Shadows (1931 film)
| Shadows | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Alexander Esway |
| Written by | Rodney Ackland Frank Miller |
| Produced by | Alexander Esway |
| Starring | Jacqueline Logan Bernard Nedell Gordon Harker Molly Lamont |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | First National-Pathé Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 57 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Shadows (also known as Press Gang and My Wife's Family[1]) is a 1931 British crime film directed and produced by Alexander Esway and starring Jacqueline Logan, Bernard Nedell and Gordon Harker.[1][2] It was written by Rodney Ackland and Frank Miller, and made as a quota quickie by British International Pictures.[3]
Plot
Peter Verity, the estranged son of a newspaper owner, returns to his father's good favour by unmasking a gang of criminals.
Cast
- Jacqueline Logan as Fay Melville
- Bernard Nedell as Press Rawlinson
- Gordon Harker as Earole
- Derrick De Marney as Peter
- Molly Lamont as Jill Dexter
- D. A. Clarke-Smith as Gruhn
- Wally Patch as Cripps
- Mary Clare as Lily
- Mark Lester as Herb
- Roy Emerton as Captain
Reception
Film Weekly wrote: "A weak story provents interest from becoming more than lukewarm, and undistinguished direction does not help it at all. Bernard Nedell, as usual, gives a really capable performance but the rest of the cast are no more than average."[4]
Kine Weekly wrote: "A first quality cast, even in small parts, and careful direction make a good film out of a story that is only moderate. As an underworld play, however, it is restrained, and maintains interest, while there are many good touches in working out the details."[5]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "This melodramatic story is never at any time convincing, and it is a sad sight to see artistes such as Bernard Nedell, Jacqueline Logan, Gordon Harker and Mary Clare wasted in a subject of this kind. The direction of Mr. Alexander Esway is altogether uninspired. Shadows is a film that may please uncritical audiences, but it is decidedly unlikely to give much entertainment to more sophisticated patrons who expect something much better today."[6]
References
- 1 2 "Shadows". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | Shadows (1931)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ Chibnall, Steve (2007). Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British 'B' Film. British Film Institute. p. 265. ISBN 978-1844571550.
- ↑ "Shadows". Film Weekly. 6 (148): 29. 15 August 1931. ProQuest 1705127952.
- ↑ "Shadows". Kine Weekly. 170 (1250): 35. 2 April 1931. ProQuest 2322687306.
- ↑ "Shadows". The Daily Film Renter (1289): 6. 28 March 1931. ProQuest 3130671490.