THE HOLLY AND THE IVY

GB
1952
1hr 23mins
Dir: George More O’Ferrall
Starring: John Gregson and Celia Johnson

A turbulent Christmas at a Norfolk country rectory

This brilliant drama is an adaptation of Wynward Browne’s hit West End play of the same name and has a good aerial shot of the platforms of London Liverpool Street station with at least one LNER F6 Class 2-4-2T visible, possibly No. 7224. Another tank and a tender loco are standing at the bufferstops but they are heavily obscured making identification difficult. This scene is then followed by an excellent low angle stock shot of a passing Eastern Region express hauled by LNER B17 ‘Footballer’ Class 4-6-0 No.2848 Arsenal, a shot that appeared initially in The Gentle Sex (1943). The carriage scene featured in the movie is a studio set and the film also includes some rather dodgy model work.

The expansive shot of the buffer stops of London’s Liverpool Street terminus
This shot appeared initially in The Gentle Sex (1943) and shows B17 ‘Footballer’ Arsenal