JEAN SIMMONS is given a striking close-up at the start of SO LONG AT THE FAIR in which she closely resembles Vivien Leigh. She's perfectly suited to playing a Victorian heroine who visits Paris with her brother (DAVID TOMLINSON) during the Paris Exposition of 1896. The opening scenes are lively and amusing before the story takes a mysterious turn when the brother is missing the morning after the pair checks into the hotel.
No one claims to have seen him. Of course, when this happens we know there has to be a reason for everyone's refusal to acknowledge the brother's existence. Simmons has attracted the attention of at least one young man (DIRK BOGARDE) who does learn that she is traveling with her brother. In fact, he learns this bit of information from the brother himself. That is the key to the scene wherein Simmons is relieved to find that someone besides herself knows that her brother is not a figment of her imagination.
Bogarde is glad to come to her rescue, since he's attracted to her at first glance. Their relationship becomes the only predictable aspect of this little mystery. What happens when he decides to do some detective work is best left unexplained, lest too much of the plot is given away.
It's the kind of ending that deserves to be kept secret.
There are a few weaknesses in motivations but overall the revelation at the end is reasonable enough to be credible. One can always wonder if the authorities at the hotel could have handled the situation a bit differently so as not to antagonize Simmons.
It's a satisfying piece of entertainment, well acted by a British cast and deserves to be better known than it is.
No one claims to have seen him. Of course, when this happens we know there has to be a reason for everyone's refusal to acknowledge the brother's existence. Simmons has attracted the attention of at least one young man (DIRK BOGARDE) who does learn that she is traveling with her brother. In fact, he learns this bit of information from the brother himself. That is the key to the scene wherein Simmons is relieved to find that someone besides herself knows that her brother is not a figment of her imagination.
Bogarde is glad to come to her rescue, since he's attracted to her at first glance. Their relationship becomes the only predictable aspect of this little mystery. What happens when he decides to do some detective work is best left unexplained, lest too much of the plot is given away.
It's the kind of ending that deserves to be kept secret.
There are a few weaknesses in motivations but overall the revelation at the end is reasonable enough to be credible. One can always wonder if the authorities at the hotel could have handled the situation a bit differently so as not to antagonize Simmons.
It's a satisfying piece of entertainment, well acted by a British cast and deserves to be better known than it is.