• Source: For Valour (1937 film)

      • For Valour is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Tom Walls and starring Walls, Ralph Lynn and Veronica Rose. It was made at Shepperton Studios, with sets designed by Oscar Werndorff. Unlike previous films starring Walls and Lynn, it was based on an original screenplay rather than one of the Aldwych Farces. Both Walls and Lynn played dual roles of two Boer War veterans and their son and grandson respectively. It was the last time the two actors, who had been one of the most popular film comedy teams of the decade, appeared together on screen.


      Synopsis


      During the Boer War, Private Doubleday saves the life of Major Pyke. Pyke recommends that he be awarded a Victoria Cross but the Private is instead sent to prison when his past crimes are discovered. Pyke therefore decides to raise Doubleday's son as his own. Many years later the younger Doubleday has grown to be a master criminal who has never been caught by the police, but whose plans for a major job are ruined by the interference of his ex-convict father.


      Cast


      Tom Walls as Doubleday
      Ralph Lynn as Major Pyke
      Veronica Rose as Phyllis Chisholm
      Joan Marion as Clare Chester
      Hubert Harben as Mr. Gallop
      Henry B. Longhurst as Inspector Harding
      Gordon James as Fowle
      Reginald Tate as Chester
      Evan Thomas as Prison Governor
      Alan Napier as General
      Joyce Barbour as Barmaid
      Romilly Lunge as Stafford
      Basil Lynn as Solicitor
      Walter Lindsay as Butler
      D.J. Williams as Hiccuping Judge


      Critical reception


      The Radio Times wrote, "this Ben Travers comedy keeps promising to burst into life, but is eventually snuffed out by the endless round of deceptions and misunderstandings that were the trademark of his celebrated Aldwych productions. Expert farceurs Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn are as happy as sandboys in their dual roles but, while Walls plays father and son with the customary glint in his eye, Lynn fails to bring the same vim to the part of a Boer War veteran as he does to his shady, silly-ass grandson"; whereas Sky Movies was more positive, writing, "Ben Travers contributes a clever screenplay with a sweetly-turned ending, and Walls (who also directed) and Lynn do first-class work"; and TV Guide called it "One of Walls and Lynn's better British comedies."
      Writing for The Spectator in 1937, Graham Greene gave the film a good review, voicing his appreciation that the film brings viewers back to the elaborate and almost universal roguery in the tradition of The English Rogue and Moll Flanders. Greene praised the acting of both Walls and Lynn who play multiple characters throughout the film, and stated that his only complaint was that it was "a little marred by an inability to remain wholly flippant."


      References




      Bibliography


      Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
      Sutton, David R. A Chorus of Raspberries: British Film Comedy 1929-1939. University of Exeter Press, 2000.
      Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.


      External links


      For Valour at IMDb

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