The Mudlark (1950)
Overview
It's 1875 and a young street urchin wants to see Queen Victoria...
Cast
Irene Dunne
Queen Victoria
Alec Guinness
Benjamin Disraeli
Andrew Ray
Wheeler, the mudlark
Beatrice Campbell
Lady Emily Prior
Finlay Currie
John Brown
Constance Smith
Kate Noonan
Anthony Steel
Lieutenant Charles McHatten
Raymond Lovell
Sergeant Footman Naseby
- Similar Movies
- Reviews
- Videos
CinemaSerf
This is a slightly stiff rendition of an old story about a young scavenger who makes his living from the debris found by the river Thames in London. One day he happens upon a portrait of Queen Victoria and sets off to Windsor Castle (no small distance) to try and meet his Sovereign. Meantime the Queen (Irene Dunne) is still wallowing in grief following the death of Prince Albert and her Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Alec Guinness) is trying to coax her from her melancholy before it is too late for both her and the monarchy. A combination of circumstances lead to an engaging and slightly humorous set of scenarios and the mudlark gets his wish. This film provides an interesting observation on just how detached the Queen was from all of her people, not just the poorest; and of how ultimately the demonstration of innocence and, to some extent, loyalty by the child - along with some sagely interventions from Finlay Currie's highland ghillie John Brown - served to bring the Queen out of her isolation. It also features quite a stirring - and potent - oration from Guinness analysing the poverty and injustice visited upon those whom the state regarded as dispensable. A touching and life-affirming little film well worth a watch.
