A Honeymoon Adventure

Last updated

A Honeymoon Adventure
A Honeymoon Adventure.jpg
Directed by Maurice Elvey
Written byCicely Fraser-Simson (novel)
John Paddy Carstairs
Rupert Downing
Produced by Basil Dean
Starring Benita Hume
Peter Hannen
Harold Huth
Walter Armitage
Cinematography Robert Martin
Alex Bryce
Edited by Otto Ludwig
Music by Ernest Irving
Production
company
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release date
  • 25 September 1931 (1931-09-25)
Running time
66 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language English

A Honeymoon Adventure is a 1931 British thriller film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Benita Hume, Peter Hannen and Harold Huth. [1] Written in collaboration by Rupert Downing and Basil Dean, [2] it The film was shot at Beaconsfield Studios. Location shooting, including the railway scenes took place in Scotland.

Contents

Plot

On the wedding day of Peter Martin (Peter Hannen), a brilliant scientist, and Eve Harvey (Benita Hume), Walter Creason (Harold Huth), an agent of a foreign power, learns that Peter has designed a revolutionary electric storage battery and taken the plans and specifications to Scotland to look over on his honeymoon. Creason plots to attend the wedding and follows the couple on their honeymoon in an attempt to discover and steal the plans.

Peter receives a telegram from his father-in-law instructing him to return by express train with his plans for an upcoming government conference. Sensing the urgency, he declares that he must return at once, to Eva's dismay.

Whilst travelling on the train, Peter is drugged and taken back to his cabin by a man who proceeds to search his case for the documents. When he regains consciousness the next morning he finds himself held at gunpoint in a run-down apartment. The man, Judson (Walter Armitage) realises that Peter had not brought the papers with him and instructs him to telegram his wife to tell her he will be returning later than expected.

With Peter detailed by his accomplice, Creason arrives at their honeymoon location, a large Scottish castle, masquerading as a friend of her husband's who was expecting to meet him. Eve offers him a room for the night. They dine together and after dinner Creason notices with interest a safe hidden in the wall. Peter's telegram then arrives and Eve grows suspicious of the stranger who becomes increasingly boorish. Later that night Creason searches for more hidden compartments, attempting to find the battery plans. Eve follows and manages to claim the documents, deceiving Creason in the process.

The following morning Creason tells Eve he has keys to the safe which he claims her husband gave him to collect the important documents. The safe is opened but Creason realises the drawings are missing, growing suspicious that Eve is hiding them. With the assistance of the castle's chauffeur (Jack Lambert), Eve evades the criminals who eventually track her to a steam train travelling from Scotland to Euston station in London. Judson pursues her through the city streets, proposing she give him the papers in return for her husband's location, which she refuses. Eve sends a friend out in her distinctive coat, tricking him into following the wrong woman.

In the meantime Peter starts a fire in his room, forcing the landlady to unlock the door. He then fights his way out of the building, making an escape from the criminals. Peter returns to his home where he is overjoyed to discover Eve. Creason then enters the house and threatens Peter at gunpoint to handover the documents. A fight ensues and Judson enters the fray. Just in time a policeman enters and stops the attack, apprehending the crooks.

Cast

Production

Production began in May 1931, with studio filming conducted in Beaconsfield as the modern Ealing Studios were currently under construction. [3] In June 1931 production moved to a location shoot in Scotland including footage taken at Dalcross Castle, the home of C. Frazer-Simpson, the author of the story. [4] The second day's shooting was supposed to take place at Dulsie Bridge, but weather was poor. Avenmore Junction was used for the third days' shooting, where a special train was hired.

The author of the novel on which the film was adapted was Cicely Fraser-Simson. She was the second wife of English composer Harold Fraser-Simson, noted for his many works of light music including musical comedies and setting children poems to music, especially those of A. A. Milne. One of his pieces, "Waltz Song" was featured in the film and his name appears in the credits.

A Honeymoon Adventure was produced as 'Footsteps in the Night' which was the title of the original novel on which the film was based. The title change was announced just one day before the film premiere. [5]

Lead actress Benita Hume's dresses were designed by the leading Paris-based British fashion designer Edward Molyneux. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Peter Wimsey</span> Fictional character by Dorothy L Sayers

Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey is the fictional protagonist in a series of detective novels and short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers. A dilettante who solves mysteries for his own amusement, Wimsey is an archetype for the British gentleman detective. He is often assisted by his valet and former batman, Mervyn Bunter; by his good friend and later brother-in-law, police detective Charles Parker; and, in a few books, by Harriet Vane, who becomes his wife.

<i>Tarzan Escapes</i> 1936 film by William A. Wellman, George B. Seitz, John Farrow, Richard Thorpe

Tarzan Escapes is a 1936 Tarzan film based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It was the third in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Tarzan series to feature Johnny Weissmuller as the "King of the Apes". Previous films were Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) and Tarzan and His Mate (1934), with Jane's bikini-like attire and the famous skinny-dipping sequence. Weissmuller and O'Sullivan starred together in three more Tarzan films, Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939), Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941) and Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942).

<i>Carry On Spying</i> 1964 British comedy film by Gerald Thomas

Carry On Spying is a 1964 British spy comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas. It is the ninth in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992).

<i>High Treason</i> (1929 British film) 1929 film

High Treason is a 1929 film based on a play by Noel Pemberton Billing. It was directed by Maurice Elvey, and stars James Carew, Humberstone Wright, Benita Hume, Henry Vibart, Hayford Hobbs, Irene Rooke, and Jameson Thomas. Raymond Massey makes his first screen appearance in a small role. The film was initially produced as a silent but mid-way during production, Elvey was pushed by the studio to add sound to the film in order to cash in on the talkies. Although a third of the film was filmed in sound, Elvey maintained much of the silent footage and dubbed over the dialogue for shots that were originally silent, with Elvey himself voicing some of the minor characters, which he admitted when interviewed by the Manitoba Free Press shortly after the film was released in the US. Likewise, BIP's Blackmail, directed by Alfred Hitchcock was also turned into a sound picture mid-way during production and many of the silent scenes used dubbed dialogue and sound effects in a similar fashion to High Treason.

Maurice Elvey was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He also produced more than fifty films – his own as well as films directed by others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benita Hume</span> English actress

Benita Hume was an English theatre and film actress. She appeared in more than 40 films from 1925 to 1955.

Max Parker was an American art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film George Washington Slept Here. He worked on 86 films between 1916 and 1947. He was born in Prescott, Arizona, and died in Torrance, California.

<i>Gambling Ship</i> (1933 film) 1933 film

Gambling Ship is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin, and starring Cary Grant and Benita Hume. It was based on Paul Cain's short stories: "Fast One", "Lead Party", "Velvet" and "The Heat", which were published in Black Mask magazine. It was released on June 23, 1933. Ace Corbin retires from the racket as a gambling boss, but the enemies attempt to stop him.

<i>Sally in Our Alley</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

Sally in Our Alley is a 1931 British romantic comedy drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gracie Fields, Ian Hunter, and Florence Desmond. It is based on the 1923 West End play The Likes of Her by Charles McEvoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Huth</span> British actor and film producer

Harold Huth was a British actor, film director and producer.

<i>Balaclava</i> (film) 1928 film

Balaclava is a 1928 British silent and sound war film directed by Maurice Elvey and Milton Rosmer and starring Cyril McLaglen, Benita Hume, Alf Goddard, Harold Huth, and Wally Patch. It was made by Gainsborough Pictures with David Lean working as a production assistant. The charge sequences were filmed on the Long Valley in Aldershot in Hampshire. Although the sound version had no audible dialogue, it featured a synchronized musical score with sound effects. The sound version was released in the United States under the title Jaws Of Hell.

<i>Lord Cambers Ladies</i> 1932 film

Lord Camber's Ladies (1932) is a British drama film directed by Benn W. Levy, produced by Alfred Hitchcock, and starring Gerald du Maurier, Gertrude Lawrence, Benita Hume, and Nigel Bruce.

<i>They Were Sisters</i> 1945 British film by Arthur Crabtree

They Were Sisters is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert and James Mason. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by Roland Pertwee. They Were Sisters is noted for its frank, unsparing depiction of marital abuse at a time when the subject was rarely discussed openly. It was one of the Gainsborough melodramas.

The Little Damozel is a 1933 British romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, James Rennie and Benita Hume. It is based on the 1908 play by Monckton Hoffe, previously filmed in 1916. The screenplay concerns a captain who pays one of his sailors to marry a woman who works in a nightclub. Dresses for the film were designed by Doris Zinkeisen.

Albert Victor Bramble (1884–1963) was an English actor and film director. He began his acting career on the stage. He started acting in films in 1914 and subsequently turned to directing and producing films. He died on 17 May 1963.

<i>Discord</i> (film) 1933 film

Discord is a 1933 British drama film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Owen Nares, Benita Hume and Harold Huth. Its plot involves a struggling composer who has to be supported financially by his wealthier wife. It was based on the play A Roof and Four Walls by E. Temple Thurston. It was made at British and Dominion Elstree Studios for release by Paramount Pictures.

The Happy Ending is a 1931 British drama film directed by Millard Webb and starring George Barraud, Daphne Courtney and Alfred Drayton. Its plot concerns a father who deserted his family some years before returning home only to find his wife has told his children and neighbours that he died as a hero when he abandoned them. A silent version, of The Happy Ending had been made in 1925 based on the same play by Ian Hay. It was made at Lime Grove Studios. The film's sets were designed by Andrew Mazzei.

<i>The Flying Fool</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

The Flying Fool is a 1931 British comedy thriller film directed by Walter Summers and starring Henry Kendall, Benita Hume and Wallace Geoffrey. It was based on a 1929 play of the same name.

The Happy Ending is a 1925 British silent drama film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Fay Compton, Jack Buchanan and Joan Barry. It was based on a play by Ian Hay. Its plot concerns a father who deserted his family some years before returning home only to find his wife has told his children and neighbours that he died as a hero when he abandoned them. A sound film of the same play The Happy Ending was made in 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Hannen (actor)</span> British actor (1881–1972)

Nicholas James "Beau" Hannen OBE (mil) was a British actor of the early and mid-20th century who acted in a number of stage plays and films.

References

  1. BFI.org
  2. Downing, Rupert (1940). If I Laugh. London: George G Harrap. p. 2.
  3. "Elvey Starts - Benita Hume in New Film". Kinematograph Weekly. 14 May 1931.
  4. "Scotch Exteriors - Elvey Departs for the North". Kinematograph Weekly. 4 June 1931.
  5. ""Footsteps in the Night" has been changed to "A Honeymoon Adventure"". Kinematograph Weekly. 24 September 1931.
  6. "Elvey's Progress - "Footsteps in the Night"". Kinematograph Weekly. 28 May 1931.

Bibliography