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So Long at the Fair

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Wikipedia article




'So Long at the Fair' (US re-release title 'The Black Curse') is a 1950 British thriller film directed by Terence Fisher and Antony Darnborough, and starring Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde. It was adapted from the 1947 novel of the same name by Anthony Thorne.

Origin



The general plot derives from what appears to be a 19th-century urban legend, known variously as "The Vanishing Hotel Room" or "The Vanishing Lady", which has inspired several fictional works.

The first published version of the story was written by Nancy Vincent McClelland as "A Mystery of the Paris Exposition" in 'The Philadelphia Inquirer' dated 14 November 1897. It next appeared in the 'Detroit Free Press' in 1898 as "Porch Tales: The Disappearance of Mrs. Kneeb", by Kenneth Herford.

The German author Anselma Heine's novel 'Die Erscheinung' (1912) covers the same idea, and it was filmed as a segment called 'The Apparition" in 'Unheimliche Geschichten (Uncanny stories)' (1919, remake 1932). Belloc Lowndes' 1913 novel 'The End of Her Honeymoon' also contains the tale, as does Lawrence Rising's 1920 'She Who Was Helena Cass,' Sir Basil Thomson's 1925 'The Vanishing of Mrs. Fraser,' and Ernest Hemingway's 1926 'The Torrents of Spring'.[http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/hotel.asp The Vanishing Hotel Room] on Urban Legends Reference Pages (snopes.com) The German film 'Covered Tracks' (1938) was based on the story, with a script by Thea von Harbou, and portions of the idea also featured in Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 film 'The Lady Vanishes'.

The radio play "Cabin B-13" by John Dickson Carr tells a similar story. It aired three times in the series 'Suspense' (twice in 1943 and once in 1949), and gave rise its own short-lived mystery radio series, 'Cabin B-13', after which it was adapted for television as "Cabin B-13" in the series 'Climax!' (1958). It was then filmed as the theatrical release 'Dangerous Crossing' (1953) and as the television movie 'Treacherous Crossing' (1992).

On television, both the episode "Into Thin Air" (1955) of the anthology-series 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' and the episode "The Disappearance" (1967) of the TV-series 'The Big Valley' were based on the same tale.

Later followed "Maybe You Will Remember", a variation told in Alvin Schwartz's book 'Scary Stories 3' (1991).

The film's title derives from the nursery rhyme "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?".

Plot



In 1889, young Englishwoman Vicky Barton (Simmons) and her brother Johnny (David Tomlinson) arrive in Paris to see the Exposition Universelle. This is Vicky's first time in Paris, and after checking into a hotel, she drags her tired brother to dinner and the famous Moulin Rouge. She finally retires for the night, while Johnny has a late-night drink. When English painter George Hathaway (Bogarde) drops off his girlfriend, Rhoda O'Donovan (Honor Blackman), and her mother (Betty Warren) at the hotel, he asks Johnny for change for a 100 franc note to pay a carriage driver; Johnny lends him 50 francs and gives him his name and room number.

The next morning, Vicky finds a blank wall where Johnny's room used to be. When she questions hotel owner and manager Madame Herv (Cathleen Nesbitt), the latter claims she arrived alone. The room number now adorns the common bathroom. Madame Herv's brother Narcisse (Marcel Pontin) and the day porter (Eugene Deckers) back up her story.

Frantic, Vicky goes to see the British consul (Felix Aylmer), followed secretly by Narcisse. She has no proof of her brother's existence, so the consul can only suggest she find a witness, Nina (Zena Marshall), the hotel maid who attended her. Nina had informed her that she was going up in a balloon with her boyfriend at the Exposition that day. Tragically, she is too late. Before she can talk to Nina, the balloon ascends, bursts into flames, and plummets to the ground, killing the two passengers.

Vicky tries the French police commissaire (Austin Trevor). He questions Madame Herv and her brother, but can find nothing amiss in their story. Since her room has been reserved for only two nights, Vicky has to leave the hotel. Madame Herv offers her a ticket home to England, which she is forced to accept, as she has little money left. However, unbeknownst to either party, Rhoda O'Donovan has been asked by George Hathaway to deliver a letter containing his loan repayment to Johnny. Not finding his room, Rhoda slips the envelope under Vicky's door, where she finds it.

Vicky goes to see George. When he confirms having met her brother, she bursts into tears. He offers his assistance. George notices there are six balconies, but only five rooms on the floor, and finds the missing hotel room, the entrance having been covered over to be part of the wall.

Under questioning by the police, Madame Herv reveals where Johnny has been taken. It turns out that he became sick with bubonic plague during the night. The news would have been disastrous for the Exposition, so he was secretly taken away to a hospital. George brings along Doctor Hart (Andr Morell), who tells Vicky her brother has a chance of living.

Cast



*Jean Simmons as Vicky Barton

*Dirk Bogarde as George Hathaway

*David Tomlinson as Johnny Barton

*Marcel Poncin as Narcisse

*Cathleen Nesbitt as Madame Herv

*Honor Blackman as Rhoda O'Donovan

*Betty Warren as Mrs. O'Donovan

*Zena Marshall as Nina

*Eugene Deckers as Day Porter

*Felix Aylmer as British Consul

*Andr Morell as Doctor Hart

*Austin Trevor as Police Commissaire

*Natasha Sokolova as Charlotte

*Nelly Arno as Madame Verni

Music



The music, by Benjamin Frankel, includes a sequence accompanying a ride in a carriage which went on to become a popular light concert item under the title 'Carriage and Pair'.

Production



Betty Box was appointed producer at the last minute when Antony Darborough was held up on 'The Astonished Heart'. The film was to have cast Franoise Rosay but she dropped out to go to Hollywood.

It was shot at Pinewood Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Cedric Dawe and George Provis. The costumes were designed by Elizabeth Haffenden.

Reception



The film performed solidly at the box office.

References




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