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Connecting Rooms is a 1970 British drama film written and directed by Franklin Gollings. The screenplay is based on the play The Cellist by Marion Hart.[1] The film stars Bette Davis, Michael Redgrave, and Leo Genn.[2]

Connecting Rooms
Original British quad poster
Directed by	Franklin Gollings
Written by	Franklin Gollings
Produced by	Franklin Gollings Harry Field
Starring	Bette Davis Michael Redgrave Alexis Kanner Kay Walsh Olga Georges-Picot
Cinematography	John Wilcox
Edited by	Jack Slade
Music by	John Shakespeare
Production company	Hemdale
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	May 1970 (1970-05) (US) May 1972 (1972-05) (UK)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

The plot explores the relationships shared by the residents of a seedy boarding house owned by dour Mrs. Brent. Among them are busker Wanda Fleming, who is flattered by the attention paid her by rebellious pop songwriter wannabe Mickey Hollister, and former schoolmaster James Wallraven, who has been accused of pedophilia and reduced to working as a janitor in an art gallery.^{[citation needed]}

Cast

• Bette Davis as Wanda Fleming
• Michael Redgrave as James Wallraven
• Alexis Kanner as Mickey Hollister
• Kay Walsh as Mrs. Brent
• Leo Genn as Dr. Norman
• Olga Georges-Picot as Claudia Fouchet
• Richard Wyler as Dick Grayson
• Mark Jones as Johnny
• Gabrielle Drake as Jean
• Brian Wilde as Ellerman
• John Woodnutt as Doctor

Production

The Paramount Pictures release was filmed on location in Bayswater. It was made in 1969, was given a limited release in the United States in 1970, and opened in the UK in 1972.

Scenes in which Wanda Fleming played the cello featured close-ups of the hands of British classical cellist Amaryllis Fleming.[3]

In a scene set in the West End theatre district, a theatre marquee lists Margot Channing as one of the cast of the play it is housing. Margot Channing was the name of the character Bette Davis portrayed in All About Eve.

Critical reception

In his review in Film Threat, Phil Hall describes the film as "a compelling and often heartbreaking drama" and adds "Redgrave, who was never the most subtle screen actor...manages to reign in his hammy tendencies and find the angst and isolation in the disgraced teacher's existence." Regarding Davis, Hall writes: "When her secret is revealed, Davis' character says absolutely nothing. Instead, her body freezes slightly while her eyes (yes, those Bette Davis eyes) give a look which is initially shameful, but then suddenly appear to present endless relief. In her silence and her ocular expression, Davis achieves a state of grace which is astonishing to behold."^{[citation needed]}

Time Out London wrote "Riddled with act and scene pauses...it's a fairly classic condensation of several fetishistic concerns endemic to British cinema."[4]

TV Guide calls it a "dull, sappy melodrama."[5]

References

External links

• Connecting Rooms at IMDb

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