''The Last Curtain'' is a 1937 British

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by David MacDonald and starring Campbell Gullan,

Kenne Duncan Kenne Duncan (February 17, 1903 – February 5, 1972) was a Canadian-born American B-movie character actor. Hyped professionally as "The Meanest Man in the Movies," the vast majority of his over 250 appearances on camera were Westerns, but ...

and

Greta Gynt Greta Gynt (born Margrethe Woxholt; 15 November 1916 – 2 April 2000) was a Norwegian dancer and actress. She is remembered for her starring roles in the British classic films '' The Dark Eyes of London'', ''Mr. Emmanuel'', ''Take My Life'', ''D ...

. The film blends drama and comedy and its plot follows an insurance investigator who examines a series of robberies that have taken place. Much of the action takes place backstage at the fictitious Trafalgar Theatre. It was made at

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to te ...

as a

quota quickie The Cinematograph Films Act of 1927 ('' 17 & 18 Geo. V'') was an act of the United Kingdom Parliament designed to stimulate the declining British film industry. It received Royal Assent on 20 December 1927 and came into force on 1 April 1928. D ...

.Wood p.95 The film's sets were designed by John Bryan. It was the first film for comedy actor Joss Ambler who went on to star with such comedy stalwarts as

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

and

Will Hay William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film '' O ...

Cast

* Campbell Gullan as Sir Alan Masterville *

as Joe Garsatti *

as Julie Rendle * John Wickham as Bob Fenton *

Sara Seegar Sara Seegar (born Sarah Wall Seegar; July 1, 1914 – August 12, 1990) was an American actress. A performer on stage, film, radio, and television, she may best be remembered for her role as Mrs. Wilson in the 1962–63 season of '' Dennis the M ...

as Molly *

Joss Ambler Joss Ambler (23 June 1900 – 1959) was an Australian-born British film and television actor. He usually played somewhat pompous and irascible figures of authority, particularly in comedy films. He was an effective foil to George Formby in both ...

as Ellis *

W.G. Fay WG may refer to: In arts and entertainment * W&G Records, an Australian recording company * ''Will & Grace'', a television series * Wonder Girls, a South Korean girl group Businesses * W. G. Bagnall, a locomotive manufacturer in Stafford, Englan ...

as Milligam *

Eric Hales Eric Hales (1901–1993) was a British actor. Selected filmography * ''The Second Mate'' (1928) * '' The Lure of the Atlantic'' (1929) * ''Chelsea Life'' (1933) * '' Anne One Hundred'' (1933) * '' The Secret of the Loch'' (1934) * '' Lucky D ...

as Barrington *

Mervyn Johns Mervyn Johns (born David Mervyn John; 18 February 18996 September 1992) was a Welsh stage, film and television character actor who became a star of British films during the Second World War. Johns was known for his "mostly mild-mannered, lugubrio ...

as Hemp

References

Bibliography

* Low, Rachael. ''Filmmaking in 1930s Britain''. George Allen & Unwin, 1985. * Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute, 1986.

External links

* 1937 films 1937 crime films British crime films Films directed by David MacDonald (director) Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan Films set in London Quota quickies British black-and-white films British and Dominions Studios films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films {{1930s-crime-film-stub