Thunder in the City ** (1937, Edward G Robinson, Luli Deste, Ralph Richardson, Nigel Bruce) – Classic Movie Review 7377

Director Marion Gering’s 1937 Thunder in the City brought Edward G Robinson to Britain for this dated crime comedy drama about a British aristocrat, The Duke (Nigel Bruce), who inveigles a pushy American business publicist, Dan Armstrong (Robinson), into helping him to sell a mythical mineral from mines in Rhodesia. In the romantic section of the plot, Armstrong and Manningdale (Ralph Richardson) become rivals for Lady Patricia (Luli Deste).

Based on a story by Robert Sherwood, it can never have been much of a yarn, even in its far-off day, and time has evidently not been kind to it. But the cast helps and, as usual, nothing stops Edward G Robinson, so it can be regarded as an interesting curio.

Also in the cast are Constance Collier as The Duchess, Arthur Wontner as Sir Peter, Annie Esmond as Lady Challoner, Elizabeth Inglis, James Carew, Everley Gregg, Elliott Nugent, Cyril Raymond, Nancy Burne, Billy Bray, Terence de Marney and Roland Drew.

German actress Deste made her English-speaking film debut here in Britain just before the Second World War, then went to Hollywood with her three Afghan hounds, but found roles hard to come by and quit film acting in 1941.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7377

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