Loyalties

Page Two

"Rathbone makes you feel how being subtly slighted and humiliated have given de Levis a chip on his shoulder and a helpless petulance that in turn only provoke more opposition and dislike. He shows you not just the abrasive surface but the baffled and hurt little boy underneath." Eddie Selover, https://brightlightsfilm.com/the-strange-case-of-basil-rathbone


De Levis accuses Dancy of the theft.

Winsor and General Canynge ask De Levis to withdraw his accusation.

"Skillfully directed by Basil Dean and possessed of an exceptionally fine British cast, the drama must be rated one of the best that has come from England's studios. Basil Rathbone contributes an excellent performance. ... Mr. Dean, Mr. Rathbone and the rest have more than caught the spirit of the play. In their hands the transcription has been so well contrived that the work seems to have been made expressly for the screen, rather than for the stage." Frank S. Nugent, The New York Times, October 26, 1934

"Actor Alan Napier recalls that Rathbone was a sincere person, who wanted to be liked, and always endeavored to accomplish this: 'He enjoyed sitting around the set ... telling stories and being the center of attention. I knew Basil for years and I was constantly surprised at how young he always seemed in relationship to his age ... He was a very gracious man.'" Michael Druxman, Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films, 1975

 

Loyalties

The Galsworthy play has been converted into a generally entertaining film. While the picture is not comparable to the play as a dramatic work, it has been kept reasonably faithful to the original. The glaring fault the production reveals—in fact, the chief fault that my hamper its success in America—is the British speech of the players, which is at times difficult to make out. There are several members of the cast who can plead "not guilty" to this charge, notably Basil Rathbone and Joan Wyndham.

Rathbone, as Ferdinand de Levis, a wealthy young Jew, who is the pivotal character of the play, dominates the picture. He plays with an intensity that gives conviction to the part. Incensed at the theft of a large sum of money at a house party, he demands that an investigation be made by the police. He has every reason to suspect Miles Mander, an army captain pressed for cash. Smarting under an insult from Mander referring to his race, Rathbone refuses to retract his charge.

Mander, who really stole the money, is forced to bring a libel action against Rathbone against his wishes. When the captain's attorneys, tracing the serial numbers of some of the stolen bills, discover not only that their client is guilty of the crime but that he used the money to mollify the father of a girl with whom he was indiscreet, the y ask the court that the case be dropped. They are afraid that if they go on with the case the story of the young woman will come to light. Even so, Mander faces prison for theft. Seeing no way out, he leaps to his death as he is about to be arrested.

The racial angle should no more be a problem in exploiting this picture than in the case of "The House of Rothschild." The question of animosities is kept in the background.

The picture has been given a good production and fine settings.

Also in the cast are Heather Thatcher, Philip Strange and Alan Napier. Basil Dean's direction is commendable.

No code seal. Running time, 74 minutes.

Motion Picture Daily, October 26, 1934

 

"Basil Rathbone, seen until lately in American films, gives a remarkable study as the Jew, de Levis; his suave manner and pride of race make for real drama in the clash with the snobbery revealed by that excellent actor, Miles Mander." The Lancashire Daily Post, October 13, 1933

"The clash of race, class, and love, are stirringly depicted in an outstanding production in which such fine home-players as Basil Rathbone, Heather Thatcher, and Miles Mander, do their best work." Western Mail and South Wales News, November 11, 1933


De Levis

Mrs. Dancy asks De Levis to drop his accusation

"Basil Rathbone's presentation of the Jew is a little less offensive than Galsworthy led one to believe, and Miles Mander, as Captain Dancy, is more obviously caddish; but one should thank Basil Rathbone for his beautiful English." A. D., The Yorkshire Evening Post, November 14, 1933

"The acting is uneven. some of the minor characters—especially Laurence Hanray's masterly portrait of the old solicitor—carry more conviction than the principals, but Basil Rathbone's interpretation of de Levis is admirable and full of penetration. He dominates the whole picture." —The Sketch, July 5, 1933

 

"Loyalties" with Basil Rathbone

Poor! Not only is the story unsuited for motion pictures, but the production is bad. the sound is poor—the English accents will be difficult for American audiences to understand, and the editing is choppy. Since the characters are all unsympathetic, there is no human appeal in the story; all that one feels is resentment and antagonism towards the different people for the obnoxious traits they show. And to add to all this, there is the feeling of racial prejudice of the Christian towards the Jew. Although one feels that Basil Rathbone, in the role of the wealthy Jew, is justified in asking for his money back, which had been stolen from him, one cannot help resenting the fact that, in his desire to expose the man who had stolen his money, he was ruining the lives of two persons. And one can have only contempt for the thief, who, although a man of position and reputation, stole the money and then continued to insult Rathbone, instead of treating him courteously. The ending is tragic.

In the development of the plot Rathbone, when refused admittances to a well-known club because, as he feels, he is a Jew, is determined to ruin the character of Miles Mander, because he instinctively felt that Mander had stolen his money. Mander, urged on by his wife and friends, brings an action for slander. Everything seems to be in Mander's favor until his lawyers come upon evidence distinctly showing that Mander had stolen the money. He confesses this to his lawyer who withdraws from the case. Mander's wife is heartbroken and pleads with him to leave the country. Rathbone calls to see Mander and tells him that he is not bitter towards him any more and adds his pleas for Mander to leave the county. But too late, for the police had arrived with a warrant for Mander's arrest. Mander kills himself by leaping from the window to the street.

The plot was adapted from the play by John Galsworthy. It was directed by Basil Dean. The all-English cast consists of Joan Wyndham, Philip Strange, Alan Napier, and others.

The robbery makes it unsuitable for children, adolescents, or Sundays. Class B.

Harrison's Reports, November 3, 1934.

 

"Basil Rathbone gives a remarkable study as the Jew, and there is superb acting on the part of Miles Mander, Heather Thatcher and Joan Wyndham." The Norwood News, November 3, 1933

"The cast is notable. Basil Rathbone as the Jew, Heather Thatcher as a society woman, Miles Mander as the Army captain, Joan Wyndham as the loyal wife give brilliant renditions of their respective characters." The West London Observer, October 20, 1933


De Levis hears the judgment in his favor.

De Levis hears what happened to Captain Dancy.

"Loyalties is excellently cast and acted. Basil Rathbone as the Jew, de Levis, is admirable. To be effective, the actor must get into the skin of the character, the righteousness and racial pride, the vindictiveness and latent vulgarity, the tenacity of that particular Jew in that peculiar situation, must come from within, to make the character convincing or sympathetic. Rathbone accomplishes this." The Bystander, July 12, 1933

 

Go to Page Three for pictures of posters and promo photos.

Back to page one, review of Loyalties

 

 

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All original content is copyright Marcia Jessen, 2023