''The Middle Watch'' is a 1930 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Norman Walker Norman Walker may refer to: *Norman Walker (bass) (1907–1963), English bass opera singer * Norman W. Walker (1886–1985), British-American raw food and alternative health advocate *Norman Walker (director) (1892–1963), British film director * ...

and starring

Owen Nares Owen Ramsay Nares (11 August 1888 – 30 July 1943) was an English stage and film actor. Besides his acting career, he was the author of ''Myself, and Some Others'' (1925). Early life Educated at Reading School, Nares was encouraged by his mo ...

Jacqueline Logan Jacqueline Medura Logan (November 30, 1902 – April 4, 1983) was an American actress and silent film star. Logan was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922. Early life Logan was born in Corsicana, Texas, on November 30, 1902, the only child to Charles A. ...

Jack Raine Thomas Foster "Jack" Raine (18 May 1897 – 30 May 1979) was an English stage, television and film actor. He was a leading man of the British cinema in the late twenties and early thirties in such films as ''The Hate Ship'' (1929), '' Raise the ...

and

Dodo Watts Dorothy Margaret Watts (1910–1990), known professionally as Dodo Watts, was a British stage and film actress. She played Fay Eaton in the 1929 Broadway version of Ian Hay's play ''The Middle Watch'', and reprised her role in the 1930 British ...

. It was based on a play of the same title by

Ian Hay Major General John Hay Beith, Order of the British Empire, CBE Military Cross, MC (17 April 1876 – 22 September 1952), was a British schoolmaster and soldier, but is best remembered as a novelist, playwright, essayist, and historian who w ...

. (The play is mentioned by David Niven in his memoir , along withe Ann Todd who had a minor role in it )The film's sets were designed by John Mead. The film was made by

British International Pictures Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appro ...

at its

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

. It was later remade in 1940 by the same company.

Cast

as Captain Maitland *

as Mary Carlton *

as Commander Baddeley *

as Fay Eaton *

Frederick Volpe Frederick Volpe (31 July 1865 – 7 March 1932), sometimes printed Volpé, was an English actor. He made his stage debut in his early twenties. From 1894 until his death he was a familiar figure on the West End stage, generally in undemanding co ...

as Admiral Sir Herbert Hewitt *

Henry Wenman Henry Wenman (1875-1953) was a British actor. He was a brother of theatrical producer Charles Wenman, who had a substantial career in Australia. Filmography References External links * 1875 births 1953 deaths British male film actor ...

as Marine Ogg *

Reginald Purdell Reginald Purdell (4 November 1896 – 22 April 1953) was an English actor and screenwriter who appeared in over 40 films between 1930 and 1951. During the same period he also contributed to the screenplays of 15 feature films, such as '' Th ...

as Corporal Duckett *

Margaret Halstan Margaret Halstan (25 December 1879 – 8 January 1967) was a British stage, radio, television and film actress. In theatre and film roles she often played upper-class ladies of the gentry, with a career spanning over six decades. She was particula ...

as Lady Agatha Hewitt * Phyllis Loring as Nancy Hewitt *

Hamilton Keene Hamilton George Keene (15 November 1896, in Hampstead – 4 October 1975, in Chelsea). He was a British stage and film actor.Edwards p.188 He appeared in more than thirty British films, originally in more prominent roles during the early 1930s an ...

as Captain Randall *

Muriel Aked Muriel Aked (9 November 1883 – 21 March 1955) was an English film actress. Early life, family and education Aked was born in Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England to George Henry Aked and his wife Emma (née Bairstow). She was a student ...

as Charlotte Hopkinson * George Carr as Ah Fong *

Syd Crossley Syd Crossley (18 November 1885 – 1 November 1960) was an English stage and film actor. Born in London in 1885, Crossley began his career as a music hall comedian. He appeared in more than 110 films, often cast as a butler, between 1925 an ...

as Sentry

Reception

The film was voted the best British movie of 1931.

References

External links

* 1930 films 1930 comedy films British comedy films Films shot at British International Pictures Studios 1930s English-language films British films based on plays Films based on works by Ian Hay Films directed by Norman Walker Seafaring films British black-and-white films 1930s British films {{1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub