The High Command
Encyclopedia
The High Command is a 1938 British drama film
directed by Thorold Dickinson
and starring Lionel Atwill
, Lucie Mannheim
and James Mason
. It was based on a novel by Lewis Robinson
.
in 1936, is forced to confront his murder
of a brother officer fifteen years earlier.
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 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:...
and starring Lionel Atwill
Lionel Atwill
Lionel Atwill was an English stage and film actor born in Croydon, London, England.He studied architecture before his stage debut at the Garrick Theatre, London in 1904. He become a star in Broadway theatre by 1918, and made his screen debut in 1919. He acted on the stage in Australia but was most...
, Lucie Mannheim
Lucie Mannheim
Lucie Mannheim was a German singer and actress.Mannheim was born in Berlin–Köpenick where she studied drama and quickly became a popular figure appearing on stage in plays and musicals. Among other roles, she played Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House, Marie in Büchner's Woyzeck, and Juliet in...
and James Mason
James Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
. It was based on a novel by Lewis Robinson
Lewis Robinson
Lewis Robinson is an American author. His first book, Officer Friendly and Other Stories, was published by HarperCollins in 2003. A graduate of Middlebury College and the Iowa Writer's Workshop, Robinson currently lives in Andover, Massachusetts as the writer-in-residence of Phillips Academy.-Life...
.
Plot summary
A British officer serving in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 1936, is forced to confront his murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of a brother officer fifteen years earlier.
Cast
- Lionel AtwillLionel AtwillLionel Atwill was an English stage and film actor born in Croydon, London, England.He studied architecture before his stage debut at the Garrick Theatre, London in 1904. He become a star in Broadway theatre by 1918, and made his screen debut in 1919. He acted on the stage in Australia but was most...
as Maj. Gen. Sir John Sangye, VC - Lucie MannheimLucie MannheimLucie Mannheim was a German singer and actress.Mannheim was born in Berlin–Köpenick where she studied drama and quickly became a popular figure appearing on stage in plays and musicals. Among other roles, she played Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House, Marie in Büchner's Woyzeck, and Juliet in...
as Diana Cloam - Steven GeraySteven GeraySteven Geray, born Istvan Gyergyay on November 10, 1904 and died aged 69 on December 26, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. He was a film actor who appeared in over 100 films and dozens of television programs...
as Martin Cloam - James MasonJames MasonJames Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
as Capt. Heverell - Leslie PerrinsLeslie PerrinsLeslie Perrins was an English actor who often played villains. In his long career, he appeared in well over 60 films...
as Maj. Carson - Allan JeayesAllan JeayesAllan Jeayes was a British stage and movie actor.He starred as Howard Joyce in the original 1927 Broadway production of The Letter and played Sir Lawrence Wargarve in the 1943 London production of And Then There Were None.Jeayes made his film debut in the 1918 Nelson as Sir William Hamilton...
as H.E., the Governor - Michael Lambart as Lorne
- Kathleen GibsonKathleen GibsonrightKathleen Gibson was a British actress, born in 1916.Though just five feet tall, she was given an audition by C. B. Cochran and became one of Cochran's Young Ladies in his show. She was later seen singing and dancing on stage and was chosen for the feminine lead in touring Company of Mr...
as Belinda - Tom GillTom Gill (actor)-Selected filmography:* Midshipman Easy * The High Command * Mister Drake's Duck * The Happy Family * Jumping for Joy * Behind the Headlines * Carry on Admiral...
as Daunt - Wally PatchWally PatchWally Patch was a British character actor, who had supporting roles in many films. He was born Walter Sidney Vinnicombe in Willesden, London on 26 September 1888...
as Crawford - Archibald Batty as Capt. Coates (the prosecutor)
- Henry HewittHenry Hewitt-Selected filmography:* School for Scandal * Stamboul * Madame Guillotine * The Written Law * Betrayal * Admirals All * Rembrandt * The High Command * Old Iron...
as Defence counsel - Drusilla WillsDrusilla Wills-Selected filmography:* Murder! * The Lodger * Little Miss Nobody * Britannia of Billingsgate * The Medicine Man * The Big Splash * High Command * A Spot of Bother...
as Miss Isabella Hobson Tuff - Cyril Howe as Julius Caesar (servant)
- Evan Thomas as Chief Justice
- Aubrey Pollock as Judge Advocate
- Deering Wells as Escort
- Philip Strange as Maj. Challoner
- Frank Atkinson as Corporal
- Skelton Knaggs as Fazerack