Davis and Redgrave meet in seedy boarding house
Based on the play “The Cellist” by Marion Hart, “Connecting Rooms” is a character study of three individuals who have rooms in a seedy boarding house in the Bayswater section of London. Wanda Fleming (Bette Davis) is a lonely cellist who is flattered by the attentions of the much younger fellow tenant Mickey Hollister (Alexis Kanner), a pop songwriter looking to hit it big in the music business. A mysterious new tenant, James Wallraven (Michael Redgrave), is a former schoolmaster who is haunted by a scandal in his past. His room adjoins Wanda’s, separated only by a door that doesn’t lock and has the habit of blowing open.<br /><br />Mickey is constantly insinuating himself into the lives of those he feels can further a non-starting career. He has his sights on Claudia Fouchet (Olga Georges-Picot), a famous pop singer, hoping she will record one of his songs. Perpetually short of cash, he leans on his friends, including Wanda, for “loans.” Yet Mickey is not very attentive to Wanda and is often downright thoughtless.<br /><br />James tries to secure work as a teacher but a fateful event in his past makes that impossible. He eventually settles for a menial job in an art gallery. A tender relationship develops between Wanda and James, both lonely souls concealing a secret. They find comfort in each other as shyness and sympathy give way to something deeper and more meaningful.<br /><br />“Connecting Rooms” is not well known today despite the star power of Bette Davis. It had a limited release in the United Kingdom and is seldom discussed in biographies of Davis. The movie switches back and forth between the boarding house and swinging 60s London to show the generation gap and perhaps in an attempt to liven a sagging script ill served by uneven performances.<br /><br />Davis’ performance suffers from her trademark mannerisms, such as a clipped line delivery, and from long pauses that serve no purpose other than to stretch out her screen time. She also makes no attempt at a British accent. She does succeed in projecting Wanda’s outgoing manner and underlying loneliness. Recognizing James as a kindred soul, Wanda reaches out even as he is initially reticent. She commands every scene by overplaying. The role is reminiscent of the type of parts Davis played at Warner Brothers in the 1930s and 1940s. At times, she’s touching, but screenwriter Gollings’ dialogue frequently undermines her efforts to breathe life into a character based more on cliche than reality. This is far from her best work on screen.<br /><br />Redgrave’s performance is low-key, though he does have a wonderful, touching monologue when he explains the details of why he was fired. When we first see him, he’s walking through a dingy part of London looking for cheap lodging. His James is a principled man who feels rudderless now that he is unable to teach. Self-effacing and somewhat shy, he eventually warms to Wanda, whose gentleness and concern are like a balm in an unforgiving world.<br /><br />Kanner’s character is unsympathetic throughout with few redeeming qualities. An opportunist, hanger-on, and manipulator, Mickey wants an easy ride in life. He likes the fine things, but he wants them quickly without putting in the work. It’s unlikely that such a character would get so close to the rich and famous, and that’s a major flaw of both of the plot and the performance. We’re to believe Mickey’s good looks and charm get him to mingle with those who can make him famous, but his phoniness is transparent and would, in real life, get him nowhere fast. Even the attention he pays Wanda is for the purpose of getting her to spring for a sports car he covets.<br /><br />Kay Walsh has some very good scenes as landlady Mrs. Brent, a loud, offensive moralistic woman who nonetheless has an eye for any male that crosses her path. A veteran of stage and film, Ms. Walsh gives her character real fire and enlivens what would ordinarily be a lackluster supporting performance.<br /><br />Unfortunately, “Connecting Rooms” is interesting only because of Bette Davis. The scenes of swinging, mod London slow the pace and badly date the movie. The chemistry between Davis and Redgrave is believable, but the relationship between Davis and Kanner looks strained and awkward because of their obvious difference in age. The film is reminiscent of the far better “Separate Tables” in which David Niven plays a sexually repressed man. For Bette Davis completists, “Connecting Rooms” will be a fascinating find. For others, the film is slow and unconvincing.<br /><br />Bonus materials on the Blu-ray release include an audio commentary and 3 trailers.
The movie title "Connecting Rooms," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.4 from 43 reviewers. 
It features elements such as [], and it is priced at $15.99.

This title falls under the categories of Movies & TV, Blu-ray and Movies. 
The additional details include the following in key-value format :
 {}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : .