Under the Greenwood Tree (1929 film)
Under the Greenwood Tree is a 1929 British historical drama film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Marguerite Allan, Nigel Barrie and Wilfred Shine. It is an adaptation of the 1872 novel Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy.
| Under the Greenwood Tree | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Harry Lachman |
| Written by | Monckton Hoffe Harry Lachman Frank Launder Rex Taylor |
| Based on | the novel Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy |
| Starring | Marguerite Allan Nigel Barrie Wilfred Shine |
| Music by | Hubert Bath John Reynders |
| Cinematography | Claude Friese-Greene |
| Edited by | Emile de Ruelle |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Wardour Films |
Release date | 5 September 1929 |
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Production and release
The film's sets were designed by Wilfred Arnold. It was made at Elstree Studios by the leading British company of the era British International Pictures.[1] Originally intended as a silent film, but following the arrival of sound it had songs and dialogue added using the RCA system. It was released in September 1929 around the same time as The American Prisoner, both films following on from the company's first sound release, Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail, in June.[2]
A review in Close Up suggested it "has perhaps the best direction yet produced from a British studio".[3]
Cast
- Marguerite Allan as Fancy Day
- Nigel Barrie as Shinar
- John Batten as Dick Dewey
- Maud Gill as Old Maid
- Wilfred Shine as Parson Maybold
- Roberta Abel as Penny
- Antonia Brough as Maid
- Tom Coventry as Tranter Dewey
- Robison Page as Grandfather Dewey
- Tubby Phillips as Tubby
- Bill Shine (actor) as Leaf
- Peggie Robb-Smith as Allan
- Queenie Leighton as Uncredited
References
- Wood p.67
- Low p.205
- Low p.193
Bibliography
- Low, Rachael. History of the British Film, 1918–1929. George Allen & Unwin, 1971.
- Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.