The Fountain (1934)

Set during the first World War in neutral, but pro-German, Holland, Lewis Allison, an interned British officer, is paroled to the castle of Baron Von Leyden and finds living there, but now ... See full summary »

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Samuel Hoffenstein, Charles Morgan (novel),

Stars:

Ann Harding, Brian Aherne, Paul Lukas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ann Harding	...	Julie von Marwitz
Brian Aherne	...	Lewis Allison
Paul Lukas	...	Rupert von Narwitz
Jean Hersholt	...	Baron Van Leyden
Ralph Forbes	...	Ballater
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Baroness Van leyden
Sara Haden	...	Susie
Richard Abbott	...	Allard Van Leyden
Barbara Barondess	...	Geof's wife
Rudolph Anders	...	Geof Van Leyden (as Rudolph Amendt)
Betty Alden	...	Allard's wife
Ian Wolfe	...	Van Arkel
Douglas Wood	...	de Greve
Frank Reicher	...	Doctor
Ferike Boros	...	Nurse

Storyline

Set during the first World War in neutral, but pro-German, Holland, Lewis Allison, an interned British officer, is paroled to the castle of Baron Von Leyden and finds living there, but now married to German officer Rupert Von Narwitz, his childhood sweetheart Julie. Long discussions between Julie and Allison, centering on family conflicts that kept them apart, take place before the severely wounded Von Narwitz returns to the castle and more long discussions ensue.

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Plot Keywords:

world war one | prisoner of war | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 August 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fontaine

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The German naval mutiny at Kiel took place on October 30 1918. The mutiny lead to other revolts in Germany, including ones at Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck and Munich in the ensuing weeks.

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Soundtracks

" (There Was I) Waiting At The Church"
(uncredited)
Music by Henry E. Pether
Lyrics by Fred W. Leigh
Whistled by the prisoners

User Reviews

Uninvolving quality production.

Spoilers - not that it matters.

Does anyone remember Charles Morgan, respected dramatist of the 1920s? John Cromwell had shown a tasteful attention to performance in his early films and someone must have thought he'd be a good match with the author's ponderings on the British character and qualities like `stillness of spirit.' Too bad.

There's hope with the opening, as a train carriage of cheerful WWI British officers report to what turns out to be internment in neutral Holland, a camp run by commandant Stack who they soon serenade with a chorus `He's a jolly Good Fellow.' Recruiting book worm Aherne, despite his monologue about `being in here is the only real freedom you've ever had' they determine to tunnel the 6' diameter excavation which the commander finds with some amusement now that an amnesty has been put in place and they can walk out, paroled not to leave the country.

Aherne has an invitation to visit his long time friends at Baron Herscholt's Ekendaal estate He re-encounters English born Harding who has always had the genteel hots for him, despite being married to a German officer. The British navy is defeated at Jutland. Goodbye dramatic ironies. Hello Hollywood clichés.

Sure enough `Rupert is coming home, horribly wounded.' Husband Lukas shows up with one arm and suffering from gas poisoning. He is of course a `Good German' complete with an accent that's useful when he has to read the fruity twenties literary dialogue plausibly. Dr. Reicher (good briefly) advises `His life is in your hands.' Brian and Paul naturally become mates but Haden at ninety degrees from what we expect from Andy Hardy's Aunt Milly blows the whistle, meaning that Baron Gene has to defend Anne from her slanders. However Paul has already figured out that the stars are gazing into one another's eyes up those stone stairs in the music room.

Harding spent her stellar career being lady-like in these super tedious, studio bound vehicles. This one comes complete with Hollywood privileged class clichés of lawn dialogues and leaded window sitting rooms. Every one tries really hard with a couple of striking tracking shots - Harding's arrival, Lukas on the stairs - to show for it but no one seems to realize that their notion of classy entertainment is ridiculous, particularly when compared with the vigor of the Cagney and Robinson movies contemporary with it.

Ends with Brian advising Anne `England is beautiful in the spring.' The only other Charles Morgan movie was made in Germany a couple of decades later.

Recognizable early Steiner score.