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Lady in Danger

{{short description|1934 film by Tom Walls}}

{{for|the play by Max Afford|Lady in Danger (play)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Lady in Danger

| image = "Lady_in_Danger".jpg

| caption = Original Trade Ad Poster

| director = Tom Walls

| producer = Michael Balcon

| writer = Marjorie Gaffney
Ben Travers

| starring = Tom Walls
Yvonne Arnaud

| music = Jack Beaver

| cinematography = Philip Tannura

| editing = Helen Lewis

| studio = Gaumont British

| distributor = Gaumont British Distributors (UK)

| released = {{Film date|1934|11|27|London|df=y}}

| runtime = 68 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Lady in Danger is a 1934 British comedy thriller film directed by Tom Walls and starring Walls, Yvonne Arnaud and Anne Grey.{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/39549 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114085725/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/39549 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-01-14 |title=Lady in Danger (1934) | BFI |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |accessdate=2014-07-29}} The screenplay was by Ben Travers.

Plot

In the mythical European country of Ardenberg, General Dittling (Leon M. Lion) stages a military coup. His supporters believe that he will set up a republic but it is actually his desire to restore the monarchy. Therefore, he persuades British businessman Richard Dexter (Tom Walls) to escort the Queen (Yvonne Arnaud) to the safety of England. Once there his relations with the Queen are farcically misconstrued, when his fiancée Lydia (Anne Gray) arrives unannounced. After many adventures, the King (Hugh Wakefield), who has fled to Paris, is reunited with his wife.{{cite web |url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/Lady-in-Danger_1934 |title=Lady in Danger 1934 | Britmovie | Home of British Films |publisher=Britmovie |accessdate=2014-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729150859/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/Lady-in-Danger_1934 |archive-date=29 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Cast

Critical reception

TV Guide described the film as "a vague comedy that refuses to commit itself to a romance between the leads" ; while Allmovie called it an "airy comedy-melodrama...the farcical possibilities of Lady in Danger are played to the hilt, and the rest is good semi-clean fun."{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/lady-in-danger-v98493 |title=Lady in Danger (1934) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast |publisher=AllMovie |accessdate=2014-07-29}}{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/lady-in-danger/review/103631 |title=Lady in Danger Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |accessdate=2014-07-29}}

Life imitates art

Lady in Danger was released in 1934, two years before the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. However, there are some intriguing parallels between the movie and the later civil war, particularly the similarities between the fictional General Dittling and the real-life Generalissimo Francisco Franco. During the war, Franco was part of the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups. He later became the dictatorial ruler of Spain. In 1969, in a surprise move, the monarchist-leaning Franco designated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor. When Franco died in 1975, he was indeed succeeded by the prince as King Juan Carlos I.

References

Bibliography

  • Sutton, David R. A chorus of raspberries: British film comedy 1929-1939. University of Exeter Press, 2000.

External links

  • {{IMDb title|0026597}}

{{Tom Walls}}

Category:1934 films

Category:1930s comedy thriller films

Category:Films directed by Tom Walls

Category:British comedy thriller films

Category:Films scored by Jack Beaver

Category:Films about coups d'état

Category:British black-and-white films

Category:1934 comedy films

Category:1930s English-language films

Category:1930s British films

Category:English-language comedy thriller films

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