The Village Squire: A Peek at Vivien Leigh's First Steps

Is it worth the watch?

If you're a completist for 1930s British cinema or you just want to see a very young Vivien Leigh before she became, well, Vivien Leigh, then sure. It's not a masterpiece, and honestly, it’s not even trying to be. If you hate movies that feel like a stage play taped on a Sunday afternoon, you'll probably find this unbearable.

The whole thing feels remarkably small. We're talking about a village play that goes slightly off the rails. It isn't exactly The Rival Actresses in terms of stakes, but there's a comfort to it. It’s the kind of movie you put on while folding laundry or fighting off a headache.

The Debutante

Seeing Leigh here is the only reason to really engage with the plot. She’s bright-eyed and clearly still finding her rhythm in front of the lens. There’s a scene where she’s reacting to the "Hollywood star" and you can see that signature intensity peeking through. It’s barely a flicker, but it’s there.

The rest of the cast? They are fine. They seem to be having a perfectly lovely time in the English countryside. Some of the line readings feel like they were recorded in a drafty hallway, which adds to the bizarrely cozy atmosphere. Nobody is straining for an Oscar here. It's just a job.

Odd Little Moments

• The pacing is glacial. It almost stops to take a nap in the second act.
• The lighting in the theater scenes is so flat it looks like they used one desk lamp for the whole room. 💡
• There’s a specific close-up on a door handle that lasts way too long. I checked my watch. Four seconds. Why?

It’s funny to compare this to something like Tartarin de Tarascon, which has so much more kinetic energy. This movie just wants to sit in a chair and have a cup of tea. It’s not interested in being flashy. It doesn't even have the confidence of Third Time Lucky.

The script by Sherard Powell and Arthur Jarvis Black is functional, maybe a bit too much so. It’s like they were terrified of adding an actual joke. But there is something strangely hypnotic about the mundanity. You aren't watching for the plot twists, because there aren't any. You’re watching the grainy, imperfect texture of a time gone by.

I found myself staring at the background extras. One fellow in the back row during the Macbeth rehearsals looks like he’s trying to remember if he left the stove on at home. It’s those tiny, accidental details that kept me watching. The movie is essentially a time capsule for people who like to dig through old bargain bins. Don't go in expecting lightning. Just enjoy the dust motes. 🎥