The High Command *** (1937, Lionel Atwill, Lucie Mannheim, Steven Geray, James Mason) – Classic Movie Review 9144

Director Thorold Dickinson’s 1937 British drama The High Command stars Lionel Atwill, Lucie Mannheim, Steven Geray and the young James Mason, who catches the eye as Captain Heverell, a British officer involved in army intrigue, adultery and murder at a fortress in West Africa.

The acting and the direction are generally well above the level of a trite tale, written by Katherine Strueby and Walter Meade, based on Lewis Robinson’s novel The General Goes Too Far.

Atwill has the star role as Major General Sir John Sangye VC, the old-school general who tries to save his daughter’s reputation by finding out who killed her blackmailer.

Also in the cast are Leslie Perrins, Allan Jeayes, Wally Patch, Michael Lambart, Kathleen Gibson, Tom Gill, Archibald Batty, Henry Hewitt, Drusilla Wills, Cyril Howe and Evan Thomas.

The High Command is directed Thorold Dickinson, runs 90 minutes, is made by Gordon Wellesley Productions (as Fanfare), is released by Associated British Film Distributors (1937) (UK) and Grand National Pictures (1938) (US), is written by Katherine Strueby (screenplay), Walter Meade (dialogue) and Val Valentine (dialogue), based on Lewis Robinson’s novel The General Goes Too Far, is shot by Otto Heller and James Rogers, is produced by Gordon Wellesley, is scored by Ernest Irving and is designed by R Holmes Paul.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9144

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