Loyalties (1933 film)
Encyclopedia
Loyalties is a 1933 British
drama film
directed by Basil Dean
and starring Basil Rathbone
, Heather Thatcher
and Miles Mander
. It is based on the John Galsworthy
play Loyalties
.
The film addresses the theme of anti-Semitism
. The film was part of an increased trend depicting mistreatment of Jews in British films during the 1930s, tied to the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, but is unusual in its depiction of prejudice in Britain as most other films were set in a non-British, historical context.
, after the breakdown of their arrangement with RKO Pictures
. Carol Reed
and Thorold Dickinson
both worked on the film's production as assistant director
s.
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Basil Dean
Basil Dean
Basil Herbert Dean CBE was an English actor, writer, film producer/director and theatrical producer/director....
and starring Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
, Heather Thatcher
Heather Thatcher
Heather Thatcher was an English actress in theatre and motion pictures. She was from London.-Dancer:By 1922 Thatcher was a dancer. She was especially noted for her interpretation of an Egyptian harem dance. Her exotic clothes were designed in Russia. They featured stencil slits in the waist,...
and Miles Mander
Miles Mander
Miles Mander , born Lionel Henry Mander , was a well-known and versatile English character actor of the early Hollywood cinema, also a film director and producer, and a playwright and novelist.-Early life:Miles Mander was the second son of Theodore Mander, builder of Wightwick Manor, of the prominent...
. It is based on the John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy OM was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter...
play Loyalties
Loyalties (play)
Loyalties is a 1922 play by the British writer John Galsworthy. It was staged at St Martins Theatre and ran for over a year. Galsworthy described it as "the only play of mine which I was able to say, when I finished it, no manager will refuse this"....
.
The film addresses the theme of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. The film was part of an increased trend depicting mistreatment of Jews in British films during the 1930s, tied to the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, but is unusual in its depiction of prejudice in Britain as most other films were set in a non-British, historical context.
Plot
While a houseguest at an upper-class gathering, wealthy Jew Ferdinand de Levis is robbed of £1,000m with evidence pointing towards the guilt of another guest, Captain Dancy. Instead of supporting De Levis, the host attempts to hush the matter up and when this fails, he sides with Dancy and subtly tries to destroy de Levis' reputation. When Dancy is later exposed, and commits suicide, de Levis is blamed for his demise.Production
The film was the first to be made by Associated Talking Pictures, known later as Ealing StudiosEaling Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
, after the breakdown of their arrangement with RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
. Carol Reed
Carol Reed
Sir Carol Reed was an English film director best known for Odd Man Out , The Fallen Idol , The Third Man and Oliver!...
and Thorold Dickinson
Thorold Dickinson
Thorold Barron Dickinson was a British film director, screenwriter, producer, and Britains's first university Professor of Film.-Early life and career:...
both worked on the film's production as assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
s.
Cast
- Basil RathboneBasil RathboneSir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
- Ferdinand de Levis - Heather ThatcherHeather ThatcherHeather Thatcher was an English actress in theatre and motion pictures. She was from London.-Dancer:By 1922 Thatcher was a dancer. She was especially noted for her interpretation of an Egyptian harem dance. Her exotic clothes were designed in Russia. They featured stencil slits in the waist,...
- Margaret Orme - Miles ManderMiles ManderMiles Mander , born Lionel Henry Mander , was a well-known and versatile English character actor of the early Hollywood cinema, also a film director and producer, and a playwright and novelist.-Early life:Miles Mander was the second son of Theodore Mander, builder of Wightwick Manor, of the prominent...
- Captain Ronald Dancy, DSO - Joan Wyndham - Mabel, Mrs. Borring
- Philip Strange - Major Colford
- Alan NapierAlan NapierAlan William Napier-Clavering was an English actor, best known for portraying Alfred Pennyworth in the 1960s live-action Batman television series.-Early life and career:...
- General Canynge - Cecily Byrne - Lady Adela
- Athole StewartAthole Stewart-Selected filmography:Athole appeared in the following films:* Canaries Sometimes Sing * The Speckled Band * The Faithful Heart * The Constant Nymph *Loyalties * The Four Masked Men...
- Lord St. Erth - Patric Curwen - Sir Fredric Blair
- Marcus Barron - The Lord Chief Justice
- Ben FieldBen Field-Selected filmography:* Venetian Lovers * A South Sea Bubble * Caste * Sally in Our Alley * Jack's the Boy * Loyalties * Mrs. Dane's Defence * Say It with Flowers...
- Gilman - Griffith Humphreys - Inspector Jones
- Robert CooteRobert CooteRobert Coote was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.-Biography:Coote was educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex...
- Robert - Aubrey Dexter - Kentman
- Laurence HanrayLaurence HanrayLaurence Hanray , sometimes credited as Lawrence Hanray, was a British film actor born in London, England.-Partial filmography:* Beyond the Cities * Her Reputation * The Faithful Heart...
- Jacob Twisden - Stafford Hilliard - Treisure
- Anthony HollesAnthony Holles (actor)-Selected filmography:* The Missing Rembrandt * The Midshipmaid * The Star Reporter *Loyalties * Britannia of Billingsgate * Brewster's Millions * This'll Make You Whistle...
- Ricardos - Mike Johnson - Jenkins
- Arnold LucyArnold LucyArnold Lucy was a British actor claimed to have performed on the fabled London West End stage over 1,200 times before making his early film debut in the early 1910s during the Golden Era of the Hollywood system...
- Googie - Don MacKayDon MackayDonald Mackay is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-As player:He was a goalkeeper and played for Forfar Athletic and made 104 appearances. He was then signed for Dundee United by Jerry Kerr, for whom he made 170 appearances...
- Mike Sawchuck - Robert MawdesleyRobert MawdesleyRobert Mawdesley was an English actor, best remembered as the voice of the first Walter Gabriel in the long-running radio programme The Archers, which has been running as a daily serial on BBC Radio since 1 January, 1951....
- Edward Graviter - Maxine Sandra - Ricardo's Daughter
- Patrick WaddingtonPatrick WaddingtonPatrick Waddington was an English actor, educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk. Born and died in York, England.-Filmography:*Department S: Who Plays the Dummy? - NATO General...
- Augustus Borring - Algernon West - Charles Winsor