Charing Cross Road is a London thoroughfare where several theatrical boarding houses have set up shop. Each one of these establishments is chock full of show-biz hopefuls, wannabes, has-beens and never-weres.
John Mills and
June Clyde play Tony and Pam, "at liberty" vaudevillians who arrive in London on the lookout for their Big Chance. In danger of developing a swelled head, Tony is chastened by an elderly trouper (Derek Oldham) who tells him the sad story of a once-great entertainer who hit the skids. Based on a BBC radio play, Charing Cross Road enjoyed a built-in fan following even before the cameras turned. Among the film's many pleasures is the presence of musical-comedy favorite
Belle Baker as "herself," and a very young
Coral Browne as a haughty aristocrat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide