''Sorrell and Son'' is a 1934 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Jack Raymond Jack Raymond (1886–1953) was an English actor and film director. Born in Wimborne, Dorset in 1886, he began acting before the First World War in '' A Detective for a Day''. In 1921 he directed his first film and gradually he wound down his a ...

and written by

Lydia Hayward Lydia Hayward (1879-1945) was a British screenwriter and actress who worked on over 30 screenplays between 1920 and 1942. She was particularly active during the 1920s.Nelmes p.49 Hayward has been noted for several of the sophisticated comedy fil ...

. The film stars H. B. Warner,

Margot Grahame Margot Grahame (born Margaret Clark; 20 February 1911 – 1 January 1982) was an English actress most noted for starring in '' The Informer'' (1935) and ''The Three Musketeers'' (1935). She started acting in 1930 and made her last screen app ...

, Peter Penrose,

Hugh Williams Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (6 March 1904 – 7 December 1969) was a British actor and dramatist of Welsh descent. Early life and career Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (nicknamed "Tam") was born at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex to Hugh Dafydd Anth ...

and

Winifred Shotter Winifred Florence Shotter (5 November 1904 – 4 April 1996) was an English actress best known for her appearances in the Aldwych farces of the 1920s and early 1930s. Initially a singer and dancer in the ensembles of musical comedies, Shotte ...

. It was made by the producer

Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best known for the films he made with his third wif ...

at British and Dominion Elstree Studios. It is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by

Warwick Deeping George Warwick Deeping (28 May 1877 – 20 April 1950) was an English novelist and short story writer, whose best-known novel was '' Sorrell and Son'' (1925). Life Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, into a family of physicians, Warwick Deeping ...

. A silent version had previously been released in 1927, also starring Warner. The film was released on 29 May 1934, by

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stud ...

. It was actor Louis Hayward's final English film before relocating to America, where he had a successful acting career for many years.

Plot

When Captain Sorrell returns home from the war, his wife Dora leaves him for another man. Despite considerable hardship, the captain devotes his life to bringing up his young son Kit, who becomes the object of his devotion. Eventually, the boy grows up to have a successful career as a doctor, and the captain lives long enough to see him happily married.

Cast

* H. B. Warner as Captain Stephen Sorrell *

as Mrs. Dora Sorrell *Peter Penrose as Kit Sorrell as a Child *

as Kit Sorrell as an Adult *

as Molly Pentreath * Ruby Miller as Mrs. Palfrey *

Evelyn Roberts Evelyn Roberts (28 August 1886 – 30 November 1962) was an English stage and film actor. He made his stage debut in 1918 after serving in WW I; and his theatre work included the original Broadway production of R.C. Sherriff's ''Journey's E ...

as Mr. Roland *

Donald Calthrop Donald Esme Clayton Calthrop (11 April 1888 – 15 July 1940) was an English stage and film actor. Born in London, Calthrop was educated at St Paul's School and made his first stage appearance at eighteen years of age at the Comedy Theatr ...

as Dr. Richard Orange *

Arthur Chesney Arthur William Kellaway (21 November 1881 – 27 August 1949), known as Arthur Chesney, was an English character actor who worked on stage and screen. Biography He was born 21 November 1881 in Hampstead, London, the son of John and Catherine K ...

as Mr. Porteous *

Wally Patch Walter Sydney Vinnicombe (26 September 1888 – 27 October 1970) was an English actor and comedian. He worked in film, television and theatre. Biography Vinnicombe was born in Willesden, Middlesex and began working on the music hall stages in ...

as Buck *Hope Davy as Ethel *

Louis Hayward Louis Charles Hayward (19 March 1909 – 21 February 1985) was a Johannesburg-born, British-American actor. Biography Born in Johannesburg, Louis Hayward lived in South Africa and was educated in France and England, including Latymer Upper Scho ...

as Duncan

Critical reception

''The New York Times'' wrote "Warwick Deeping's novel, ''Sorrell and Son,'' which was produced as

a silent film A Silent Film are an English alternative rock band from Oxford. The band consists of Robert Stevenson (vocals/piano/guitar) and Spencer Walker (drums). Their first album, ''The City That Sleeps'', was released on 6 October 2008, with one reviewe ...

about seven years ago, is now to be seen at the Mayfair in talking-picture form. It was made by the British and Dominions concern under the supervision of Herbert Wilcox. It gives a faithful transcription...but in an episodic fashion, which often causes the story to be somewhat abrupt in its development. H.B. Warner, who acted Captain Sorrell in the mute edition, again plays the rôle in the current offering; and if his acting is not always as restrained as one might wish, it is frequently affecting. And after all, the author himself piled on the agony, a fact which gives both Mr. Warner and Mr. Wilcox an excuse to overemphasize the depiction of the hardships and misfortunes of the ex-British officer. Although there were disappointing spots in the Brenon film, its continuity was infinitely better than the present work, and also the silent production had the advantage of many impressive glimpses of London, the upper reaches of the Thames and the English countryside. Admitting that Mr. Wilcox gives an occasional flash of a charming country town, there are not enough of such views...The tragic note in the end is touched upon with laudable reticence";. ''TV Guide'' noted "Warner is nearly perfect in his portrayal of the broken man who refuses to give in, although choppy editing hinders the overall effect."

References

External links

* {{Herbert Wilcox 1934 films British black-and-white films Films directed by Jack Raymond United Artists films 1934 drama films British drama films Films based on British novels British and Dominions Studios films Films shot at Imperial Studios, Elstree 1930s English-language films 1930s British films