Sound recording: Philip Dorte, T.S. Lyndon-Haynes. British Acoustic Film Sound System. Producer: Michael Balcon. Made on location and at Gaumont-British Studios, Shepherd's Bush. A Gaumont-British Picture, presented by the Rank Organisation and released in the U.K. by International Film Renters.
Copyright 15 May 1935 by Gaumont British Picture Corp. of America. New York opening at the Globe: 20 October 1935. U.K. release: 11 November 1935. London opening at the New Gallery: 12 May 1935. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: December 1935. 80 minutes. (The USA version only is available only on a middling quality Carlton VHS).
U.S. release title (in a 70-minute version): BORN FOR GLORY. Shooting and pre-release title: BROWN ON RESOLUTION. U.S.A. alternative title: TORPEDO RAIDER.
SYNOPSIS: Lone British sailor corners German battleship.
NOTES: First non-documentary to be made with the full co-operation of the British Admiralty, who lent four warships plus 270 naval personnel to Gaumont-British.
Re-made in 1953 as Sailor of the King.
COMMENT: Although Forde didn't like John Mills in the lead part, I thought he was very effective, his diminutive stature further reinforcing the tension and irony of the central situation. I thought him far superior in every respect, including acting, credibility and charisma to the remake's Jeffrey Hunter. In fact, the whole film is more entertaining and suspenseful.
True, the only version currently available is the American, which was cut by some ten or eleven minutes. Lord knows what's missing — perhaps some training sequences or on-shore high-jinks — as there are no gaps in the story-line which moves admirably fast and manages to introduce more conflict in its 70 minutes than "Sailor of the King" in 84.
It was a stroke of genius to introduce an early mate-ship between Brown and a German sailor (remarkably well played by Howard Marion Crawford, looking amazingly youthful and fit, and effecting a most convincing German accent as well), and why this suspenseful device was not retained for the re-make is a mystery.
Not only is the pace faster, the story more engrossing, the characters more sympathetic, but the staging is superior too. The action spots are most excitingly contrived. This version has a freshness and vitality in its acting and direction that makes the newer film look dated and old-hat. (It was a big mistake for "Sailor of the King" to update the plot to WW2. A story that is believable in 1914 can sound incredible in a setting 30 years later).
Production values are excellent too, with real warships and crowded studio sets.
Admittedly, Betty Balfour is a shade old-fashioned but her role (at least in this 70 minute version) is much smaller than her top billing would imply. Barry Mackay carries himself with quiet authority, whilst Percy Walsh is realistic as the German captain. Photography (not seen at its best in this somewhat dupey print) and other credits are first-rate.
Copyright 15 May 1935 by Gaumont British Picture Corp. of America. New York opening at the Globe: 20 October 1935. U.K. release: 11 November 1935. London opening at the New Gallery: 12 May 1935. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: December 1935. 80 minutes. (The USA version only is available only on a middling quality Carlton VHS).
U.S. release title (in a 70-minute version): BORN FOR GLORY. Shooting and pre-release title: BROWN ON RESOLUTION. U.S.A. alternative title: TORPEDO RAIDER.
SYNOPSIS: Lone British sailor corners German battleship.
NOTES: First non-documentary to be made with the full co-operation of the British Admiralty, who lent four warships plus 270 naval personnel to Gaumont-British.
Re-made in 1953 as Sailor of the King.
COMMENT: Although Forde didn't like John Mills in the lead part, I thought he was very effective, his diminutive stature further reinforcing the tension and irony of the central situation. I thought him far superior in every respect, including acting, credibility and charisma to the remake's Jeffrey Hunter. In fact, the whole film is more entertaining and suspenseful.
True, the only version currently available is the American, which was cut by some ten or eleven minutes. Lord knows what's missing — perhaps some training sequences or on-shore high-jinks — as there are no gaps in the story-line which moves admirably fast and manages to introduce more conflict in its 70 minutes than "Sailor of the King" in 84.
It was a stroke of genius to introduce an early mate-ship between Brown and a German sailor (remarkably well played by Howard Marion Crawford, looking amazingly youthful and fit, and effecting a most convincing German accent as well), and why this suspenseful device was not retained for the re-make is a mystery.
Not only is the pace faster, the story more engrossing, the characters more sympathetic, but the staging is superior too. The action spots are most excitingly contrived. This version has a freshness and vitality in its acting and direction that makes the newer film look dated and old-hat. (It was a big mistake for "Sailor of the King" to update the plot to WW2. A story that is believable in 1914 can sound incredible in a setting 30 years later).
Production values are excellent too, with real warships and crowded studio sets.
Admittedly, Betty Balfour is a shade old-fashioned but her role (at least in this 70 minute version) is much smaller than her top billing would imply. Barry Mackay carries himself with quiet authority, whilst Percy Walsh is realistic as the German captain. Photography (not seen at its best in this somewhat dupey print) and other credits are first-rate.