A second chance for romance

Press, 31 August 1985, Page 17

A second chance for romance

The stage and screen superstar, Rex Harrison, makes a rare television appearance this evening in “The Kingfisher,” a television film of William Douglas Home’s play. Harrison is cast with Dame Wendy Hiller and Cyril Cusack and plays Sir Cecil, a role in which he starred on Broadway and other cities in the United States opposite Claudette Colbert. For years Sir Cecil has regretted missing his chance with Evelyn (Wendy Hiller), the beautiful young woman he kissed beneath a beech tree, but who, scared by his advances, dashed off to wed another on the rebound. His ardent efforts to woo her back failed and all that is left to him of the

romance is the beech tree — in the garden of the home he has built by it. All, that is, until life offers the celebrated bachelor novelist a rare chance to revoke the folly of his youth. His rival, Evelyn’s husband, dies leaving both free to rekindle the flame of youth. When they meet again, Sir Cecil, watched with seething jealousy by his devoted old butler (Cyril Cusack), seizes his second chance to propose, beneath the same tree. But the years have changed many things. This television film of “The Kingfisher” is directed by James Cellan Jones. “The Kingfisher” screens in the Saturday Playhouse slot on Two at 8.30.