The Great Garrick **** (1937, Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland, Edward Everett Horton, Lionel Atwill, Melville Cooper) – Classic Movie Review 5662

Director James Whale’s polished 1937 comedy is a joyful celebration of the theatre and actors, and brings on the stylish and amusing high jinks among the acting fraternity as the Paris Comédie Française players try to get the better of celebrated English actor David Garrick (1717-79).

Brian Aherne takes on the mantle of the Great Garrick with notable style, while the other stars (de Havilland, Edward Everett Horton as Garrick’s sidekick Tubby, Lionel Atwill as Beaumarchais and Melville Cooper as Monsieur Picard) are superb, and the practised support players also help to keep it bubbly. The Great Garrick is handled with a light and expert touch by the great James Whale, in his element.

Ernst Vajda’s witty screenplay is taken from his story Ladies and Gentlemen, and the play version opened in London on 18 May 1937. It is shot in lovely black and white sepiatone by Ernest Haller.

Also in the cast are Luis Alberni, Etienne Girardot, Marie Wilson, Lana Turner, Albert Dekker, Linda Perry, Fritz Leiber, Dorothy Tree, Craig Reynolds, Chester Clute, Milton Owen, Trevor Bardette, E E Clive, Harry Davenport, Paul Everton, Jack Norton, Leyland Hodgson, Olaf Hytten, Elspeth Dudgeon and Ben Welden.

In real life, de Havilland was later Aherne’s sister-in-law. He was married to Joan Fontaine from 20 August 1939 – 14 June 1945 (divorced).

Aherne (1902–1986) was Oscar nominated as Best Supporting Actor for Juarez (1939) as Emperor Maximillian.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5662

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