Don’t Ever Leave Me Review

• 16th May 2011

Don’t Ever Leave Me is a Gainsborough produced romantic comedy that’s a real odd-ball affair. A young Petula Clark allows herself to be kidnapped to get out from under the shadow of her actor father. Developed as a vehicle for the young Clark, this film allowed her to take on a more mature role than her usual output. It’s a very strange affair as it involves a consensual kidnapping and an odd relationship between a man and his 15-year old captive.

The film opens with loveable old crook, Harry Denton (Edward Rigby) being released from Pentonville prison after being arrested for begging. His son Jack (Jimmy Hanley) puts him up for a few days while he works out what he’ll do next. That decision turns out to be bizarre as he attempts to kidnap the daughter of famous Shakespearean actor, Michael Farlaine (Hugh Sinclair). Halfway through the process he realises that it’s beyond him, only to be confronted by the problem of the girl, Sheila Farlaine (Clark), being more than willing to be abducted. Jack Denton returns to his flat to find the daughter in charge to such an extreme that he is drawn into her game himself.

Occasionally, I uncover a film so bizarre that I can hardly work out what I actually think of it – Don’t Ever Leave Me is such a production. The narrative fluctuates between romantic comedy and disturbing psycho-drama, especially when Michael Farlaine begins cashing in on the abduction.  Sheila is having a ball as she demands to be taken out to clubs and ice rinks. The producers take this opportunity to sandwich in some numbers for the young chanteuse as Jack tries to resolve the problem of her taking time away from him and the girl he loves. Things get very peculiar towards the end and Sheila asks if Jack would like to wait for her to come of age.

Having never seen this film before I’m still trying to process exactly what it is it’s trying to achieve.  The Sheila Farlaine character made me think of the Jodie Foster in The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, in being far more mature than her age would suggest. Like Foster she’s far sharper than the adults that surround her, even orchestrating the entire kidnapping and ransom demands. At one point her friend next door wants to be kidnapped too as he assumes it’s far more fun that his humdrum life. This film depicts an alarming picture of parental neglect amongst the rich which beggars belief.

Don’t Ever Leave Me is a truly curious film which is impossible to describe without revealing too much of the actual storyline. Even the title itself makes no sense given the relationship that develops between Jack and Sheila. A film I assumed would be a rom-com from the opening 10 minutes, turned into something David Lynch might have made had he been working in the UK during the 40s. A true one-off of hallucinogenic proportions, this has to be seen to be believed.  Available for the first time on DVD thanks to Odeon, this may be the weirdest film I’ve seen this year.

Aled Jones