Look Before You Love

Plot summary

A woman working in the British Embassy in Brazil falls in love and marries a man, but soon discovers him to be a drunken wastrel tied up with serious crime. He tries to get her to marry a dying millionaire so he can remarry her.

Cast

• Margaret Lockwood as Ann Markham
• Griffith Jones as Charles Kent
• Norman Wooland as Ashley Morehouse
• Phyllis Stanley as Bettina Colby
• Maurice Denham as Fosser
• Frederick Piper as Miller
• Bruce Seton as Johns
• Michael Medwin as Emile Garat
• Violet Farebrother as dowager
• Peggy Evans as typist

Production

The film was originally known as I Know You and Change of Heart. Margaret Lockwood had been arguing with the Rank Organisation over what films she should make, and had gone on suspension for refusing Roses on Her Pillow, but agreed to do this.

Filming started on 15 March 1948 and took place at Denham Studios under the title Change of Heart. Star Griffith Jones recalled "We hoped for a comedy of wit, and style but it wasn't to be."

Release

The film was released by Eagle Lion in the US in 1950. It was released without a certificate from the PCA because it thought the film breached it basic theme and detail.

Critical reception

The film generally received poor reviews. According to Lockwood's biographer "Few British films of the 1940s received a more devastating barrage of criticism than Look Before You Love when it was released in October 1948."

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is an incredible story which reflects little credit on our diplomatic service. Margaret Lockwood and Griffith Jones are adequate; Norman Wooland, as Ashley, and Phyllis Stanley, as Charles' metallic girl friend, are more than efficient."

In a contemporary review, Variety called the film "an overlong and somewhat corny love story that gives Margaret Lockwood a sympathetic role after her many Wicked Lady characterisations, in which she has been so successfully typed in the past", adding, "it may gratify the out-of-town popular audiences, but its chances of success in any metropolis are scant."

TV Guide rated the film two out of five stars, dismissing it as a "Ridiculous story played straight; as a farce it might have had some chance."

References

Bibliography

References

1. "Look Before You Love".
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090113221610/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/267235 BFI.org]
3. (13 August 1949). "LOOK BEFORE YOU LOVE". [[The Australian Women's Weekly]].
4. (27 June 1948). "Lockwood happy in new role". [[The Sun (Sydney).
5. (25 January 1948). "Bing Crosby will go to England to make a film". [[The Sun (Sydney).
6. (18 Feb 1948). "London".
7. Tims p 152
8. Slide, Anthony. (1998). "'Banned in the USA' : British films in the United States and their censorship, 1933-1960".
9. (26 February 1949). "Popular stars out of contest". [[The Australian Women's Weekly]].
10. Tims p 153
11. (1 January 1949). "Look Before You Love". [[The Monthly Film Bulletin]].
12. "Variety (December 1948)".
13. "Look Before You Love".