The Winslow Boy (1948)

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

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

Terence Rattigan (adapted from the play by), Terence Rattigan (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Donat, Cedric Hardwicke, Basil Radford

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Donat	...	Sir Robert Morton
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Arthur Winslow (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Basil Radford	...	Desmond Curry
Margaret Leighton	...	Catherine Winslow
Kathleen Harrison	...	Violet - the maid
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	...	Colonel Watherstone
Hugh Dempster	...	Agricultural Member
Evelyn Roberts	...	Hamilton M.P.
W.A. Kelley	...	Brian O'Rourke

Storyline

In Edwardian England, a thirteen year-old cadet, Ronnie Winslow, is expelled from the naval academy at Osborne for stealing a seven shilling postal order. His father and sister become obsessed with proving his innocence at any cost to themselves, and turn the case into a national cause celebre.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | injustice | false accusation | family character name in title | three word title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Fall Winslow

Filming Locations:

London Film Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions, De Grunwald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Neil North who plays Ronald 'The Winslow Boy', in this 1948 version also plays in the 1999 version of the same film, but this time as the First Lord.

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Goofs

When they visit the House of Commons for the first time, the newspaper boy carries a poster "London motorist killed", and on the first day of the trial the poster has not changed - or else a second motorist has been killed.

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Quotes

Catherine Winslow: You still haven't answered my question, Sir Robert.
Sir Robert Morton: Very well then, if you must have it. I wept today because right had been done.
Catherine Winslow: Not justice?
Sir Robert Morton: No, not justice - right. It's easy to do justice. Very hard to do right. But right has been done.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

"Wait and See' (uncredited)
Written and Sung by Stanley Holloway

User Reviews

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.