Alexander Hamilton (1931)

With the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, General George Washington took Colonel Hamilton with him into the newly formed government. While the main disagreements in the early days was ... See full summary »

Director:

John G. Adolfi

Writers:

George Arliss (by), Mary Hamlin (by),

Stars:

George Arliss, Doris Kenyon, Dudley Digges

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George Arliss	...	Alexander Hamilton
Doris Kenyon	...	Mrs. Betsy Hamilton
Dudley Digges	...	Senator Timothy Roberts
June Collyer	...	Mrs. Mariah Reynolds
Montagu Love	...	Thomas Jefferson
Ralf Harolde	...	James Reynolds
Lionel Belmore	...	General Philip Schuyler
Alan Mowbray	...	George Washington
John T. Murray	...	Count Talleyrand
Morgan Wallace	...	James Monroe
John Larkin	...	Zekial

Storyline

With the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, General George Washington took Colonel Hamilton with him into the newly formed government. While the main disagreements in the early days was over paying the soldiers who had fought in the War, Hamilton also dedicated his energies towards a national bank so that the United States would be able to trade with other countries. He fought eight long years for his Assumption Bill while considering the new Residence Bill. While he is engaged in running a clean treasury, his arch rival, Senator Roberts, takes every opportunity to slander and cast Alexander as a dishonorable man.

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Plot Keywords:

senator | revolutionary war | george washington | alexander hamilton | ship | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

12 September 1931 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 70 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Middleton is in studio records/casting call lists for the role of "Chief Justice John Jay," but he did not appear or was not identifiable in the movie.

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Soundtracks

"Yankee Doodle"
(ca. 1755) (uncredited)
Traditional music of English origin
Played by marching soldiers during the opening credits and at the end

User Reviews

Another Excellent Historical Portrayal By Mr. George Arliss

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, the first Treasury Secretary of the new American Republic, strives mightily against tremendous odds, political & personal, to achieve his great goal: financial solidity & respect for the emerging nation. Just as his triumph seems assured, he is humiliated by a sex scandal engineered by his most powerful enemy in the Senate...

Let it be stated immediately that George Arliss should have been the worst possible actor to portray the title figure in this film. First, he was much too old (Hamilton was in his 30's at the time of the scandal; Arliss turned 63 in 1931). Also, the handsome Hamilton in no way resembled Arliss, who, quite frankly, looks like a death's-head.

But this is not supposed to be a physical reconstruction of the historical Hamilton, but rather a look into the heart & character of the fellow. In this, Arliss succeeds admirably, using his tremendous acting talents to both inform & entertain us. Truly, he was one of the great cinematic artists of his generation and it is a shame that he is all but forgotten today.

Although all centers around Arliss, the rest of the cast does well: Doris Kenyon & June Collyer as the very different women in Hamilton's life; Dudley Digges & Ralf Harolde as his enemies; Montague Love as Thomas Jefferson; and old Lionel Belmore, stealing a few scenes as Hamilton's corpulent father-in-law. Special mention should be made of Alan Mowbray, very effective as George Washington.

Non-political potential viewers who avoid this film risk missing a superb performance by one of the past masters.