Educated Evans
Encyclopedia
Educated Evans is a 1936
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
". A sequel Thank Evans
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
's "75 Most Wanted
" list of missing British feature films.
Educated Evans is a 1936
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
". A sequel Thank Evans
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
's "75 Most Wanted
" list of missing British feature films.
Educated Evans is a 1936
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
". A sequel Thank Evans
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
's "75 Most Wanted
" list of missing British feature films.75 Most Wanted - Educated Evans BFI National Archive. Retrieved 15-10-2010
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
William Beaudine
William Beaudine was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres.-Early life and career:...
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
". A sequel Thank Evans
Thank Evans
Thank Evans is a 1938 British comedy film, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Max Miller. The film is sequel to Educated Evans , with Miller, Hal Walters and Albert Whelan all returning to reprise their roles as the hapless horse racing tipster Evans, his pal Nobby and the bungling...
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Plot
Cockney racing tipster Evans (Miller) is asked by a nouveau riche and socially-aspirant couple to train a racehorse they have bought. The couple know nothing about horse racing, but believe that ownership of a successful racehorse will be their entrée into the high society racing set. Evans does not own a stable, so the horse has to live with him and his two lodgers in an urban mews. He has to keep constantly on his toes, as circumstances continually threaten to reveal to the horse's owners the ramshackle conditions in which the animal is kept.Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
Cast
- Max Miller as Educated Evans
- Clarice MayneClarice MayneClarice Mayne was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer.-Life and career:Mayne was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W...
as Emily Hackett - Hal WaltersHal Walters-Selected filmography:* The Danger Zone * Riding for Life * Mistaken Orders * Dangerous Traffic * West of the Law * Verdict of the Sea * Great Stuff * The Perfect Flaw...
as Nobby - Albert WhelanAlbert WhelanAlbert Whelan , was an Australian popular singer and entertainer, who was prominent in the English music hall during the first half of the 20th century....
as Sgt. Challoner - Nancy O'Neil as Mary
- George MerrittGeorge Merritt (actor)George Merritt was a British film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* The W Plan * The Lodger * I Was a Spy * Crime on the Hill * The Silver Spoon...
as Joe Markham - Frederick BurtwellFrederick BurtwellFrederick Burtwell was an English actor who featured in supporting roles in over 40 British films of the 1930s and 1940s.-Partial filmography:*Down Our Street * Just My Luck...
as Hubert - Julien Mitchell as Arthur Hackett
- Percy WalshPercy WalshPercy Walsh was a British stage and film actor. His stage work included appearing in the London premieres of R.C.Sherriff's Journey's End and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and Appointment with Death .-Partial filmography:*The Diplomatic Lover * Dirty Work * Admirals All...
as Captain Reed - Prince MonoluluPrince MonoluluRas Prince Monolulu , whose real name was Peter Carl Mackay , was something of an institution on the British horse racing scene from the 1920s until the time of his death...
as Himself
Reception
Educated Evans received a positive reception from contemporary reviewers. This was Miller's seventh film, and it had previously been a commonly-held opinion that the line in fast-talking patter which had made Miller a stage star did not necessarily translate effectively to the screen, particularly as Miller reportedly refuted any suggestion that he should try to slow down or moderate his delivery to better suit the cinema vernacular; however critics seemed to agree that on this occasion it worked very well. Kine WeeklyKine Weekly
The Kinematograph Weekly, popularly known as Kine Weekly, was a trade newspaper catering to the British film industry. It was published in Britain between 1889 and 1971.-Publication history:...
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's "75 Most Wanted
BFI 75 Most Wanted
The BFI 75 Most Wanted is a list compiled by the British Film Institute of their most sought-after British feature films not currently held in the BFI National Archive, and classified as "missing, believed lost". The films chosen range from quota quickies and B-movies to lavish prestige...
" list of missing British feature films.
Educated Evans is a 1936
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
William Beaudine
William Beaudine was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres.-Early life and career:...
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
". A sequel Thank Evans
Thank Evans
Thank Evans is a 1938 British comedy film, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Max Miller. The film is sequel to Educated Evans , with Miller, Hal Walters and Albert Whelan all returning to reprise their roles as the hapless horse racing tipster Evans, his pal Nobby and the bungling...
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Plot
Cockney racing tipster Evans (Miller) is asked by a nouveau riche and socially-aspirant couple to train a racehorse they have bought. The couple know nothing about horse racing, but believe that ownership of a successful racehorse will be their entrée into the high society racing set. Evans does not own a stable, so the horse has to live with him and his two lodgers in an urban mews. He has to keep constantly on his toes, as circumstances continually threaten to reveal to the horse's owners the ramshackle conditions in which the animal is kept.Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
Cast
- Max Miller as Educated Evans
- Clarice MayneClarice MayneClarice Mayne was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer.-Life and career:Mayne was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W...
as Emily Hackett - Hal WaltersHal Walters-Selected filmography:* The Danger Zone * Riding for Life * Mistaken Orders * Dangerous Traffic * West of the Law * Verdict of the Sea * Great Stuff * The Perfect Flaw...
as Nobby - Albert WhelanAlbert WhelanAlbert Whelan , was an Australian popular singer and entertainer, who was prominent in the English music hall during the first half of the 20th century....
as Sgt. Challoner - Nancy O'Neil as Mary
- George MerrittGeorge Merritt (actor)George Merritt was a British film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* The W Plan * The Lodger * I Was a Spy * Crime on the Hill * The Silver Spoon...
as Joe Markham - Frederick BurtwellFrederick BurtwellFrederick Burtwell was an English actor who featured in supporting roles in over 40 British films of the 1930s and 1940s.-Partial filmography:*Down Our Street * Just My Luck...
as Hubert - Julien Mitchell as Arthur Hackett
- Percy WalshPercy WalshPercy Walsh was a British stage and film actor. His stage work included appearing in the London premieres of R.C.Sherriff's Journey's End and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and Appointment with Death .-Partial filmography:*The Diplomatic Lover * Dirty Work * Admirals All...
as Captain Reed - Prince MonoluluPrince MonoluluRas Prince Monolulu , whose real name was Peter Carl Mackay , was something of an institution on the British horse racing scene from the 1920s until the time of his death...
as Himself
Reception
Educated Evans received a positive reception from contemporary reviewers. This was Miller's seventh film, and it had previously been a commonly-held opinion that the line in fast-talking patter which had made Miller a stage star did not necessarily translate effectively to the screen, particularly as Miller reportedly refuted any suggestion that he should try to slow down or moderate his delivery to better suit the cinema vernacular; however critics seemed to agree that on this occasion it worked very well. Kine WeeklyKine Weekly
The Kinematograph Weekly, popularly known as Kine Weekly, was a trade newspaper catering to the British film industry. It was published in Britain between 1889 and 1971.-Publication history:...
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's "75 Most Wanted
BFI 75 Most Wanted
The BFI 75 Most Wanted is a list compiled by the British Film Institute of their most sought-after British feature films not currently held in the BFI National Archive, and classified as "missing, believed lost". The films chosen range from quota quickies and B-movies to lavish prestige...
" list of missing British feature films.
Educated Evans is a 1936
1936 in film
The year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
British comedy film, directed by William Beaudine
William Beaudine
William Beaudine was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres.-Early life and career:...
and starring Max Miller. The film, set in the world of horse racing, was based on the 1924 novel of the same name by the prolific Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
. It is one of five films starring Miller which is not known to be extant, and is classed as "missing, believed lost
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
". A sequel Thank Evans
Thank Evans
Thank Evans is a 1938 British comedy film, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Max Miller. The film is sequel to Educated Evans , with Miller, Hal Walters and Albert Whelan all returning to reprise their roles as the hapless horse racing tipster Evans, his pal Nobby and the bungling...
was released in 1938; this too is missing.
Plot
Cockney racing tipster Evans (Miller) is asked by a nouveau riche and socially-aspirant couple to train a racehorse they have bought. The couple know nothing about horse racing, but believe that ownership of a successful racehorse will be their entrée into the high society racing set. Evans does not own a stable, so the horse has to live with him and his two lodgers in an urban mews. He has to keep constantly on his toes, as circumstances continually threaten to reveal to the horse's owners the ramshackle conditions in which the animal is kept.Despite its less than ideal training environment, the horse turns out to have a natural talent and great racing potential. It does well in its outings, and is entered for a prestigious race. Shortly before the big day, disaster strikes when the horse is stolen. Evans has to track down and outwit the crooks, and manages to recover the horse in the nick of time. Feeling confident of the horse's chances, Evans places a substantial bet on it to win the race. In his excitement however, he makes a mistake and accidentally lays the bet on a no-hope nag at ridiculously long odds. The race turns out to be a sensation, with all the favourites including Evans' horse failing to finish for one reason or another. The hopeless carthorse Evans backed in error crosses the line first and he makes a huge financial profit.
Cast
- Max Miller as Educated Evans
- Clarice MayneClarice MayneClarice Mayne was a music hall and variety theatre singer and performer.-Life and career:Mayne was born in London in 1886. She is best known for the song "A Broken Doll" written by her husband, the composer James W...
as Emily Hackett - Hal WaltersHal Walters-Selected filmography:* The Danger Zone * Riding for Life * Mistaken Orders * Dangerous Traffic * West of the Law * Verdict of the Sea * Great Stuff * The Perfect Flaw...
as Nobby - Albert WhelanAlbert WhelanAlbert Whelan , was an Australian popular singer and entertainer, who was prominent in the English music hall during the first half of the 20th century....
as Sgt. Challoner - Nancy O'Neil as Mary
- George MerrittGeorge Merritt (actor)George Merritt was a British film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* The W Plan * The Lodger * I Was a Spy * Crime on the Hill * The Silver Spoon...
as Joe Markham - Frederick BurtwellFrederick BurtwellFrederick Burtwell was an English actor who featured in supporting roles in over 40 British films of the 1930s and 1940s.-Partial filmography:*Down Our Street * Just My Luck...
as Hubert - Julien Mitchell as Arthur Hackett
- Percy WalshPercy WalshPercy Walsh was a British stage and film actor. His stage work included appearing in the London premieres of R.C.Sherriff's Journey's End and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None and Appointment with Death .-Partial filmography:*The Diplomatic Lover * Dirty Work * Admirals All...
as Captain Reed - Prince MonoluluPrince MonoluluRas Prince Monolulu , whose real name was Peter Carl Mackay , was something of an institution on the British horse racing scene from the 1920s until the time of his death...
as Himself
Reception
Educated Evans received a positive reception from contemporary reviewers. This was Miller's seventh film, and it had previously been a commonly-held opinion that the line in fast-talking patter which had made Miller a stage star did not necessarily translate effectively to the screen, particularly as Miller reportedly refuted any suggestion that he should try to slow down or moderate his delivery to better suit the cinema vernacular; however critics seemed to agree that on this occasion it worked very well. Kine WeeklyKine Weekly
The Kinematograph Weekly, popularly known as Kine Weekly, was a trade newspaper catering to the British film industry. It was published in Britain between 1889 and 1971.-Publication history:...
termed the film "an excellent popular booking... already past the box-office post". McCarthy's Report agreed that ""though a one man show, there is plenty of popular entertainment to be found in the dialogue, the animated racecourse scenes and many tricks of the trade". As one of the most favourably-received of Miller's films in its day, Educated Evans is included on the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's "75 Most Wanted
BFI 75 Most Wanted
The BFI 75 Most Wanted is a list compiled by the British Film Institute of their most sought-after British feature films not currently held in the BFI National Archive, and classified as "missing, believed lost". The films chosen range from quota quickies and B-movies to lavish prestige...
" list of missing British feature films.75 Most Wanted - Educated Evans BFI National Archive. Retrieved 15-10-2010
External links
- Educated Evans at BFI Film & TV Database