Motion Picture Review Digest (Jan-Dec 1937)

MOTION PICTURE REVIEW DIGEST 39 "This picture is an immaturely conceived production which can serve the box office only on the multiples as secondary fare. No cast names and title also doesn't fit." r Variety pl7 F 24 '37 FIRE OVER ENGLAND. United artists 84min Mr 5 '37 Cast: Flora Robson. Laurence Olivier. Vivien Leigh. Leslie Banks. Raymond Massey Director: William K. Howard Awarded Cinema Medal of Honor by The League of Nations Committee on Motion Pictures. Based on the novel of the same title by A E W. Mason. Filmed in England. "[It is] the story of Queen Elizabeth in the days when Philip of Spain sent his Invincible Armada to destroy the British Isles. It depicts the tale of a young English patriot, played by Laurence Olivier who uncovers a band of plotters against the crown and is instrumental in defeating the Spanish fleet." (Box Office) Audience Suitability Ratings "The picture purports to be historical but it is enough to say, in refuting that claim, that it perpetuates the myth of 'Good Queen Bess and the holy intentions of England in crushing the Spanish Armada. There is a slightly absurd personal romance threaded through the many magnificent scenes. . . It is unobjectionable for all on moral grounds but its historical generalizations are to be suspected." T. J. Fitzmorris America p576 Mr 20 *37 "Good. Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth, Raymond Massey as Philip of Spain, and Laurence Olivier as a British patriot are excellent. Olivier's weeping scene shows poor direction; but the film is well worth while. Mature & 14-18." DAR "Technically less brilliant than the better American productions, the picture has nevertheless a quality of good breeding, of chivalry and of great traditions. Family." Mrs T. G. Winter + Fox W Coast Bui F 13 '37 "General patronage." Nat Legion of Decency Mr 11 '37 "A, Y & C: good." Parents' M p46 Ap '37 "Family. Outstanding." + + Wkly Guide Mr 6 '37 Newspaper and Magazine Reviews "The League of Nations turned attention for the moment from international intrigue to award to 'Fire Over England' its own cinema medal of honor for the year. . . Questionable is the full justification for the extent of the League's enthusiasm. The production unmistakingly does stand out in high relief, but it is far from reaching high perfection, technically, and in the beginning moves all too slowly." J. P. Cunningham -\ Commonweal p502 F 26 '37 "[It is] a lively, exciting, finely produced historical romance. . . Everything that is stirring, vivid and flavorsome in this particular brand of film entertainment has been expertly re-assembled by Alexander Korda to make a richly spectacular motion picture in the best British film tradition." + Cue pl7 Mr 6 '37 "A beautifully produced story of Queen Elizabeth's reign which contains some fine acting and some stirring incidents. The lack of cohesion between the character study of the Queen and the hero's adventures robs the story of vitality, and the climax is not as impressive as it might have been. Attractive, but rather loosely knit, entertainment." + Film Wkly p31 F 27 '37 "Even if 'Fire Over England' did not have much more to recommend it, the characterization of the queen in itself would make it worthwhile. But it has much more. . . We are not aware at the outset what players are to command our chief attention, which ones are most to be concerned in the drama to be unfolded. For this reason the story drags in the early sequences, is somewhat confusing, not by virtue of its lack of clarity, but because there is nothing definite to direct our attention. . . Visually the picture is one of the most beautiful ever brought to the screen." + Hollywood Spec p7 Ja 16 '37 "[It] is not another delicate little English costume picture. You may be tired, as I certainly am, of these gentle little British educational lectures we have been receiving from England lately, but don't be deceived: 'Fire Over England' is, up until the inevitable Board of Trade plug for the dear old Empire, what we on this side call the business. . . This picture is as well presented as any movie I have seen this year. . . [It] is a first-rate movie." Pare Lorentz + + Judge p21 Mr '37 "These English-made film productions grow more ambitious and more expensive. . . Despite the big-name cast the story is involved and pretty dull. . . Laurence Olivier is given to much overacting as the hero. Vivien Leigh is a pretty, colorless heroine. Flora Robson's Elizabeth is debatable. . . This panorama of a great era has no popular grip, no sharply defined dramatic interest. We blame American director William K. Howard for some of this failure. His direction is loose and impersonal. Result: 'Fire Over England' is pretentious but dull." (2l/2 stars) Beverly Hills Liberty p41 F 27 '37 "[It is] as exciting a motion-picture as anything of the sort since 'The Mark of Zorro.' . . The direction of William K. Howard distinguishes the picture. Suspense runs so high throughout that plot discrepancies pass unnoticed. . . Despite Olivier's good performance, it is Flora Robson, as 'Queen Elizabeth,' who walks off with the picture." + Lit Digest p24 Mr 13 '37 "Flora Robson quietly yet inexorably gives clarity and firmness to the sketch provided. . . In short, Flora Robson's performance is living, experienced, and informed by intellect. One only wishes that more of the authentic speeches had been given her. The dialogue in this film is not only falsely poetic but out of period. . . It is for Queen Elizabeth, as depicted by Flora Robson, that the film is to be seen and heard." R. H. -| Manchester Guardian p20 F 24 '37 "Those who feel that English freedom has always been inadequate, and those who are strong-minded enough to be consistently cynical about glorious pages of our island story, will be made to squirm more than a little. But for the less critical majority . . . [it] will provide a cordial orgy of heart swellings. . . With any luck at all, Mr. Erich Pommer's first British film should retrieve some of the money the British film industry has, on the whole so deservedly, been losing." New Statesman & Nation p369 Mr 6 '37 "There is a sense of authenticity about the production. Costumes, settings and much of the acting are sound and effective. The first are frankly magnificent, reproducing the splendor of the sixteenth century with full lavishness. . . There is not the same sureness about the central performance. . . If Mr. Olivier seems somewhat miscast, that cannot be said of his fellow players. . . It is a good cast and, although not a great picture, a good one. . . It [is] well worth the seeing." Eileen Creelman + NY Sun p34 Mr 5 '37 + + Exceptionally Good; + Good; -J -Fair; \ Mediocre; — Poor; Exceptionally Poor