The Beachcomber (1938)

In the Dutch islands, the sister of a pious missionary attempts to reform a womanizing, drunken beach bum.

Director:

Erich Pommer

Writers:

W. Somerset Maugham (short story "Vessel of Wrath"), Bartlett Cormack (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, Robert Newton

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Laughton	...	Ginger Ted' Wilson
Elsa Lanchester	...	Martha Jones
Robert Newton	...	The Controleur
Tyrone Guthrie	...	Dr. Owen Jones
Eliot Makeham	...	The Native Head Clerk
Dolly Mollinger	...	Lia
D.A. Ward	...	Albert
J. Solomon	...	Sgt. Henrik

Storyline

In the Dutch islands, the sister of a pious missionary attempts to reform a womanizing, drunken beach bum.

---

Plot Keywords:

beachcomber | spinster schoolteacher | typhoid fever | charles laughton billed above the title | actor's name in tagline | 

---

Taglines:

HE'S GONE TO THE DOGS...And He Likes It! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Lubbock Evening Journal - Broadway Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - May 4, 1939)

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The nursery rhyme that Ted quotes is 'Jack Sprat' (The most common version of the rhyme is: Jack Sprat could eat no fat./ His wife could eat no lean./ And so between them both, you see,/ They licked the platter clean)

---

Goofs

The shadows on Ginger Ted's verandah change between shots in the opening scenes. In the first shot most of the verandah is in muted shadow, in the next most of it is in full sun with clear shadows. Later, his dog is seen sitting on the verandah in full sun late in the day with the shadows in the same place as earlier.

---

Connections

Remade as The Beachcomber (1954)

---

Soundtracks

Sailing, Sailing (Over the Bounding Main)
(uncredited)
Sung by Ginger Ted
Written by Godfrey Marks

User Reviews

Laughton and Lanchester are great

I really enjoyed this movie. Laughton looked like he had a great time with this one playing the indolent womanizer as well his wife as the uptight missionary. Fun!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Beachcomber

Filming Locations:

British International Pictures Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mayflower Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1