This England (film)
Encyclopedia
This England is a 1941 British
historical drama film
directed by David MacDonald
and starring John Clements
, Constance Cummings
and Emlyn Williams
. The film follows the small English village of Cleveley and its historic resistance against tyrannical invaders recounted by one of the inhabitants to a visiting American journalist.
purposes during the Second World War. Its title comes from a speech by John of Gaunt in the play Richard II
by William Shakespeare
.
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...
historical 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 David MacDonald
David MacDonald (director)
David MacDonald was a British film director, writer and producer. His first major film as director was The Brothers.-Select filmography:*The Last Curtain...
and starring John Clements
John Clements
Sir John Selby Clements, CBE was an English actor and producer who worked in theatre, television and film.Clements attended St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge University then worked with Nigel Playfair and afterwards spent a few years in Ben Greet's Shakespearean Company. He made...
, Constance Cummings
Constance Cummings
Constance Cummings, CBE was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen and stage.Born Constance Halverstadt in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Dallas Vernon Halverstadt, a lawyer, and his wife, Kate Logan Cummings, a concert soprano. she began as a stage actress,...
and Emlyn Williams
Emlyn Williams
George Emlyn Williams, CBE , known as Emlyn Williams, was a Welsh dramatist and actor.-Biography:He was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family in Mostyn, Flintshire....
. The film follows the small English village of Cleveley and its historic resistance against tyrannical invaders recounted by one of the inhabitants to a visiting American journalist.
Production
The film was made for propagandaPropaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
purposes during the Second World War. Its title comes from a speech by John of Gaunt in the play Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
.
Partial cast
- John ClementsJohn ClementsSir John Selby Clements, CBE was an English actor and producer who worked in theatre, television and film.Clements attended St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge University then worked with Nigel Playfair and afterwards spent a few years in Ben Greet's Shakespearean Company. He made...
- John Rookeby - Constance CummingsConstance CummingsConstance Cummings, CBE was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen and stage.Born Constance Halverstadt in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Dallas Vernon Halverstadt, a lawyer, and his wife, Kate Logan Cummings, a concert soprano. she began as a stage actress,...
- Ann - Emlyn WilliamsEmlyn WilliamsGeorge Emlyn Williams, CBE , known as Emlyn Williams, was a Welsh dramatist and actor.-Biography:He was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family in Mostyn, Flintshire....
- Appleyard - Frank PettingellFrank PettingellFrank Pettingell was an English actor.Pettingell was born in Liverpool, and educated at Manchester University...
- Gage - Roland CulverRoland CulverRoland Culver OBE was a British stage, film, and television actor.-Life and career:...
- Steward - Morland GrahamMorland GrahamMorland Graham was a British film actor.Married to Elsie Cole in 1926.-Selected filmography:* Man of the Moment * Moscow Nights * Get Off My Foot * Where's Sally?...
- Doctor - Leslie FrenchLeslie FrenchLeslie Richard French was a British actor of stage and screen.French was primarily a theatre actor, as well as a director, singer and dancer, with a varied career that included the classics, musical revue, pantomime and ballet...
- Johnny - Martin Walker - Seigneur
- Ronald WardRonald WardRonald Ward was a British actor who appeared in more than twenty British films between 1931 and 1956. He was born in Eastbourne in 1901 as Ronald William Ward, and made his screen debut in the 1931 film Alibi...
- Lord Clavely - Hugh WakefieldHugh WakefieldHugh Wakefield was an English film actor, who played supporting roles. He was often seen wearing a monocle....
- Vicar - Esmond KnightEsmond KnightEsmond Penington Knight was an English actor.He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind...
- Vicar's son - Amy VenessAmy VenessAmy Veness was a British film actress. She played the role of Grandma Huggett in The Huggetts Trilogy.-Selected filmography:* Please Help Emily * Let Me Explain, Dear * A Southern Maid...
- Jenny - Roddy McDowallRoddy McDowallRoderick Andrew Anthony Jude "Roddy" McDowall was an English actor and photographer. His film roles included Cornelius and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes film series...
- Hugo - Dennis WyndhamDennis WyndhamDennis Wyndham was a South African film actor. He appeared in 47 films between 1920 and 1956. He was born in Natal, South Africa....
- Martin