In the tragic romantic suspense thriller "21 Days Together," co-stars Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh are a young couple who get away with a crime that the authorities treat as murder after a self-confessed suspect eagerly takes credit for the offense. Adapting the classic John Galsworthy short play "The First and the Last," "Constant Nymph" director Basil Dean and noted novelist Graham Greene have generated a gripping, top-notch, nail-biter that could only have been produced in the United Kingdom owing to the moral improprieties of the film. At the very least, under Hollywood's insurmountable Production Code Administration, this starry-eyed couple would have faced manslaughter charges, and the man who claimed that he committed the transgression would never have received a death sentence. Indeed, "21 Days Together" boasts three major twists, so if you haven't seen this tantalizing tale, prepare yourself for something entirely different. Moreover, cease from reading this analysis now! The forthcoming revelations in the second paragraph will sabotage the suspense if you blunder ahead. Olivier and Leigh make a charismatic couple that you will have you shedding a tempest of tears until fade-out. Leslie Banks delivers a strong performance as Olivier's smarter brother who not only takes their best interests but also his selfish interests to heart. While they might not have known better in the heat of the incident, he has no excuse for his incorrigible actions to shield them from exposure.
Neither Larry Durrant (Laurence Olivier of "Wuthering Heights") nor Wanda (Vivien Leigh of "Gentlemen's Agreement") are ever questioned about the murder of a sleazy individual who tries to blackmail them. Actually, this foreign dastard had married our heroine some years before when Wanda was starving on the streets of Paris and would have consented to anything. According to Wanda, their marriage lasted barely a week. Nevertheless, Henry Wallen (Esme Percy of "Pygmalion") awaits them as they return to Wanda's London flat, and they refused to capitulate to Wallen's blackmail demands. A violent hand-to-hand struggle with Larry and Wallen ensues after the latter brandishes a knife. Wanda doesn't stand by idly but participates at some point in the brawl. During the commotion, Wallen falls and fatally smashes his head on the bricks of a fireplace. Fearing the worst for their future, Larry and Wanda decide to dispose of the corpse without informing the law. Stealthily, Larry places the corpse inconspicuously in Glove Lane in an empty archway when nobody is present. Immediately, the remorseful Larry visits his older, wiser brother, Keith (Leslie Banks of "The Most Dangerous Game"), and explains his hopeless predicament. Keith is a prominent barrister, and his name has been touted in the press as the ideal candidate for a judgeship. He realizes only too well what may happen to his own prestige if his brother is arrested and put on trial. Comparably, Larry is the black sheep of the Durrant clan, and everything that he tries his hand at ends horribly in disaster. Not only should Larry book passage on a ship and leave the country, but Keith also urges him to never see Wanda again! Predictably, the forlorn Larry can do neither.
Later, Larry encounters a former clergyman, John Aloysius Evan (Hay Petrie of "The Red Shoes"), outside of a pawn shop. The woebegone clergyman has been reduced to the ignominy of begging, but he doesn't plead for money from Larry. Instead, Evan is in search for self-respect. The only way to attain a state of such nirvana, he claims with vigor is to suffer presumably as Christ suffered. Larry tells him about his unfortunate accident with Wallen. When the authorities conduct their investigation, they encounter Evan, and former cleric confesses to the crime. Furthermore, Evan has the incriminating gloves that Larry wore during the fight. As it turns out, Larry dropped these gloves after he chatted with Evan and then walked away from him. Mind you, Dean and Greene pull a fast one at the last moment to exonerate our hero and heroine. The clergyman is convicted of the murder, but Larry's conscience refuses to let him rest until he clears poor Evan. Evan dies on the way to his hanging, and Larry and Wanda are allowed to live happily ever after. It isn't so much that they get away with a crime, which they should have come forth and reported to the authorities, but Larry's shrewd brother Keith is as guilty as they are. Now, Keith finds himself in the limelight because he is poised to be elevated to a high spot in British jurisprudence. Keith goes out onto a limb to help his wayward brother and Wanda. The Production Code would have demanded punishment for Keith's incorrigible behavior as well as that of Larry and Wanda. Just as our protagonists should have admitted their roles in the death of the blackmailer, Keith should have notified the authorities without hesitation about his brother's misfortune. Meanwhile, Keith volunteers to help with the clergyman's defense, and he advises Evan's attorney, Tolley (Robert Newton of "Treasure Island") on ways to ensure that his client doesn't receive a death sentence. Again, the determined clergyman derails the best efforts of his defense team.
"21 Days Together" draws its title from the number days between Evan's arrest until his conviction. Keith does his level best to separate Larry and Wanda. Eventually, he realizes that these two are inextricably bound together by fate. Our hero and heroine celebrate as if their lives are destined to end after those 21 days. The guilty and grief-stricken Larry knows deep in his soul he cannot flee and let another man pay for his sins with his life. The last minute reversal is devastating and reflects how Hollywood and the British Film industry differed in their depiction of morality. "21 Days Together" is a memorable movie. Clearly, the subject matter alarmed producer Alexander Korda, and he shelved the film for two years before he released it.
Neither Larry Durrant (Laurence Olivier of "Wuthering Heights") nor Wanda (Vivien Leigh of "Gentlemen's Agreement") are ever questioned about the murder of a sleazy individual who tries to blackmail them. Actually, this foreign dastard had married our heroine some years before when Wanda was starving on the streets of Paris and would have consented to anything. According to Wanda, their marriage lasted barely a week. Nevertheless, Henry Wallen (Esme Percy of "Pygmalion") awaits them as they return to Wanda's London flat, and they refused to capitulate to Wallen's blackmail demands. A violent hand-to-hand struggle with Larry and Wallen ensues after the latter brandishes a knife. Wanda doesn't stand by idly but participates at some point in the brawl. During the commotion, Wallen falls and fatally smashes his head on the bricks of a fireplace. Fearing the worst for their future, Larry and Wanda decide to dispose of the corpse without informing the law. Stealthily, Larry places the corpse inconspicuously in Glove Lane in an empty archway when nobody is present. Immediately, the remorseful Larry visits his older, wiser brother, Keith (Leslie Banks of "The Most Dangerous Game"), and explains his hopeless predicament. Keith is a prominent barrister, and his name has been touted in the press as the ideal candidate for a judgeship. He realizes only too well what may happen to his own prestige if his brother is arrested and put on trial. Comparably, Larry is the black sheep of the Durrant clan, and everything that he tries his hand at ends horribly in disaster. Not only should Larry book passage on a ship and leave the country, but Keith also urges him to never see Wanda again! Predictably, the forlorn Larry can do neither.
Later, Larry encounters a former clergyman, John Aloysius Evan (Hay Petrie of "The Red Shoes"), outside of a pawn shop. The woebegone clergyman has been reduced to the ignominy of begging, but he doesn't plead for money from Larry. Instead, Evan is in search for self-respect. The only way to attain a state of such nirvana, he claims with vigor is to suffer presumably as Christ suffered. Larry tells him about his unfortunate accident with Wallen. When the authorities conduct their investigation, they encounter Evan, and former cleric confesses to the crime. Furthermore, Evan has the incriminating gloves that Larry wore during the fight. As it turns out, Larry dropped these gloves after he chatted with Evan and then walked away from him. Mind you, Dean and Greene pull a fast one at the last moment to exonerate our hero and heroine. The clergyman is convicted of the murder, but Larry's conscience refuses to let him rest until he clears poor Evan. Evan dies on the way to his hanging, and Larry and Wanda are allowed to live happily ever after. It isn't so much that they get away with a crime, which they should have come forth and reported to the authorities, but Larry's shrewd brother Keith is as guilty as they are. Now, Keith finds himself in the limelight because he is poised to be elevated to a high spot in British jurisprudence. Keith goes out onto a limb to help his wayward brother and Wanda. The Production Code would have demanded punishment for Keith's incorrigible behavior as well as that of Larry and Wanda. Just as our protagonists should have admitted their roles in the death of the blackmailer, Keith should have notified the authorities without hesitation about his brother's misfortune. Meanwhile, Keith volunteers to help with the clergyman's defense, and he advises Evan's attorney, Tolley (Robert Newton of "Treasure Island") on ways to ensure that his client doesn't receive a death sentence. Again, the determined clergyman derails the best efforts of his defense team.
"21 Days Together" draws its title from the number days between Evan's arrest until his conviction. Keith does his level best to separate Larry and Wanda. Eventually, he realizes that these two are inextricably bound together by fate. Our hero and heroine celebrate as if their lives are destined to end after those 21 days. The guilty and grief-stricken Larry knows deep in his soul he cannot flee and let another man pay for his sins with his life. The last minute reversal is devastating and reflects how Hollywood and the British Film industry differed in their depiction of morality. "21 Days Together" is a memorable movie. Clearly, the subject matter alarmed producer Alexander Korda, and he shelved the film for two years before he released it.