Director: GEORGE ARLISS. Screenplay: John Galsworthy, with minor contributions by Walter T. Howell and Maude Anthony. Based on the story, "Old Heythorp", and the 1924 stage play adapted from that story, "Old English", both by John Galsworthy. Assistant director: Alfred E. Green. Photography: James Van Trees. Film splicer: Owen Marks. Unbecoming costumes designed by Earl Luick. Erno Rapee is credited as music director, although there is music only over the front and end credits. Louis Silvers conducted the studio orchestra for two minutes. Sound recording engineer: Clare A. Riggs. Vitaphone Sound System. Producer: Mr George Arliss.
A production of the George Arliss unit at Warner Brothers' studios, Hollywood, California. Copyright 13 September 1930 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. New York opening: 21 August 1930. U.S. release: 27 September 1930. 11 reels. 7,926 feet. 88 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A disgustingly greedy and unprincipled old swindler eats and drinks himself to death rather than face exposure.
NOTES: Although the movie is credited to Alfred E. Green, the movie was actually directed by George Arliss, as anyone who was present on the set will tell you. Green's capacity was an advisory one. Arliss directed all the actors and blocked out their movements. The only player that Arliss allowed any sort of leeway to present his or her own interpretation was his friend, Murray Kinnell. Significantly, Kinnell is the only major player in the movie whose performance cannot be faulted.
COMMENT: Rather than give so distinguished an actor as George Arliss a bad review, Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times decided not to review the movie at all. I'm tempted to follow the same path, for Arliss is one of my favorite people. It pains me to say that this is an absolutely dreadful movie. In fact, it's not a movie at all, but a photographed stage play. Even that would not be so bad, if its pace were only half as slow and its foregone conclusion trimmed to the bone. Arliss is the movie's worst enemy. Wearing a ridiculous wig that at times is perched at such a perilous angle it seems about to fall off, he hogs the camera unmercifully from go to whoa. He subordinates everyone and everything – except his friend, Murray Kinnell, who alone is allowed to stand up to him. On the other hand, despite the importance of his role, Ivan Simpson is given no close-ups at all and is forced to play his big crucial scene in a single take's awkwardly composed two-shot. The lighting favors Arliss of course – and that's just the problem with this film. For Arliss does nothing but drink and pontificate, drink and connive, drink and slurp, eat, eat, eat, and drink, drink, drink. If you want to watch George Arliss slurping and guzzling, Old English is for you. If not, it's one to avoid!
A production of the George Arliss unit at Warner Brothers' studios, Hollywood, California. Copyright 13 September 1930 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. New York opening: 21 August 1930. U.S. release: 27 September 1930. 11 reels. 7,926 feet. 88 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A disgustingly greedy and unprincipled old swindler eats and drinks himself to death rather than face exposure.
NOTES: Although the movie is credited to Alfred E. Green, the movie was actually directed by George Arliss, as anyone who was present on the set will tell you. Green's capacity was an advisory one. Arliss directed all the actors and blocked out their movements. The only player that Arliss allowed any sort of leeway to present his or her own interpretation was his friend, Murray Kinnell. Significantly, Kinnell is the only major player in the movie whose performance cannot be faulted.
COMMENT: Rather than give so distinguished an actor as George Arliss a bad review, Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times decided not to review the movie at all. I'm tempted to follow the same path, for Arliss is one of my favorite people. It pains me to say that this is an absolutely dreadful movie. In fact, it's not a movie at all, but a photographed stage play. Even that would not be so bad, if its pace were only half as slow and its foregone conclusion trimmed to the bone. Arliss is the movie's worst enemy. Wearing a ridiculous wig that at times is perched at such a perilous angle it seems about to fall off, he hogs the camera unmercifully from go to whoa. He subordinates everyone and everything – except his friend, Murray Kinnell, who alone is allowed to stand up to him. On the other hand, despite the importance of his role, Ivan Simpson is given no close-ups at all and is forced to play his big crucial scene in a single take's awkwardly composed two-shot. The lighting favors Arliss of course – and that's just the problem with this film. For Arliss does nothing but drink and pontificate, drink and connive, drink and slurp, eat, eat, eat, and drink, drink, drink. If you want to watch George Arliss slurping and guzzling, Old English is for you. If not, it's one to avoid!