The Sun Never Sets is a tribute to a family whose service is to the British Empire on which The Sun Never Sets. The Randolphs just go into colonial service as a matter of duty and tradition. At this moment Basil Rathbone is wrapping up a tour of duty on the African Gold Coast now Ghana. And Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is somewhat reluctantly entering the colonial service as is expected of him. He gets posted to the Gold Coast.
But Rathbone is sent back with a pregnant wife Barbara O'Neil in tow, God only knows why she doesn't stay in the UK. There's a mysterious radio station operating in the area with broadcasts starting world wide panic to the benefit of some unnamed power. Lionel Atwill who is an entomologist is in charge of it and he's as villainous as Lionel Atwill can be.
The gist of the rest of the story is that Fairbanks screws up royally, but gets a chance to redeem himself and save the Empire. Why this African version of Fox News was such a threat we also are never told.
Of course a lot of Hollywood's British colony is here and it starred Hollywood's most noted Anglophile in Fairbanks. This was propaganda with a capital P. It's a given that the British Empire must be saved at all costs. This radio station has global capabilities and we were most definitely not at that stage of communication in 1939.
It's also mentioned that these Randolphs are related to those Randolphs in Virginia to make sure Americans have a stake in this as well. Real subtle I say.
The sun has most definitely set on the British Empire now which renders this film a most horribly dated propaganda flick. A real waste of a lot of talent.
But Rathbone is sent back with a pregnant wife Barbara O'Neil in tow, God only knows why she doesn't stay in the UK. There's a mysterious radio station operating in the area with broadcasts starting world wide panic to the benefit of some unnamed power. Lionel Atwill who is an entomologist is in charge of it and he's as villainous as Lionel Atwill can be.
The gist of the rest of the story is that Fairbanks screws up royally, but gets a chance to redeem himself and save the Empire. Why this African version of Fox News was such a threat we also are never told.
Of course a lot of Hollywood's British colony is here and it starred Hollywood's most noted Anglophile in Fairbanks. This was propaganda with a capital P. It's a given that the British Empire must be saved at all costs. This radio station has global capabilities and we were most definitely not at that stage of communication in 1939.
It's also mentioned that these Randolphs are related to those Randolphs in Virginia to make sure Americans have a stake in this as well. Real subtle I say.
The sun has most definitely set on the British Empire now which renders this film a most horribly dated propaganda flick. A real waste of a lot of talent.