Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street
When: June 6, 2017
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by Stephen Reginald
Ladies in Retirement (1941) was a hit on the Broadway stage with Flora Robson in the lead role. Director Charles Vidor brought it to the screen with an impressive cast headed by Ida Lupino.
The story concerns Ellen Creed (Lupino) who is the paid companion to the wealthy Leonora Fiske (Isobel Elsom). When Ellen’s mentally challenged sisters (Elsa Lancaster and Edith Barrett) are kicked out of their London apartment, Ellen, with Leonora’s permission, invites them to stay with her for a “visit.” It doesn’t take long for things to go terribly wrong as Ellen’s batty older sisters disrupt the tranquility of Leonora’s home. Leonora reaches the end of her patience and orders Ellen’s sisters and Ellen herself to leave. With no income to take care of herself and her sisters, Ellen comes up with a desperate and diabolical plan.
The New York Times praised the film in its November 7, 1941 review. It said the film was “…beautifully photographed and tautly played, especially it’s central role…Give [Ida] Lupino the largest measure of credit, for her role is the clue to the suspense…she is none the less the thin ribbon of intensity that makes the film hair-raising.”
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| Elsa Lancaster, Ida Lupino, Edith Barrett |
The impressive cast also includes Louis Hayward (Lupino’s husband at the time) as cousin Albert and Evelyn Keyes as Lucy the maid.
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