Anton Walbrook — Actor (6)
Hokum (1936) [Movie] Douban
director: Willi Forst actor: Renate Müller / Jenny Jugo
other title: Allotria
Professional race driver David and the owner of a plantation on island Java Filip – bosom friends. For the sake of strong friendship they have sworn each other that will never fall in love and look after the same girl. Once, during the next transatlantic swimming, Filip gets acquainted with blond Violoj who thirsts to marry and tries to receive from it a declaration of love. But Filip is afraid of marriage and evades the question. Having stepped into a land, the planter unexpectedly learns that its friend David in spite of the fact that it is betrothed with beauty Gabi, has taken notice of Violu and periodically visits its smart apartment. After serious conversation guys decide that they should stop all meetings with the maiden differently to their friendship “kaput”, but Viola adheres to other sights at the future and does everything to arrange the happiness…
Sixty Glorious Years (1938) [Movie] Douban IMDb
Sixty Glorious Years
director: Herbert Wilcox actor: Anna Neagle / Anton Walbrook
other title: 荣耀六十年
Sixty Glorious Years is an exercise in the creation of iconography, both for Victoria and its star, Anna Neagle (who subsequently became known as 'Regal Neagle'). Just as Elizabeth I commissioned artists to create flattering iconic images for public consumption, so this film performs a similar function, for Neagle is more beautiful than the real life Victoria. Controversial events (such as the 'Irish problem') are omitted and unpleasant aspects of Victoria's character (her petulance, arrogance, favouritism and 'right to privilege') are glossed over as endearing little 'whims'. Albert acts as a moderating influence when she goes too far.
The film followed a year after the highly successful Victoria the Great (d. Herbert Wilcox, 1937). Again the screenplay is by Miles Malleson and Robert Vansittart, and many of the supporting cast (the cream of acting talent of period) repeat their roles, this time for the colour cameras. This was the first full length Technicolor film of cinematographer Freddie Young, who captures the spectacle of royal weddings, grand balls and opulent interiors, with scenes actually filmed at royal palaces. Vivid battle scenes, set in Alexander Korda's empire territory (Sevastopol and the Sudan), rival those in The Four Feathers (d. Zoltan Korda 1939).
The title music sets the tone: a regal choir sings over a shot of the crown. Elgar's 1901 'Pomp and Circumstance' march is heard during the diamond jubilee celebrations and, as Victoria's coffin lies in state, the film concludes with Anthony Collins' stately music accompanied by the text of Rudyard Kipling's 'Lest we forget'. Combined with the emotional appeal of scenes of Victoria connecting with her 'ordinary folk', this is stirring stuff.
The film connects with contemporary events of 1938. The release of two celebratory royal films was intended to boost public affection for the monarchy in the wake of Edward VIII's abdication. Anglo-German relations were another touchy subject. With another war on the horizon, influential voices wanted appeasement, and the film could be seen to fit that agenda. Victoria herself was of mainly German descent, nicknamed 'the grandmother of Europe', while Albert is a 'good German', charmingly played by Anton Walbrook as a cultured, decent man.
Sixty Glorious Years now seems unduly formal and reverential. Had movies existed during Victoria's reign (they only emerged at the end) this might have been the kind of film produced. Unlike Mrs Brown (d. John Madden, 1997), it is all so very 'Victorian'.
Roger Philip Mellor
Gaslight (1940) [Movie] IMDb WikiData TMDB Eggplant.place Douban
Gaslight
7.6 (10 ratings) director: Thorold Dickinson actor: Anton Walbrook / Diana Wynyard
other title: 煤气灯下 / 天使街
Twenty years ago, old Mrs. Barlow was killed in her home at 12, Pimlico Square for her priceless rubies. The murderer searched the whole house without finding them, then disappeared. The house has been empty since then, but now Paul and Bella Mallen move into the apartment. Bella Mallen suffers from forgetfulness and nervousness - at least that is what her husband tells her. An elderly horse wrangler, B.G. Rough worked as a policeman twenty years ago and still remembers the unsolved case. He notices that Mr. Mallen looks just like Louis Barre, Mrs. Barlow's nephew. And why does Mr. Mallen so mysteriously leave every night just to go into the apartment next door, nr. 14?
The Queen of Spades (1949) [Movie] Douban IMDb WikiData TMDB
The Queen of Spades
director: Thorold Dickinson actor: Anton Walbrook / Edith Evans
other title: 黑桃王后 / 스페이드의 여왕
An elderly countess strikes a bargain with the devil and exchanges her soul for the ability to always win at cards. An army officer, who is also a fanatic about cards, murders her for the secret, then finds himself haunted by the woman's spirit.