| The Man from Blankley's | |
|---|---|
1930 theatrical poster |
|
| Directed by | Alfred E. Green |
| Written by | Harvey F. Thew |
| Screenplay by | Joseph Jackson (and titles) |
| Based on | The Man from Blankley's by F. Anstey |
| Starring | John Barrymore Loretta Young William Austin Albert Gran |
| Cinematography | James Van Trees |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | March 28, 1930 (U.S. theatrical) |
| Running time | 67 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Man from Blankley's was a 1930 history epic and comedy film by Alfred E. Green starring John Barrymore and Loretta Young. The film was based upon the 1903 play by F. Anstey,[1] and was considered to be a major comedy masterpiece of the early sound era.[2] The film was Barrymore's first feature length talking film.[3]
It is considered a lost film.[1] The soundtrack survives on Vitaphone discs, but all visual elements—print, negative, trailers and outtakes—are believed to be lost, with the exception of photographs taken on the set during production.
Contents |
The difference between social classes provides the basis for this comedy.
The trouble begins when a drunken sot wanders into the fancy home of a woman who is hosting a gala dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Tidmarsh (Dick Henderson and Emily Fitzroy), a middle-class English couple, are giving a dinner party in honour of their wealthy uncle, Gabriel Gilwattle (Albert Gran), hoping to receive his financial aid in their struggle to keep up appearances. Mrs. Tidmarsh had invited 13 guests, as a result of regrets, and Gabriel is superstitious. To offset this, she hires Blankely's, a professional company, to send her a sophisticated 14th guest, sight unseen.
Further cancellations obviate this necessity, and Margery Seaton (Loretta Young), their governess, is invited; but the "hired guest" arrives anyhow and is announced as Lord Strathpeffer (John Barrymore). Naturally Mrs. Tidmarsh mistakes the drunk for the hired guest and invites him to dine. Mayhem ensues. Margery recognizes the tipsy man as a former lover, and he is assumed to be an impostor. Sobering, Strathpeffer realizes he has come to the wrong party and asserts his right to his title; but Gwennie (Angella Mawby) hides her father's watch in Strathpeffer's pocket as he is renewing his romance with Margery. A police inspector arrives hunting for the missing lord, establishing his authenticity and the fact that he is not, after all, the hired guest.
The play premiered in London in 1903 at the Prince of Wales Theatre and was revived in 1906 at the Haymarket Theatre to much success.[4] It also played on Broadway at the Criterion Theatre, from September 16 to November 1903, for 79 performances. It starred the British actors Sir Charles Hawtrey and Arthur Playfair.
|
|
Outlook and Independent praised the film, stating that Barrymore had "reverted to type" and contributed in making a film that was a "highly entertaining and fantastic farse" and "one of the strangest and most delightfully insane comedies to reach the screen in years".[5] The Judge recommended the film as suprb fun.[6] In a telephone interview with Joseph W. Garton, author of The film acting of John Barrymore, actress Myrna Loy is quoted as stating that it was "one of the most brilliant movies he ever made".[1]