Break the News (film)
| Break the News | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | René Clair |
| Produced by | René Clair |
| Written by |
Geoffrey Kerr René Clair |
| Based on | novel by Loïc Le Gouriadec |
| Starring |
Jack Buchanan Maurice Chevalier June Knight |
| Music by |
Cole Porter (songs & lyrics) Theo Mackeben (incidental music) Van Phillips (musical direction) |
| Cinematography | Philip Tannura |
| Edited by | Frederick Wilson |
Production company |
A Jack Buchanan Productions Picture Trio Productions |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (Uk) |
Release dates | June 1938 (U.K.) |
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Break the News is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by René Clair and starring Jack Buchanan, Maurice Chevalier and June Knight.[1] Two struggling performers decide to create a fake murder scandal in order to drum up publicity for their act. It was based on the novel Le mort en fuite by Loïc Le Gouriadec which had previously been made into a 1936 French film Death on the Run. Songs featured include It All Belongs to You (Cole Porter, sung by Chevalier) and We're Old Buddies (Van Phillips, Jack Buchanan, sung by Chevalier and Buchanan).[2]
Cast
- Jack Buchanan - Teddy Enton
- Maurice Chevalier - François Verrier
- June Knight - Grace Gatwick
- Marta Labarr - Sonia
- Gertrude Musgrove - Helena
- Garry Marsh - Producer
- Wallace Douglas - Stage manager
- Joss Ambler - Press agent
- Mark Daly - Property man
- Gibb McLaughlin - Superintendent
- Robb Wilton - cab driver
- Felix Aylmer - Sir George Bickory
- C. Denier Warren - Sir Edward Phring
- George Hayes - Tribunal President
- Guy Middleton - Englishman
- Athole Stewart - Governor
- Charles Lefeaux - Interpreter
- D.J. Williams - Judge
- Elliott Mason - Dresser
- J. Abercomie - Neighbor
- William Fazan - Passport Official
- H.R. Hignett - Prison Guard
- Wally Patch - Prison Guard
- Hal Gordon - Prison Guard
- George Benson - Firing Squad Officer
- Nigel Stock - Stage Boy
Critical reception
Allmovie wrote, "What a combination! Break the News boasted the talents of English stage star Jack Buchanan, French entertainer Maurice Chevalier, legendary director Rene Clair, and songwriter Cole Porter. But what should have made for dynamite entertainment, fizzled in the eyes of disappointed contemporary reviewers" ; [3] as The New York Times put it, "there is little to suggest the old Clair wit and humor."[4] However, TV Guide wrote, "the always enchanting Buchanan and Chevalier are a pleasure to watch in this funny, energetic musical that features some hilariously suspenseful sequences. Although it may not rank with director Clair's French classics, this perfect piece of British entertainment holds its own special place." [2]
References
- ↑ "Break the News (1938)". BFI.
- 1 2 "Break The News". TVGuide.com.
- ↑ Hal Erickson. "Break the News (1939) - René Clair - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=980CEFDB123DE33BBC4A53DFB766838A659EDE