FRANK LLOYD

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB. 

USA, 1933.  Fox Film Corporation.  Screenplay by Reginald Berkeley, continuity by Sonya Levien, based on the play by Noel Coward.  Cinematography by Ernest Palmer.  Produced by Frank Lloyd.  Music by Peter Brunelli, Louis De Francesco, Arthur Lange, J.S. Zamecnik.  Production Design by William S. Darling.  Costume Design by Earl Luick.  Film Editing by Margaret Clancey.   

Dull classist drama that managed to win Best Picture but hasn’t dated at all well, and neither have the performances. Based on the play by Noel Coward, the action follows an upstairs-downstairs romance between a rich society boy and a serving girl, and the cordial relationships between their families until the couple drowns on the Titanic (bummer). Diana Wynyard as the rich matron is so stiff and perenially British-theatrical (and in a way so is the film) as to induce tears of laughter more than sorrow.

Academy Awards:  Best Picture; Best Directing (Frank Lloyd); Best Art Direction
Nominations: Best Actress (Diana Wynyard)