The Winslow Boy (1948)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

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 Winslow Boy (1999)

Soundtrack:

Who Were You With Last Night?

total class

I hadn't seen this but was aware of its starry remake some fifty years on; having now seen both, this is the better movie for several reasons. Firstly, three brilliant actors in the cast: Cedric Hardwicke, who still fools me every time and it is a surprise and joy to discover it was him after all when the credits roll; Robert Donat, who had another definitive role in this to add to Mr Chips; and the lovely Margaret Leighton, as the suffragette Winslow daughter who isn't at all militant. Secondly, the plot, which manages to weave quite a few threads along with the central story of little Ronnie Winslow and the stolen postal order. And lastly, because of the sparkle and energy of the script and the detail put into every frame. It's a wonderful film which keeps the attention from wandering, and I highly recommend it.