Darby and Joan [She’s My Darling] ** (1937, Peggy Simpson, Ian Fleming, Tod Slaughter, Mickey Brantford, Pamela Bevan) – Classic Movie Review 13,429

Lost and found

The 1937 British drama film Darby and Joan [She’s My Darling] stars Peggy Simpson, Ian Fleming and Tod Slaughter. A most peculiar mix of sentimental siblings saga and murky murder mystery, this once-lost movie is now found in a full version.

Director Syd Courtenay’s 1937 British drama film Darby and Joan [She’s My Darling] stars Peggy Simpson, Ian Fleming, Tod Slaughter, Mickey Brantford, and Pamela Bevan. A most peculiar mix of sentimental siblings saga and murky murder mystery, it is written by Syd Courtenay based on the 1888 novel Darby and Joan by Rita (the pen name of Eliza Humphreys).

This once-lost movie is now found the UK Talking Pictures TV channel in a full version of 76 minutes rather than the shortened 45-minute edit, which was all that was previously known still to survive.

Tod Slaughter stars as Mr Templeton and Pamela Bevan and Peggy Simpson are his daughters Darby and Joan. Joan loves work-shy rogue Yorke Ferris (Mickey Brantford), but weds his old his uncle, Sir Ralph (Ian Fleming), to thank him for helping her blind younger sister Darby. Sir Ralph is suspected when Yorke is found shot, but Darby’s acute hearing helps her find clues to exonerate him.

The badly dated personal drama is wearisome but the murder or suicide mystery and the Tod Slaughter appearance are appealing enough as the main highlights.

Tod Slaughter’s tearful film Darby and Joan, originally running 76 minutes, was believed to be a missing movie, but a cropped and shortened down to 45 minutes 16 mm version entitled She’s My Darling, released in 1949, was known still to exist.

Then, in 2024, the UK Talking Pictures TV channel announced they had found a complete version of the original film, and it was shown on the channel on 1 November 2024 as She’s My Darling.

The quota quickie film is made at Rock Studios, Elstree, for release by MGM British.

The cast

The cast are Peggy Simpson as Joan Templeton, Ian Fleming as Sir Ralph Ferris, Mickey Brantford as Yorke Ferris, Tod Slaughter as Mr Templeton, Audrene Brier as Connie, Pamela Bevan as Darby Templeton, Ella Retford as nurse, Harvey Braban as coroner, and Charles Sewell.

Darby and Joan [She’s My Darling] is directed by Syd Courtenay, runs 76 minutes [Darby and Joan], or 45 minutes [She’s My Darling], is made by Rock Studios, is released by MGM British, is written by Syd Courtenay, Barry Peak Lester Powell and E P Thorne, is shot in black and white by John Silver, and is produced by Nat Ross, with Cyril Ray as music director and Art Direction by George Provis.

Release date: February 1937 [Darby and Joan] and 1949 [She’s My Darling].

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,429

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