It is a postwar, reconstruction-era movie following a family through four generations and their sacrifices in wars and accompanying social changes.

It is a study of class division and snobbery in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with a message that the sacrifices of war have been worthwhile and have been accompanied by social change and that people are now freer to make their own choices about their lives.

[3] Edward Courtney, the son of a baronet shocks class-conscious 1900 British society by marrying Kate, his Irish servant.

Kate begins to feel the awkwardness at a musical recital before Queen Victoria, where all the "true ladies" are staring at her.

While his pregnant young wife is reading one of his letters home, a telegram arrives telling her that he has been killed in action.

Edward loses badly in the 1929 Wall Street crash but they hang onto their home after Kate goes back on the stage.

The Second World War sees Edward back as a Colonel in the Army and Kate an ENSA entertainer.

[5][6][7] According to Kinematograph Weekly the 'biggest winner' at the box office in 1947 Britain was The Courtneys of Curzon Street, with "runners up" being The Jolson Story, Great Expectations, Odd Man Out, Frieda, Holiday Camp and Duel in the Sun.