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Nell Gwyn (1926 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Nell Gwyn' is a 1926 British romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Dorothy Gish, Randle Ayrton and Juliette Compton. It was based on the 1926 novel 'Mistress Nell Gwyn' by Marjorie Bowen'Nell Gwyn: A Decoration', by Marjorie Bowen, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1926. This book was 'not' written under the pen name, Joseph Shearing and follows the life of Nell Gwynne, the mistress of Charles II. Wilcox later made a second version of the film in 1934, 'Nell Gwynn' which starred Anna Neagle.
Cast
* Dorothy Gish Nell Gwyn
* Randle Ayrton Charles II
* Juliette Compton Lady Castlemaine
* Sydney Fairbrother Mrs. Gwyn
* Donald Macardle Duke of Monmouth
* Johnny Butt Samuel Pepys
* Gibb McLaughlin Duke of York
* Judd Green Toby Clinker
* Edward Sorley Dickon
* Forrester Harvey Charles Hart
* Fred Rains Earl of Shaftesbury
* Rolf Leslie Evelyn
* Aubrey Fitzgerald Tom Killigrew
* Tom Coventry Innkeeper
* Booth Conway Messenger
* Dorinea Shirley Maid
Production
Wilcox said he got the idea to make the film after making 'The Only Way'. He saw a theatre bill headlined by "Dolly Elswrothy" and remembered a sketch he saw where Elsworthy played Nell Gwyn. He cabled to see if Dorothy Gish was available and she accepted.Wilcox p 65
Dorothy Gish was paid 7,000 (1,000 a week plus expenses). Wilcox arranged to finance the film with an accountant, everyone contributing half. Wilcox says the accountant reneged and he had to finance the film entirely himself. To save money he edited the fim himselfWilcox p 66
One report says the film was made for 20,000 and Wilcox sold it outright for 35,000. Wilcox says it was made for 14,000 and he sold it for 20,000.Wilcox p 67 The company that bought it was British National Pictures.
Reception
Critical
'The New York Times' wrote, "Whatever may be the shortcomings of English motion picture producers. If they can put together other pictures as simply and with as much dramatic effect as this story of Nell Gwyn they should have no difficulty obtaining a showing for them anywhere. The story moves quickly and surely, with nothing to strain one's credulity, and the acting of Miss Gish and Randie Ayrton, who takes the part of Charles, is excellent. So is that of Juliette Compton as Lady Castlemaine. The immorality of the period is suggested without being offensive, and for the second time this Summer a good picture has not been spoiled by prudery. The titles are unusually good and frequently amusing, that dear old gossip Pepys being resorted to for purposes of verisimilitude."Box office
Wilcox says the film "was a riotous success throughout the world."Wilcox p 68 It was sold to the US for 28,000.It did so well that British National Films signed Wilcox and Gish to make three more films together, which would be financed by Paramount.
References
Bibliography
* Street, Sarah. 'Transatlantic crossings: British feature films in the United States'. Continuum International Publishing, 2002.
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