Lazybones ** (1935, Ian Hunter, Claire Luce, Bernard Nedell, Michael Shepley, Miles Malleson) – Classic Movie Review 7958

Director Michael Powell’s quickly made 1935 British black and white quota quickie comedy Lazybones is based on a forgotten play by Ernest Denny.

The dependable Ian Hunter stars as Sir Reginald Ford, known as Lazybones, a hard-up, idle baronet who is disinherited by his father and marries American heiress Kitty McCarthy (Clare Luce), who is disinherited as well, and then framed by her cousin for stealing official papers.

This primitive, moderately acted but well photographed film (by Arthur Crabtree) is best enjoyed as a minor collectors’ item for completists of the career of one of Britain’s great film-makers. This is one of more than 20 ‘quota quickies’ (British support features) Powell made between his début in 1931 and his first major feature in 1937, The Edge of the World.

Look out for Miles Malleson as The Pessimist. Also in the cast are Sara Allgood, Bernard Nedell, Michael Shepley, Bobbie Comber, Denys Blakelock, Mary Gaskell, Pamela Carne, Harold Warrender, Fred Withers, Frank Morgan, Fewlass Llewellyn and Paul Blake.

Lazybones is directed by Michael Powell, runs 65 minutes, is made by Real Art Productions, is released by Radio Pictures, is written by Gerard Fairlie, based on a play by Ernest Denny, is shot in black and white by Arthur Crabtree, is produced by Julius Hagen, is scored by W L Trytel and is designed by James A Carter. Hoagy Carmichael’s music Lazybones is played over main and end titles.

It was shot at Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England.

Studios were prepared to work through the night to accommodate the two stars who were in plays in London and went west to Twickenham to shoot their parts after their evening performances.

There is an early mention of a possible Channel Tunnel after Hildebrand Pope (Michael Shepley) has a rough English Channel crossing on the ferry. The Tunnel finally opened in May 1994.

With his first screen credit as director on the missing believed lost thriller Two Crowded Hours (1931), Powell directed 23 films from 1931 to 1936, including the critically well received Red Ensign (1934) and The Phantom Light (1935). After The Edge of the World, Powell was brought in by Alexander Korda to save The Spy in Black (1939), when Powell first met Emeric Pressburger.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7958

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