Under the Greenwood Tree (1929 film)
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Elstree , United Kingdom |
Under the Greenwood Tree is a 1929 British historical drama featuring sound elements, directed by Harry Lachman and starring Marguerite Allan, Nigel Barrie, and Wilfred Shine. The film is an adaptation of the 1872 novel Under the Greenwood Tree authored by Thomas Hardy.
Production and release
The movie was produced by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios, with set designs crafted by Wilfred Arnold. Originally intended to be a silent picture, it was later enhanced with musical numbers and spoken dialogue through the use of the RCA sound system, reflecting the transition to sound films. It premiered in September 1929, following the studio’s prior sound feature, Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail.
A review published in Close Up at the time commended the film as "possibly the finest direction yet achieved by a British studio," emphasizing its importance in the development of British cinema.
Cast
- Marguerite Allan as Fancy Day
- Nigel Barrie as Shinar
- John Batten as Dick Dewey
- Maud Gill as Old Maid
- Wilfred Shine as Parson Maybold
- Roberta Abel as Penny
- Antonia Brough as Maid
- Tom Coventry as Tranter Dewey
- Robison Page as Grandfather Dewey
- Tubby Phillips as Tubby
- Bill Shine as Leaf
- Peggie Robb-Smith as Allan