The Great Garrick (1937)

Director:

James Whale

Writer:

Ernest Vajda (play)

Release Date:

30 October 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Countess | London England | Paris France | Gunfire

Cast

Brian Aherne	...	David Garrick
Olivia de Havilland	...	Germaine de la Corbe
Edward Everett Horton	...	Tubby
Melville Cooper	...	M. W. Picard
Lionel Atwill	...	M. Beaumarchais
Luis Alberni	...	Luis Basset
Lana Turner	...	Mlle. Auber
Marie Wilson	...	Mlle. Nicolle
Linda Perry	...	Mlle. Molee
Fritz Leiber	...	Horatio in 'Hamlet'
Etienne Girardot	...	Jean Cabot
Dorothy Tree	...	Mme. Moreau
Craig Reynolds	...	M. Janin
Paul Everton	...	M. Dulac
Trevor Bardette	...	M. Noverre

Also Known As:

Ladies and Gentlemen (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone) | Black and White (Turner library print)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #3496)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The play opened in London, England, UK on 18 May 1937.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999) (V)

Soundtrack:

La Marseillaise

Garrick was supposed to be "a great actor", not "a great ham"...

I anticipated getting a lot of enjoyment from THE GREAT GARRICK based on previously read reviews and the great cast involved. I was sorely disappointed. James Whale may have been a master at directing horror films but stylized comedy was not his forte. Worst offender of all is Brian Aherne (hamming it up considerably as the great actor) and Luis Alberni, obnoxious as a thespian anxious to do a "mad scene".

Some of the humor is painstakingly obvious with everyone determined to see who could outdo the other in shouting their lines and mugging to the nth degree. Edward Everett Horton is best with the comic lines and Melville Cooper is reasonably restrained in a good supporting role.

As for the stars, Brian Aherne looks attractive as the gentleman actor but forgets that he is supposed to be a "great" actor, not a "ham" actor and overdoes his role with painful results. Olivia de Havilland is pretty as the leading lady in an ingenue role that gives her little to do but look admiringly at Aherne, which she does dutifully.

If you look hard enough, you can spot Lana Turner and Marie Wilson in supporting roles as giggling players in the French company. Wilson seems to be getting in the foreground whenever possible if only to get some notice from the hapless shenanigans going on in the country inn.

Disappointing, to say the least, and watchable only to see Brian Aherne and Olivia de Havilland co-starring in the same film. (Aherne later married de Havilland's sister, Joan Fontaine).