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The Loves of Joanna Godden
The Loves of Joanna Godden is a 1947 British historical drama film directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon.[3] The screenplay was written by H. E. Bates and Angus MacPhail from the novel Joanna Godden (1921) by Sheila Kaye-Smith. It stars Googie Withers, Jean Kent, John McCallum, Derek Bond, Chips Rafferty and Sonia Holm.[4] Some scenes were shot by director Robert Hamer when Frend was ill, though he was uncredited. The music was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.[5] PlotIn Edwardian Britain, a young woman has three suitors who seek her hand in marriage. When Joanna Godden's father died, he bequeathed her a farm in Romney Marsh in Kent. Joanna is determined to run the farm herself. Her neighbour Arthur Alce (John McCallum), laughs at her ambitions, but loves her. Choosing a new shepherd, she allows physical attraction to a man to overcome her judgment as a farmer, and her scheme for cross-breeding sheep is unsuccessful. Her wealth gone, she turns to Arthur Alce for help - but not love. That she accepts from Martin Trevor (Derek Bond), a visitor from the world beyond the Marsh. But on the eve of their marriage, Martin dies.[5][6] Cast
and the people of Romney Marsh. ProductionThe film was based on Joanna Godden, a novel by Sheila Kaye-Smith originally published in 1921.[7][8] The book was popular enough for Kaye-Smith to write a sequel, Joanna Godden Married, published in 1926.[9] After World War Two, Ealing Studios decided to film the novel, with a screenplay written by H. E. Bates and Angus MacPhail. The film had an ending different from the novel. The studio cast Googie Withers to star; she had been a hit in Pink String and Sealing Wax. Lead roles were given to Australians John McCallum, who had been put under long-term contract to Rank, and Chips Rafferty, who had just starred in The Overlanders for Ealing.[10] The casting of Withers and Kent was announced in July 1946.[11] Filming took place in August and September 1946, with location filming in Kent.[12] Withers and McCallum fell in love during filming and later married. They named their first child "Joanna" in honour of the film.[13] ReceptionThe film earned distributor's gross receipts of £82,908 in the UK of which £159,642 went to the producer.[2] References
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