Though eclipsed in modern memory by later mermaid films like Splash , Miranda remains a sophisticated example of Ealing-era sensibilities. It is remembered for its breezy pacing, the luminous performance of Glynis Johns, and its slightly subversive take on domestic life and fidelity.
While on a fishing holiday in Cornwall, Dr. Paul Marten (Griffith Jones) is pulled underwater by Miranda, a playful and predatory mermaid. She agrees to release him only on the condition that he takes her to London for a month to experience human life. Miranda (1948) Comedy/Fantasy - Glynis Johns, ...
To hide her identity, Paul introduces her as an invalid patient who must remain in a wheelchair at all times—her tail cleverly concealed under long, elegant gowns and blankets. Once ensconced in the Marten household, Miranda uses her supernatural charm to enchant every man she meets, including Paul’s chauffeur and his best friend, much to the chagrin of Paul’s wife, Clare (Googie Withers). Cast and Characters Though eclipsed in modern memory by later mermaid
Miranda arrived during a period when British audiences were seeking escapism. The film’s "fish-out-of-water" humor (literally and figuratively) relies on sharp dialogue and the subversion of rigid 1940s social etiquette. Paul Marten (Griffith Jones) is pulled underwater by
As the eccentric nurse hired to care for the "invalid," Rutherford steals her scenes with her characteristic wit and eventual discovery of Miranda's true nature. Cultural Impact and Style
Directed by Ken Annakin and based on the stage play by Peter Blackmore, Miranda is a whimsical cornerstone of post-war British cinema. The film deftly blends romantic comedy with fantasy, centering on a mermaid who kidnaps a vacationing doctor and demands to see London. Plot Summary