The Flemish Farm ** (1943, Clive Brook, Clifford Evans, Jane Baxter, Philip Friend) – Classic Movie Review 11,574

Director Jeffrey Dell’s 1943 British film The Flemish Farm is an honourable and conscientious if not particularly distinguished morale-boosting World War Two war drama, apparently based on fact. A well known, respected film in its day, it is now largely forgotten.

Released as propaganda to support the Allied war effort, the film begins with the caption ‘The following story is based on an actual incident, but for security reasons real names have not been used. The co-operation of the Belgian Government and of the Air Ministry is gratefully acknowledged.’

The story focuses on a Belgian flier, Squadron Leader Jean Duclos (Clifford Evans), who goes home, parachuted into Belgium, to try to bring back his Belgian Air Force’s regimental colours from its burial place in a Flemish farm in his country now overrun by the Nazis. Clive Brook also stars as Major Lessart.

The technical credits are quite high, especially for a film made in Britain during the war. It was shot at D&P Studios, Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, with stock footage of Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, and a scene filmed on Chelfham Viaduct, formerly of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in North Devon.

It is sincerely and quite well written by Jeffrey Dell and Jill Craigie (who was married to the Labour politician Sir Michael Foot and lived in London).

Also in the cast are Jane Baxter as Tresha, Wylie Watson as Flemish farmer, Philip Friend as Fernand Matagne, Ronald Squire as Hardwicke, Brefni O’Rorke as Minister, Mary Jerrold as Mme Duclos, Charles Compton as Ledoux, Irene Handl as Frau, Lily Kann as farm wife, and Richard Geoge as Scheldheimer.

And there is a notable score, composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in the summer of 1942 and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson. Vaughan Williams later made a suite in seven movements, The Story of a Flemish Farm, from it.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,574

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