NELL GWYN
UK, 1934, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Anna Neagle, Cedric Hardwicke, Jeanne De Casalis, Esme Percy, Miles Malleson.
Directed by Herbert Wilcox.
Nell Gwyn is an early sound film from the United Kingdom – with a small budget though lavish re-creation of the 17th century. Herbert Wilcox had directed Anna Neagle in a number of films prior to Nell Gwyn. He was to continue directing her – in fact, all her films were directed by him (and she married him in 1943).
Anna Neagle was thirty at the time of making the film and is rowdy and somewhat raucous compared with the rather stately figure she presented in so many films, including several portraying Queen Victoria.
Cedric Hardwicke is hardly the choice for portraying Charles II. He is a very serious actor, serious-looking – and smiles several times but it is still hard to see the rakish king in his performance. Jeanne De Casalis is the Duchess of Portsmouth. Esme Percy portrays the diarist Samuel Pepys and Miles Malleson who wrote the screenplay (which is also attributed to the words of Charles II, Nell Gwynn and Samuel Pepys) plays a servant.
There have been many films and television series about Charles II. One of the most lavish was Michael Hoffman’s Restoration (1996) with Sam Neill as Charles II. Twenty years later, in Lilacs in the Spring, Anna Neagle was to portray a number of characters including some she had portrayed in other films including Nell Gwynn and Queen Victoria.
1.A film of its time? The style of the 1930s? Sound engineering? Costumes and décor? Performance? An interesting historical film?
2.The re-creation of the 17th century, London, the theatres, the court? The lavish black and white production? Costumes? The musical score, the Nell Gwynn Suite, the songs?
3.Audience knowledge of Charles II, the Cromwellian parliamentary period and his exile, his return and the Restoration? The Restoration style, the anti-puritanical reaction? His rakish behaviour? The loyalty to Charles II? James II and his presence in the film, his later history and the rebellion against him?
4.Nell Gwynn, Anna Neagle and her youthful style? A young girl, cheeky, orange-seller? In the theatre, rehearsals, her friends, drinking at the bar? The performance, the king attracted to her? Her response? Jealousy of the Duchess of Portsmouth? Nell Gwynn and her being cheeky to her, ridiculing her in the theatre, the large hat? The friendship with Charles, the relationship, becoming his mistress? Performance, going to the court and being snubbed, the king asking her to dance and the courtiers having to respond? The jealousy of the duchess, her lies to the king, his coming to the house, discovering the truth? The king dying, Nell and her being with him in his old age, going to the court, the final message of love? The portrait of Nell Gwynn, the actress of the time, sexual behaviour, patronage from the king?
5.Charles II, Cedric Hardwicke’s interpretation, serious? The background of the Restoration? His ambitions for England? The parliamentary sittings, decisions, his advisory board? Going to the theatre, his relationship with the Duchess of Portsmouth? Infatuated by Nell, the dancing, his patronage, taking her to court, the meals with her? His fidelity throughout the years? His dying, final message?
6.The Duchess of Portsmouth, her place as the royal mistress, her jealousy, poisoning opinion against Nell? Nell and her humiliation of the duchess, in the theatre, the personal confrontation?
7.Samuel Pepys, his fame as a diarist, as a character in the film, his place at court, his observations, his words?
8.Chiffinch as a servant, his influence, his presence at all the major events?
9.The background of the courtiers? Restoration style? The contrast with the people of the theatre, Meg and her loyalty to Nell, the rivalry with the duchess’s maid? Mrs Knipp at the theatre, her jealousy? The director?
10. A slice of English history? With the light touch?
