SO LONG AT THE FAIR

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This is the third variation on ‘The Lady Vanishes‘ theme which I have watched (the others being 'Flightplan' and 'Fractured'.

This one is set in 1889 Paris at the opening of the Great Exhibition.  One of the strengths of the film is the period detail and costumes so that one definitely feels one is there.

Another plus is the central performance of Jean Simmons as Vicky, a tourist whose brother Johnny, and room (!), mysteriously disappear overnight.  To add to her distress the somewhat sinister Madame who owns the hotel, together with all the staff, claim that Vicky was alone when she arrived the previous day.

The following scenes in which, among other things, she tries to enlist the help of the British Consul and a Chief of Police, and occasionally collapsing into tears, might have been tedious with another actress but not here.

The white knight who comes to Vicky's rescue is George (a perfectly cast Dirk Bogarde), a Brit trying his hand at this new-fangled Impressionist painting stuff, who briefly met Vicky and Johnny the evening before.  Vicky's reaction when she realises that George believes her and can back up her story is a very moving moment thanks to Simmons' performance.

George is all too happy to help, having been somewhat taken with Vicky, and the story is neatly wrapped up.

If I wanted to nit-pick I’m not sure that the switching of rooms is either plausible or necessary (but it does add to the mystery), and the whole business with the counterfoils turns out to be both unhelpful and confusing (to me anyway).

I guess at the end we have a happy ending if we assume that Johnny will recover although I don’t see why the doctor’s prognosis couldn’t have been a bit more positive than giving him a “slight chance”.

All in all this is a decent enough tale very well told.

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