Green Fingers

Green Fingers
Green Fingers
	British theatrical poster
Directed by	John Harlow
Screenplay by	Jack Whittingham
Based on	novel Persistent Warrior by Edith Arundel
Produced by	Louis H. Jackson
Starring	Robert Beatty; Carol Raye; Nova Pilbeam;
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer
Edited by	Joseph Sterling
Music by	Hans May
Production; company	British National Films
Distributed by	Anglo-American Film Corporation (UK)
Release date	2 June 1947 (UK);
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Green Fingers is a 1947 British drama film directed by John Harlow and starring Robert Beatty, Carol Raye and Nova Pilbeam.^[2]

The film title does not use the term green fingers in its normal context, alluding to an untaught and natural skill at growing plants, but rather applies it to the world of alternative medicine and the ancient concept of individuals being natural "healers".

Plot

Thomas Stone, a seaman on a fishing trawler, discovers that he has what appear to be healing powers when a crewmate is injured. He shows a natural aptitude as a healer.

He begins training formally as an osteopath, but his natural flair in combination with human sympathy causes him to treat the daughter of the family where he lodges two months before he is due to qualify. He cures her, enabling her to walk, but is thrown out of his studies as a result. He does, however, marry the girl. He also gets much press coverage for his cure - attracting many clients.

During his studies, he had waited on tables in a high-class restaurant. There he encountered Alexandra, the daughter of a doctor. Her father had failed to cure her constant headaches. She has much faith in Stone, and becomes his patron, also beginning an affair.

When he is asked to choose between his wife and Alexandra, he chooses his wife. Alexandra is furious. He refuses to believe her headache is real, and when she goes home her father is also unsympathetic. She commits suicide.

At the public inquest, he has to reveal his affair. Worse still, it is proven that his one diagnosis of a pituitary problem was wrong. If she had only been x-rayed it would have revealed an operable tumour. Stone has therefore effectively killed her. He is denounced as a quack.

His wife stands by him. Moreover, he is informed he can return to complete his studies and formally qualify, as this too would have avoided the tragedy.

On a boating trip near their home in Whitby, his wife becomes sick, and loses the power of her legs again. He wants to now wait until he is qualified or get in a professional. But she has faith in him and wants him to cure her.

The film ends with them walking hand-in-hand to Whitby Abbey with Jeannie clearly cured.

Production

It was made by British National Films at Elstree Studios with some scenes shot on location in Whitby in Yorkshire. The film's sets were designed by the art director Wilfred Arnold.^[3]

Main cast

Robert Beatty as Thomas Stone
Carol Raye as Jeannie Mansell
Nova Pilbeam as Alexandra Baxter
Felix Aylmer as Daniel Booth
Moore Marriott as Pickles
Brefni O'Rorke as Coroner
Charles Victor as Joe Mansel
Harry Welchman as Dr Baxter
Edward Rigby as Albert Goodman
Ellis Irving as Jones
Olive Walter as Mrs Mansell
Wally Patch as Dawson
Daisy Burrell as Stone's Receptionist

References

^ Gifford, Denis (1 April 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.
^ "Green Fingers (1947)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
^ "Wilfred Arnold". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.

External links

Green Fingers at IMDb

This article related to a British film of the 1940s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Gifford, Denis (1 April 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.

[2] "Green Fingers (1947)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.

[3] "Wilfred Arnold". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.

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