moment happens when she performs her Music Hall songs at the Servants Ball. We all think that her rather austere mother-in-law will be mortified, but instead turns to her husband, and says: “She can stay” – perhaps a little sentimental, but rather moving. Apart from giving an excellent performance, Jean Kent also looks so beautiful in her extravagant dresses and with her gorgeous red hair used to full effect in the TechniColour filming.

The other female roles are equally well cast, particularly the ever-wonderful Hattie Jacques as a fellow Gaiety Girl. She gives a wonderfully rich comic performance that never steps over the mark. It is good to see her in an earlier stage in her career. Hattie Jacques is matched brilliantly with the late Bill Owen as ‘Trottie’s’ Music Hall friend. He gives a performance without any of the usual stereotypical characteristics of a ‘Cockney Music Hall Performer’, and although it is obvious that he is in love with ‘Trottie’, he never becomes too sentimental as if playing ‘Buttons’ in “Cinderella”.

Unfortunately, the male leads let down the film. James Donald as ‘Lord Digby’ is extremely dull. ‘Trottie’ has far too much vitality to fall in love with him! Her first love, ‘Maurice’ (the Balloonist) (Hugh Sinclair) was an unbelievable character and his rather awkward smile filled the screen too many times. I rather felt that ‘Trottie’ might have had more fun if she had gone off with some of the film extras – and why not when they comprise of such names as Roger Moore, Patrick Cargill and Ian Carmichael! In fact the list of small part players is rather amazing, with a wonderful ripple of recognition when Gretchen Franklyn appeared as ‘Martha’ the maid in ‘Trottie’s’ childhood home! A special mention needs to go to a young teenage Dilys Laye who plays the young ‘Trottie’. She gave a delightful performance and gave a clear indication of the successful career that she was about to embark upon.

The most important element of this film is depiction of the differences between the Music Hall and Gaiety Theatre. There is a wonderful scene between ‘Trottie’ and Lana Morris as ‘Bouncie Barrington’ in which ‘Bouncie’ comments on all the jewellery she has been given from her Stage-Door Johnnies. She says that she is a Gaiety Girl because she is pretty – which is all that is expected from her when she performs on the stage. ‘Trottie’, of course, has other ideas, and knows that she is a good performer and that the audiences love her for her talent. This film gives a good indication what these days must have been like – it is just such a shame that a full Musical Number is not seen on stage at the Gaiety. One number between Bill Owen, Hattie Jacques and Jean Kent is seen (in part) from the wings of a theatre. It should have been filmed in its entirety, but was cut short few to financial constraints at the time of filming. The other songs were sweet, including a Music Hall number written by Carroll Gibbons which commenced with Dilys Laye as the young ‘Trottie’ and moved forward in time with Jean Kent finishing it as the older ‘Trottie’. Another song “White Wings” (which is supposed to have been one of the Queen Mother’s favourite songs) seemed rather dull and although was supposed to be sung by Jean Kent, looked suspiciously dubbed! The print viewed was a newly restored version of a gorgeous film that gave us some lovely performances plus historical facts of the Gaiety Girls.

Review© Roger Mellor.