John Halifax (1938) User Reviews

Gentle John

[richardchatten · 7/10 · 20 November 2021]

A satisfactory breeze through Dinah Craik's socially concerned 1856 bestseller spanning the years 1770-1825.

The music accompanying the opening credits is familiar from George King's penny-dreadfuls with Tod Slaughter; but minus Slaughter himself, presumably because the unspeakable Lord Luxmore the elder wasn't flamboyant enough.

In his absence the lead goes to John Warwick, flanked by old-timer D. J. Williams and new boy Ralph Michael as Phineas; the film's biggest surprise being the novel casting of a pretty young Muriel Pavlov as the latter as a child.

Victorian melodrama

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 14 August 2016]

This is a period drama from quota quickie director-producer George King.The film charts the rise of John Halifax from poverty to respected businessman and mill owner.The suffix to the film title is "Gentleman".Somehow he manages to overcome every problem by fairness ingenuity and turning the other cheek.Though even he nearly looses his temper when his blind daughter is trampled to death by a horse ridden by the nasty Lord Luxmore.The problem is that John Halifax is just too unbelievably nice.One just wishes that he would get angry once in a while The film climaxes with a bank under financial strain.John Halifax yet again comes to the rescue by opening a large account with the ailing bank.

Watchable period piece.

[gnok2002 · 4/10 · 23 July 2016]

I am inserting reviews for all films I've seen that lack one, looks like I'm first to catch this early English film that has recently been screened on the excellent 'Talking Pictures' so here goes..... Watchable fairly straightforward tale of a boy from a poor background who becomes a successful and respected 'gentleman', though set slightly earlier in the early 1800's in the new Mill towns of England, there is a scene where the new, distrusted steam engine is introduced; the tale is very Victorian in attitude, progress through hard work and a 'Gentleman' is beholden only unto God; which reflects when it was written in 1856; This could have been very dull, but G.King is a decent director, so this is a watchable take on the beginnings of the modern world. PS the full title is John Halifax Gentleman

John Halifax review

[JoeytheBrit · 4/10 · 30 April 2020]

Dry, episodic adaptation of Elizabeth Craik's Victorian era novel chronicles one man's life in the space of 69 minutes. It has everything from trouble at t'mill to tragic child deaths but never once engages its audience. John Warwick gives a horribly melodramatic performance in the title role.