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Journey's End (1930 film)
Encyclopedia
Journey's End is a 1930 British-American war film directed by James Whale
. Based on the play of the same name
by R. C. Sherriff
, the film tells the story of several British soldiers involved in trench warfare
during the First World War
. The film, like the play before it, was an enormous critical and commercial success and launched the film careers of Whale and several of its stars.
made the decision to turn Hell's Angels (film)
into a talkie, he hired a then-unknown James Whale, who had just arrived in Hollywood following a successful turn directing the play Journey's End
in London and on Broadway, to direct the talking sequences; it was Whale's film debut, and arguably prepared him for the later success he would have with the feature version of Journey's End, Waterloo Bridge
, and, most famously, the 1931
version of Frankenstein
. Unhappy with the script, Whale brought in Joseph Moncure March
to re-write it. Hughes later gave March the Luger pistol used in the famous execution scene of the film's ending.
Due to the delay while Hughes tinkered with the flying scenes in Hell's Angels, Whale managed to entirely shoot his film adaptation of Journey's End and have it come out a month before Hell's Angels was released. The gap between completion of the dialogue scenes and completion of the aerial combat stunts allowed Whale to be paid, sail back to England, and begin work on the subsequent project, making Whale's actual (albeit uncredited) cinema debut, his "second" film to be released.
James Whale
James Whale was an English film director, theatre director and actor. He is best remembered for his work in the horror film genre, having directed such classics as Frankenstein , The Old Dark House , The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein...
. Based on the play of the same name
Journey's End
Journey's End is a 1928 drama, the seventh of English playwright R. C. Sherriff. It was first performed at the Apollo Theatre in London by the Incorporated Stage Society on 9 December 1928, starring a young Laurence Olivier, and soon moved to other West End theatres for a two-year run...
by R. C. Sherriff
R. C. Sherriff
-External links:**...
, the film tells the story of several British soldiers involved in trench warfare
Trench warfare
Trench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The film, like the play before it, was an enormous critical and commercial success and launched the film careers of Whale and several of its stars.
Plot
On the eve of a battle in 1918, a new officer, Second Lieutenant Raleigh (David Manners), joins Captain Stanhope's (Colin Clive) company in the British trench lines in France. While the two men knew each other at school, Stanhope loves Raleigh's sister. Raleigh sees a changed man, who after three years at the front, is on the verge of a breakdown and has turned to drink. A fellow officer, Lieutenant Osborne (Ian Maclaren) desperately tries to keep Stanhope from cracking. Osborne and Raleigh are selected to lead a raiding party on the German trenches where many soldiers are killed, including Osborne. Although he resents the younger man, when Raleigh is mortally wounded, the commander faces a desperate time, friendless and grief-stricken, he prepares to face another furious enemy attack.Cast
- Colin CliveColin CliveColin Clive was an English stage and screen actor best remembered for his portrayal of Dr...
– Capt. Denis Stanhope - Ian MaclarenIan MaclarenIan Maclaren was a Scottish author and theologian.He was the son of John Watson, a civil servant...
– Lt. Osborne - David MannersDavid MannersDavid Manners was a Canadian - American film actor.Born Rauff de Ryther Daun Acklom in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Manners came to Hollywood at the beginning of the talking films revolution after studying acting with Eva Le Gallienne, and acting on stage with Helen Hayes...
– 2nd Lt. Raleigh - Billy BevanBilly BevanBilly Bevan was an Australian film actor. He appeared in 254 American films between 1916 and 1950....
– 2nd Lt. Trotter - Anthony BushellAnthony BushellAnthony Bushell was an English film actor and director, who appeared in 56 films between 1929 and 1961. He also appeared on and directed various British TV series such as Danger Man.-Early life:...
– 2nd Lt. Hibbert - Robert Adair – Capt. Hardy
- Charles K. GerrardCharles K. GerrardCharles K. Gerrard , also known as Charles Kavanagh, was an Irish motion-picture actor, and the elder brother of actor and film director Douglas Gerrard.-Filmography:* The Plow Girl...
– Pvt. Mason - Tom Whiteley – Sergeant Major
- Jack Pitcairn – Colonel
- Werner KlinglerWerner KlinglerWerner Klingler was a German film director and actor. He directed 29 films between 1936 and 1968.He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany.-Selected filmography:* Titanic...
– German prisoner - Gil PerkinsGil PerkinsGil Perkins was an Australian film and television actor.-Early life:As a teenager, Perkins was a trackman and an athlete. He ran away from home at a young age and joined the crew of a Norwegian cargo ship as a deck hand.-Early career:In his early adult life, he left for Hollywood...
– Sgt. Cox - Leslie Sketchley – Cpl. Ross
Production
When Howard HughesHoward Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
made the decision to turn Hell's Angels (film)
Hell's Angels (film)
Hell's Angels is a 1930 American war film, directed by Howard Hughes and starring Jean Harlow, Ben Lyon, and James Hall. The film, which was produced by Hughes and written by Harry Behn and Howard Estabrook, centers on the combat pilots of World War I...
into a talkie, he hired a then-unknown James Whale, who had just arrived in Hollywood following a successful turn directing the play Journey's End
Journey's End
Journey's End is a 1928 drama, the seventh of English playwright R. C. Sherriff. It was first performed at the Apollo Theatre in London by the Incorporated Stage Society on 9 December 1928, starring a young Laurence Olivier, and soon moved to other West End theatres for a two-year run...
in London and on Broadway, to direct the talking sequences; it was Whale's film debut, and arguably prepared him for the later success he would have with the feature version of Journey's End, Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge (1931 film)
Waterloo Bridge is a 1931 American drama film directed by James Whale. The screenplay by Benn Levy and Tom Reed is based on the 1930 play of the same title by Robert E. Sherwood....
, and, most famously, the 1931
1931 in film
-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
version of Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1931 film)
Frankenstein is a 1931 Pre-Code Horror Monster film from Universal Pictures directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling which in turn is based on the novel of the same name by Mary Shelley. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff, and features...
. Unhappy with the script, Whale brought in Joseph Moncure March
Joseph Moncure March
Joseph Moncure March was an American poet and essayist, best known for his long narrative poems The Wild Party and The Set-Up.- Life :...
to re-write it. Hughes later gave March the Luger pistol used in the famous execution scene of the film's ending.
Due to the delay while Hughes tinkered with the flying scenes in Hell's Angels, Whale managed to entirely shoot his film adaptation of Journey's End and have it come out a month before Hell's Angels was released. The gap between completion of the dialogue scenes and completion of the aerial combat stunts allowed Whale to be paid, sail back to England, and begin work on the subsequent project, making Whale's actual (albeit uncredited) cinema debut, his "second" film to be released.
External links
- Journey's End at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...