Charing Cross Road is a London thoroughfare where several theatrical boarding houses have set up shop. Each one of these establishments is chock full of show-biz hopefuls, wannabes, has-beens and never-weres. John Mills and June Clyde play Tony and Pam, "at liberty" vaudevillians who arrive in London on the lookout for their Big Chance. In danger of developing a swelled head, Tony is chastened by an elderly trouper (Derek Oldham) who tells him the sad story of a once-great entertainer who hit the skids. Based on a BBC radio play, Charing Cross Road enjoyed a built-in fan following even before the cameras turned. Among the film's many pleasures is the presence of musical-comedy favorite Belle Baker as "herself," and a very young Coral Browne as a haughty aristocrat.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
- Show-biz
- Show-business
- Vaudeville
- Vaudevillian
- Performer
- Performance
- Boarder
- Boarding-house
- Entertainer