Lorna Doone (1951 film)

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Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone 1951 poster.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Phil Karlson
Screenplay by
Adaptation byGeorge Bruce
Based on Lorna Doone
by R. D. Blackmore
Produced by Edward Small
Starring Barbara Hale
Richard Greene
Cinematography Charles Van Enger
Edited by Al Clark
Music by George Duning
Color process Technicolor
Production
company
Edward Small Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • March 30, 1951 (1951-03-30)(Canada)
  • May 25, 1951 (1951-05-25)(Hartford, Connecticut)
  • September 20, 1951 (1951-09-20)(New York) [1]
  • July 18, 1951 (1951-07-18)(Los Angeles) [2]
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Lorna Doone is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Barbara Hale and Richard Greene. [3] It is an adaptation of the 1869 novel Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore, set in the English West Country during the 17th century.

Contents

Plot

Lorna Doone loves John Ridd but is betrothed against her will to Carver Doone. As the English Civil War looms, John is determined to defeat the vicious Doone family and win Lorna.

Cast

Production

In 1946, Edward Small announced plans to film the 1869 novel Lorna Doone, written by R. D. Blackmore, and hired George Bruce to write the screenplay. [4] Charles Bennett worked with Bruce on the early drafts of the script. [5] Small sent representatives to Great Britain to scout locations, and he wanted to shoot the film on location in Scotland. [6] [7] In 1948, Small announced that the film would be a coproduction with J. Arthur Rank and would star Louis Hayward. [8]

In 1948, Alfred Hitchcock announced plans to film the novel for Transatlantic Pictures, the short-lived production company that he founded with Sidney Bernstein. Small claimed that he had registered the title in the United States, meaning that Hitchcock could film the story but would not be able to title the film Lorna Doone during its American release. Small announced that he would start filming in England in association with Rank and producer John Beck on March 1, 1949. [9] [10] The date was postponed as a result of the short-lived American export boycott of films to the British market in response to excessive tariffs, and in August 1949, filming was delayed indefinitely. [11] The project was reactivated in 1949 when Small signed a two-picture deal with Columbia Pictures for Lorna Doone and The Brigand (1952). [12]

Jesse L. Lasky Jr. wrote the final draft of the script. The film was produced in Hollywood, and filming started on May 17, 1950. Location shooting occurred at Yosemite National Park. [13] The final script was heavily influenced by Westerns. [14]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Oscar Godbout wrote: "For those who like their Technicolor adventures ripe with revolution, swordplay, grimly evil oppressors and a tall, noble heroine, 'Lorna Doone' will be their meat and drink. But it's stale meat and flat drink. ... Even with the help of Technicolor, which enhances most anything, Greene and Miss Hale giv [1] e resoundingly empty performances. ... It would seem that Phil Karlson, the director, could have done a little better by Richard D. Blackmore's doughty saga of old England. But he didn't, with the result that there is little to recommend in this 'freely adapted' version of the novel."

References

  1. 1 2 Godbout, Oscar (21 September 1951). "The Screen in Review: Two New Films Seen Here". The New York Times . p. 19.
  2. ↑ "Heroes Swashbuckle on Double Film Bill". Los Angeles Times . 18 July 1951. p. 6, Part II.
  3. ↑ BFI.org
  4. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (7 February 1946). "Stars in Bowl Project; Rooney Cinema to Jell". Los Angeles Times . p. 9.
  5. ↑ "Dancer Wears Daring Costumes". Los Angeles Times . 9 May 1946. p. 3, Part II.
  6. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (11 March 1946). "'Lorna Doone' Inspiring Expedition to England". Los Angeles Times . p. 8.
  7. ↑ "Stress Put on Realism in Pictures". Los Angeles Times . 29 September 1946. p. 2, Part III.
  8. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (8 July 1948). "'Lorna Doone' Set Up; Widmark to Alter Pace". Los Angeles Times . p. 23.
  9. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (25 October 1948). "Small Hastens 'Doone' Project in Controversy; Sinatra Drama Sought". Los Angeles Times . p. 6, Part II.
  10. ↑ Brady, Thomas F. (25 October 1948). "Selznick Acquires New Film Comedy". The New York Times . p. 28.
  11. ↑ Brady, Thomas F. (2 August 1949). "Young and Lupino Set Up Film Firm". The New York Times . p. 15.
  12. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (22 December 1949). "'Telegraph Hill' Aimed at Andrews and Prelle; Kazan Runs 'Streetcar'". Los Angeles Times . p. 15.
  13. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (17 May 1950). "Jack London Episodic Film in Offing; Payton Set as Cochran Spouse". Los Angeles Times . p. 7, Part III.
  14. ↑ Jeffrey Richards, Swordsmen of the Screen, p 133
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