''Glamorous Night'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Mary Ellis,

Otto Kruger Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor, originally a Broadway matinee idol, who established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as Hitchcock's ''Saboteur''. He also appeared in CBS's ''Perry Mason'' a ...

and Victor Jory. It is an adaptation of the play '' Glamorous Night'' by

Ivor Novello Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

. In a mythical European kingdom, King Stefan clashes with his prime minister and falls in love with the gypsy Melitza.

Cast

* Mary Ellis as Melitza Hjos *

as King Stefan * Victor Jory as Baron Lyadeff * Barry MacKay as Anthony Allan * Trefor Jones as Lorenti * Maire O'Neill as Phoebe * Anthony Holles as Maestro * Charles Carson as Otto * Felix Aylmer as Diplomat *

Finlay Currie William Finlay Currie (20 January 1878 – 9 May 1968) was a Scottish actor of stage, screen, and television.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. pp. 175-176; He re ...

as Angus MacKintosh * Raymond Lovell as Ship's Officer

Critical reception

Sky Movies Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema ...

'' wrote, "The story creaks like a dowager's stays in this torrid tale of Ruritanian romance and skulduggery based on Ivor Novello's stage success. There are compensations, however, in the tuneful music and elegant production values, to say nothing of gipsies who appear to be addicted to ballet dancing. Victor Jory plays the villainous prime minister with steely determination and an American accent, Mary Ellis is suitably lively although she is hardly a believable Romany. Barry Mackay stands out as an English oil prospector, the role originally played on stage by Novello." Writing for '' The Spectator'' in 1937, Graham Greene gave the film a mixed review, describing it as "about as bogus as a film could be", but praising Novello's efforts to bring the film "up to date", and appreciating the photography, the camerawork, the direction, and Ellis' "daemonic good looks". (reprinted in: )

References

External links

*
Official legacy website of the director with filmography including Glamorous Night
1937 films Films shot at Associated British Studios 1937 drama films Films directed by Brian Desmond Hurst British drama films Films set in Europe Films about Romani people British black-and-white films 1930s British films {{1930s-UK-film-stub