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Old English (film)

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Old English
Directed byAlfred E. Green
Maude T. Howell (asst., uncredited)
Written byWalter Anthony
Maude T. Howell
Based onThe play by John Galsworthy
StarringGeorge Arliss
Leon Janney
Betty Lawford
Doris Lloyd
CinematographyJames Van Trees
Edited byOwen Marks
Music byErno Rapee
Louis Silvers
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Release date
  • September 27, 1930 (1930-09-27) (United States)
Running time
85 mins.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Old English is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and produced by Warner Bros. The film is based on the 1924 West End play of the same name by John Galsworthy. The film stars George Arliss, Leon Janney, Betty Lawford and Doris Lloyd.[1] The film had its premiere August 21, 1930 at the Warner's Theatre in Hollywood.[2]

Plot

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Heythorp is an old shipowner who finds himself on the verge of bankruptcy. He worries about his grandchildren, who are currently being taken care of by the miserly Mrs. Larne, the widowed wife of his son. She asks Heythorp for money, but suspecting that she will use the money on herself, he refuses. Although Heythorp is being hounded by creditors, he manages to get a loan by using some shady dealings for which he may be prosecuted. Heythorp wants to use the money for an investment, which will provide an independent allowance for his beloved grandchildren, Jock and Phyllis, which the greedy Mrs. Larne cannot touch. Although he manages to arrange everything so that he can die in peace, he is uncovered and threatened with exposure. In the end, Heythorp manages to escape punishment for his underhanded scheme.

Cast

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Preservation

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The film survives complete and has been released by the Warner Archive on DVD. A print is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.[4]

References

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  1. ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993:Old English
  2. ^ Stein, Edwin C. (August 22, 1930). "Arliss Scores Again". The Standard Union. Brooklyn, New York. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Arliss and Barrymore Films in Warner Jubilee". Los Angeles Evening Express. Los Angeles, California. August 5, 1930. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, (<-book title) p.131 c.1978 by The American Film Institute
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