The Tenth Man (1936 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder | Brian Desmond Hurst (director) |
| Products | Drama film |
The Tenth Man is a 1936 British drama film helmed by director Brian Desmond Hurst, featuring performances by John Davis Lodge, Antoinette Cellier, and Athole Stewart. The movie adapts the theatrical work The Tenth Man authored by W. Somerset Maugham.
Plot
George Winter (portrayed by John Lodge) is a self-made entrepreneur and Member of Parliament whose relentless ambition leads him to regard others primarily as either scoundrels or fools. When his competitors reject his bribery attempts, Winter employs both legitimate and unscrupulous tactics to eliminate them. His wife, Catherine (played by Antoinette Cellier), requests a divorce, but Winter coerces her into silence to prevent scandal amid his election campaign. The narrative intensifies as Winter encounters his 'tenth man,' Jim Ford (Clifford Evans), who refuses to be intimidated and threatens to reveal Winter's illicit gold mine transaction, endangering his political standing.
Cast
- John Davis Lodge as George Winter
- Antoinette Cellier as Catherine Winter
- Athole Stewart as Lord Etchingham
- Clifford Evans as Jim Ford
- Iris Hoey as Lady Etchingham
- Aileen Marson as Anne Etchingham
- Frank Cochrane as Bennett
- George Graves as Colonel Trent
- Bruce Lester as Edward O'Donnell
- Barry Sinclair as Robert Colby
- Antony Holles as Swalescliffe
- Aubrey Mallalieu as Bank Manager
Critical reception
Upon its release in 1936, Graham Greene of The Spectator commended Hurst's direction for its blend of wit, satire, and melodramatic tension, although he critiqued Lodge's performance as somewhat rigid. Meanwhile, TV Guide assigned the film a two-star rating out of five, describing it as "an engaging drama" skillfully adapted from Maugham's stage play.
External links
- at the Brian Desmond Hurst website