Lord Camber's Ladies: A bit dusty, but worth the trip

Is it worth it?

If you like old-school British dramas where people speak in clipped tones and everyone seems to be hiding a secret, give Lord Camber's Ladies a spin. If you need pacing that feels modern or characters who actually act like real people, skip it.

The whole thing feels like a stage play that forgot to leave the theater. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you’ll notice the dialogue doing way too much heavy lifting while the camera just sits there and watches.

Odd moments

Nigel Bruce is in this, which is always a treat, even if he feels a bit underutilized here. There’s a specific scene in the hospital that lasts about three minutes longer than it should, and you can practically see the actors wondering when the director is going to call cut. 🕰️

It reminds me a bit of the pacing issues in One Good Turn, where things move at the speed of a Sunday stroll. Sometimes it works, but other times you just want someone to walk through a door and move the plot forward.

The vibe

The stakes are supposedly high—a marriage, a health crisis, an old love—but nobody seems *that* bothered. It’s all very polite. Even the skulduggery feels like it’s being done while sipping tea.

• The hospital sets look like they were built out of cardboard and good intentions.
• Gertrude Lawrence is carrying an awful lot on her shoulders here.
• The ending is... well, it’s an ending. Don't expect to be floored.

I wouldn't say this reaches the heights of something like Cornered, but it’s a fine way to kill an hour if you’re in the mood for something vintage and slightly aimless. It feels less like a movie and more like a dusty scrapbook found in an attic. Not essential, but I didn't hate it. ☕