The Holly and the Ivy is a 1952 British drama film directed by George More O'Ferrall and starring Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, and Margaret Leighton. It was adapted from the 1950 play of the same name by Wynyard Browne. Produced by Anatole de Grunwald and co-scripted by Browne and de Grunwald it was distributed by British Lion Films, and released in the United States in 1954 by the independent Pacemaker Pictures. An Irish clergyman whose neglect of his grown offspring, in his zeal to tend to his parishioners, comes to the surface at a Christmas family gathering.

Plot

It is traditional for the widespread Gregory family to return home for Christmas at the parsonage in the remote village of Wyndenham in rural Norfolk. The film opens with introductions of each family member save for younger, fashionista daughter Margaret, who is for much of the first half an unseen character. The plot centres on the situation of Jenny, who is housekeeper for her aged parent Martin. He is the village parson and apparently cares much more about his parishioners than his family. Jenny wishes to marry engineer David, who is bound for South America for five years, but she cannot leave her father unless her sister or her aunt agrees to look after Martin.