Watch The Calendar

The Calendar is a British drama film from 1948, directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Greta Gynt, John McCallum, and Raymond Lovell. The story follows the lives of the staff of a London advertising agency who are putting together a calendar for a brand of chocolate. The film is based on the play of the same name by Edgar Wallace.

The film opens with the employees of the Bernie Walton advertising agency getting ready to begin work on the chocolate calendar project. They meet the new owner of the company, Baron von Alvenstor, who is in London to oversee the project. The staff includes the charming and talented artist Liz Dexter (Greta Gynt), the head of the agency Bernie Walton (Raymond Lovell), and the young copywriter David MacDonald (John McCallum).

As they begin work on the calendar, the staff encounters a series of setbacks and challenges. The first challenge arises when the model originally selected for the project, a famous ballerina, is injured and unable to work. Liz Dexter suggests that they use a young actress named Susan who she thinks has a lot of potential. The Baron is skeptical, but agrees to give her a chance. Susan surprises everyone by being a natural in front of the camera.

The next challenge arises when one of the calendar pages, which features a picture of a cute puppy, is discovered to be in bad taste due to the fact that chocolate is harmful to dogs. The staff has to come up with a new idea quickly, and David MacDonald suggests that they use a picture of a little girl instead. His idea is a success, and he is given more responsibility in the project.

Throughout the film, there are several romantic subplots that play out. Liz Dexter is pursued by both the Baron and David, but is more interested in the latter. Meanwhile, David is also attracted to Susan, but she is more interested in her acting career than in romance.

As the project nears completion, it becomes apparent that the Baron has other plans for the company. He is looking to sell it to a rival firm, and has no intention of keeping the employees on. This news is devastating to the staff, who have worked hard on the project and have grown close to each other. They decide to fight back, and come up with a plan to stop the sale of the company.

The film features beautiful art direction and cinematography, capturing the look and feel of post-war London. The performances are strong, especially from Greta Gynt, who is charming and charismatic as the talented artist Liz Dexter. John McCallum is also excellent as the earnest and idealistic David.

Overall, The Calendar is an enjoyable and well-crafted drama that explores the world of advertising and the lives of the people who work in the industry. It is a testament to the power of friendship, teamwork, and perseverance, and is a must-see for fans of classic British cinema.