Michael and Mary

Michael and Mary
Directed byVictor Saville
Written by
Based onMichael and Mary by A. A. Milne
Produced byMichael Balcon
Starring
CinematographyLeslie Rowson
Edited byIan Dalrymple
Music byLouis Levy
Production
company
Distributed byIdeal Films
Universal Pictures (US)
Release date
  • 4 November 1931 (1931-11-04)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Michael and Mary is a 1931 British drama film directed by Victor Saville and starring Elizabeth Allan, Edna Best, Frank Lawton, and Herbert Marshall. This was the first of the Edna Best and Herbert Marshall co-starring talkies. It was adapted by Lajos Bíró, Robert Stevenson and Angus MacPhail from the play of the same name by A.A. Milne. Produced by Gainsborough Pictures, it was shot at the company's Islington Studios in London[1] with sets designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky.

Plot

A young bride is deserted by her husband but finds happiness with another man. They contract a bigamous marriage for the sake of their child.

The first husband turns up and starts blackmailing them. During a quarrel with the second husband, he dies. After some complications, their son learns the truth, but stands by them.

Cast

Reception

The film was voted the third best British movie of 1932.[2] With a shortened running time of 76 minutes, it was distributed in America by Universal Pictures.

Film Weekly wrote: "The very strong attraction of Michael and Mary is due to a delightful story, almost perfect acting, and clever and sympathetic direction."[3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "This simple love romance, which is adapted from A. A. Milne's successful play, is told with exquisite charm and tenderness, and carries an irresistible general appeal. The producer, except tor a slight tendency towards slowness in development, handles the theme with sensitiveness and understanding, and cleverly holds the interest as the picture works up to a moving climax, the strength of which lies in its delightful humanity."[4]

Radio adaptation

Michael and Mary was presented on the US radio programme Hollywood Sound Stage on 20 March 1952. The 30-minute adaptation starred Deborah Kerr and Herbert Marshall.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sunshine Susie". The Daily News (HOME ed.). Perth. 19 August 1933. p. 19. Retrieved 4 March 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Michael and Mary". Film Weekly. 7 (178): 28. 12 March 1932. ProQuest 1705179723.
  4. ↑ "Michael and Mary". Kine Weekly (1281): 33. 5 November 1931. ProQuest 2322761019.
  5. ↑ Kirby, Walter (16 March 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 44. Retrieved 23 May 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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