The Winslow Boy (1948)

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (play)
Terence Rattigan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 June 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In pre-WW1 England, a youngster is expelled from a naval academy over a petty theft, but his parents raise a political furor by demanding a trial.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play | Character Name In Title | Title Spoken By Character

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Donat	...	Sir Robert Morton
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Arthur Winslow
Basil Radford	...	Desmond Curry
Margaret Leighton	...	Catherine Winslow
Kathleen Harrison	...	Violet
Francis L. Sullivan	...	Attorney General
Marie Lohr	...	Grace Winslow
Jack Watling	...	Dickie Winslow
Walter Fitzgerald	...	First Lord
Frank Lawton	...	John Watherstone
Neil North	...	Ronnie Winslow
Nicholas Hannen	...	Col. Watherstone
Hugh Dempster	...	Agricultural Member
Evelyn Roberts	...	Hamilton MP
W.A. Kelley	...	Brian O'Rourke

Runtime:

117 min | West Germany:105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

De Grunwald Productions

Trivia:

H.H. Asquith, the Prime Minister whose name occurs (as Herbert Asquith) at various points throughout "The Winslow Boy", was in fact the father of that same Anthony Asquith who directed this film.

Movie Connections:

Version of "The DuPont Show of the Month: The Winslow Boy (#2.3)" (1958)

Soundtrack:

Who Were You With Last Night?

Enduring Greatness

This is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen, and since I turn 92 next month, I have seen a fair number of movies. Robert Donat, one of England's greatest actors ever, embodies the true-life soul of Sir Robert Morton, a high-powered attorney, who sacrificed his success for principle. Sir Cedric Hardwicke as magnificent as the accused boy's beleaguered father. Margaret Leighton's chemistry with Donat is flawless. The dialogue by Terrence Rattigan is equally classic. There are also wonderful small bits by Stanley Holloway, Cyril Ritchard, and Ernest Thesinger. If you wish to see a classic English film, almost unknown in this country, rent this one, and you are in for a treat.

Incidentally, there is also a 1998 version of this movie starring Jeremy Northam and Ian McKellen. Although it does not approach the greatness of the original, it is a more than satisfactory homage, and well worth seeing in its own right --- AFTER you've treated yourself to Donat's classic performance.