Sportswriter, screenwriter, and novelist Paul Gallico (1897-1976) received an Oscar nomination for the original story of 1942’s The Pride of the Yankees. He also wrote the original stories for The Clock and Lili among others. His novels included The Three Loves of Thomasina and The Poseidon Adventure, both of which made hit movies. His most enduring work, however, is his 1958 novel Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris about a London cleaning woman charwoman who scrimps and saves to be able to go to the House of Dior in Paris to buy an haute couture gown.

The story first surfaced on TV in 1958 with comedienne Gracie Fields (Holy Matrimony) playing the title character and Jacques Bergerac as the young Dior accountant who helps her. It has since been adapted several times for the London stage.

Angela Lansbury produced and starred in an expanded 1992 version that was faithful to the novel. In that version, the principal characters, in addition to Mrs. ‘Arris and the young Dior accountant (played by Lothaire Bluteau (Black Robe)), are a wealthy Frenchman played by Omar Sharif and a haughty, but ultimately sympathetic overseer played by Diana Rigg.

2022’s Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris takes away the character’s cockney accent and gives her back the “H” in her name.

The story is still set in the mid-1950s, but this time instead of scrimping and saving to buy a Dior gown, Mrs. Harris wins the lottery which turns her into a bit of an elderly Cinderella. It doesn’t really work but character actress Lesley Manville in her first starring role in a major film makes it an enjoyable watch, nevertheless.

Manville, who usually plays dour characters such as those in Another Year and Phantom Thread, both of which earned her BAFTA nominations, the latter earning her an Oscar nomination as well, proves that she can do comedy equally well. Assisting her are Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Lambert Wilson (Five Days One Summer), and newcomer Lucas Brava in the roles played by Diana Rigg, Omar Sharif, and Luthaire Bluteau in the Lansbury version.

Not content to leave the original ending alone, the screenwriters tacked on a new one to add to the lessons already learned. Those who love the original version were aghast, but those unfamiliar with the story love it.

2022’s Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is available on Blu-ray and DVD. 1992’s Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris was previously released on VHS.

Warner Archive has released a long-requested Blu-ray edition of 1968’s Rachel, Rachel.

The film about a middle-aged spinster elementary schoolteacher in a small Connecticut town starred Joanne Woodward in her most acclaimed performance since 1957’s The Three Faces of Eve, for which she won an Oscar. It marked the directing debut of her husband, Paul Newman, who earlier that year received his fourth Oscar nomination for acting for Cool Hand Luke.

Woodward lives with her annoying mother (Kate Harrington (The Sentinel)) over her late father’s funeral parlor now operated by another undertaker. Her only friend is fellow teacher Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde). She spends much of her time reliving unpleasant past experiences and fantasizing about a future that never seems to come.

Cajoled by Parsons into attending a revival presided over by Geraldine Fitzgerald (Wuthering Heights), she is mortified when Parsons kisses her passionately at the function. Reeling from the encounter, she gravitates toward former childhood friend James Olson (The Andromeda Strain) who has returned to the town to visit his parents on their farm. A high-school teacher now, he easily seduces the still virginal Woodward who falls madly in love with him, which results in him quickly abandoning her.

Woodward reconciles with Parsons and arranges for a teaching position across the country where she faces an uncertain future.

Highly praised at the time, Woodward won her first of three New York Film Critics awards for her performance and Newman won the first of two for his direction. The pair went on to win Golden Globes as well. Newman was nominated for a Directors Guild of America award. The two were considered frontrunners for Oscars. Then came the Oscar nominations. The film was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actress but not Best Director. Woodward was furious that her husband was ignored. She refused to even attend the Oscars. Speculation shifted to Barbra Streisand for the win for Funny Girl, which she won in a surprise tie with Katharine Hepburn, who won her third for The Lion in Winter.

Woodward would be nominated for Oscars again for Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams and Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, the films for which she won her second and third New York Film Critics’ awards, but she would never win that elusive second Oscar. Newman, on the other hand, went on to receive five more Oscar nominations, a win for Best Actor for The Color of Money, and two honorary awards from the Academy.

Brian De Palma was riding high in 1981, having already achieved the height of his fame with such films as 1976’s Carrie and 1980’s Dressed to Kill. His next film, Blow Out, a sort of amalgam of Blow-Up and The Conversation was highly anticipated. Unfortunately, neither critics of the day nor audiences were much impressed with the results. His next film, 1983’s Scarface, would impress audiences, but not critics. It wouldn’t be until 1987’s The Untouchables that he would find support from both critics and audiences again.

Star John Travolta, having been on a roll beginning with 1977’s Saturday Night Fever wouldn’t have another success until 1994’s Pulp Fiction.

Despite the film’s initial failure, it has always been popular on home video, and has just been given 4K UHD upgrade from Criterion.

The film’s opening and closing sequences are first rate. It’s what comes between them that had audiences squirming for more. You be the judge. The Criterion release includes the previously released Blu-ray with loads of extras.

This week’s new releases include the 4K UHD releases of Platoon and Tropic Thunder.