I watched this on TV a few days ago, and enjoyed the film even though I am not at all a fan of David Niven. To me, he was never in the top star bracket even though he mingled with those icons of Hollywood and he was very much around in the golden days

David Niven, this time, stars as Carrington, VC a career army officer who does something reckless and a little stupid. He borrows money from the Officer’s Fund of his unit to pay some household bills. He’s owed a lot of back pay allowances that the British army hasn’t paid him. However he is a winner of the Victoria Cross, the VC of the title and the commander of the regiment.

Allan Cuthbertson plays Colonel Henniker who is a jealous of Carrington’s status and popularity with his regiment.

In any event Niven is being court martialled for the offence, charges brought by Cuthbertson.

Carrington, VC, is a fine military courtroom drama that stands on its own merits. David Niven does well in the lead ably supported by Margaret Leighton, Allan Cuthbertson and a host of top British actors

Allan Cuthbertson is one of those actors who just does well in everything he’s cast in. He’s quite the martinet and jealous of Niven’s war service and decoration. He spent the war directing a shore battery that was called upon to shoot down Mr. Hitler’s Luftwaffe planes, no chance for medals or glory there.

ABOVE – Victor Madden a great supporter of Carrington VC performs well in court in support of him

The second member of the supporting cast who is outstanding is Victor Madden playing Niven’s sergeant and biggest fan.

Carrington, VC has a bit of The Caine Mutiny and some of The Winslow Boy in its plot and presentation. But it’s a good courtroom drama and all actors love doing them.

ABOVE David Niven with Noelle Middleton

Carr

ABOVE – Noelle Middleton talks with Margaret Leighton who plays David Niven’s wife

Carr

Carr

This last weekend I have visited London with my family and re-visited an old haunt of mine – an office I worked at for a couple of years way back – an office in Grosvenor Street London W.1

My daughter quickly pointed out that directly opposite was this plaque – Alexander Korda had used this address as his office around the time he was acquiring Denham Film Studios

Korda

ABOVE – Grosvenor Street, London W1 –

Sir Alexander Korda ‘dreamed a dream’ of building here a Film Studio that would rival – and possibly eclipse – it’s Hollywood counterparts.

He succeeded even though it was relatively short-lived.

Building the massive Denham Studios started in late summer 1935 on a 165-acre site near Denham village in Buckinghamshire.

It was by far the largest production facility in the country, it opened in May 1936, boasting seven sound stages, workshops for every craft, restaurants and dressing-rooms fit for Hollywood stars and a new Technicolor laboratory.

This was to be a dream factory whose films would have “prestige, pomp, magic and madness”, according to Korda

All the planning, negotiating and financing was all arranged through this Office in Grosvenor Street W.1

In fact this central London headquarters served as the command centre from where Korda produced breakthrough cinematic classics like The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and Things to Come (1936).

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