Nurse Edith Cavell (1939)

English nurse Edith Cavell is matron in a small private hospital in German-occupied Brussels during WWI. When the son of a recently deceased patient escapes from a German prisoner-of-war ... See full summary »

Director:

Herbert Wilcox

Writers:

Reginald Berkeley (story), Edith Cavell (novel),

Stars:

Anna Neagle, Edna May Oliver, George Sanders

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Anna Neagle	...	Nurse Edith Cavell
Edna May Oliver	...	Countess de Mavon
George Sanders	...	Capt. Heinrichs
May Robson	...	Mme. Rappard
Zasu Pitts	...	Mme. Moulin
H.B. Warner	...	Hugh Gibson
Sophie Stewart	...	Sister Williams
Mary Howard	...	Nurse O'Brien
Robert Coote	...	Bungey
Martin Kosleck	...	Pierre
Gui Ignon	...	Cobbler
Lionel Royce	...	Gen. von Ehrhardt
Jimmy Butler	...	Jean Rappard (as James Butler)
Rex Downing	...	François Rappard
Henry Brandon	...	Lt. Schultz

Storyline

English nurse Edith Cavell is matron in a small private hospital in German-occupied Brussels during WWI. When the son of a recently deceased patient escapes from a German prisoner-of-war camp, Cavell aids him to reach Holland and safety. This leads to Cavell, a local noblewoman, the grandmother of the escaped prisoner-of-war, and others to form an organization to help Belgian, French, English and other soldiers escape as well. Eventually the Germans become aware of what's happening and take action.

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | hospital | world war one | based on novel | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Enfermeira Edith Cavell

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imperadio Pictures Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bible verse Cavell reads in the night, "Appoint out for you cities of refuge whereof I spake unto you..." is from Joshua 20:2.

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Connections

Version of Dawn (1928)

User Reviews

Courageous WWI nurse is first woman ever executed by enemy

The politics involving the execution of Nurse Edith Cavell for her espionage war efforts was one of history's blackest pages. Indeed no woman was ever executed before her for similar crimes. This is what gave her the added courage to continue her work in the face of almost insurmountable odds. The film is solid and entertaining with such marvelous character actresses as Edna May Oliver, Zasu Pitts and May Robson in support of Anna Neagle, noble and regal in the lead. The film deservedly earned an Oscar nom for its fine score. Very worth seeing.