Dishonour Bright (1936) User Reviews (9)

Loved it, honour bright

[Spondonman · 8/10 · 14 June 2014]

Another excellent Ben Travers farce for Tom Walls to revel in – this a delicious take on love, honour and truth. It's delicious if you can overlook its apparent enormous antiquity, the mores of centuries ago reflected back to you now to interpret, but more so if you can overlook or at least struggle through the probable poor condition of the film itself. The copy I just saw was choppy, with abrupt editing and wobbles, lacerations and bubbles on the print throughout, but it was bearable once the story took hold.

A smooth talking but honest Walls is named as a co-respondent in a divorce case, his good reputation is trashed by lawyer Cecil Parker, who has a beautiful wife Betty Stockfeld who gets to like Walls who likes her back but then gets married to Diana Churchill and then – well, then the convolutions abound. Involving a skinny punk named George Sanders and his oversize accomplice Eugene Palette. Basil Radford has a bit part playing Parker's brother and a large part in incredibly loud cackles; and Hubert Harben gets a chance to stick the boot in for once and relishes it. It's all refreshingly done, and an almost frank modern romance, simply told and resolved - and probably as sophisticated as British films would get in the '30's. Er, it's not essential to the plot at all but did Walls keep the brooch as some kind of recompense for the damage that was previously done to his honour?

Some people might not guess that they're all talking and thinking about sex in here but they are, and the implications involved in breaking moral codes – the exquisite torture faced by two married people "who couldn't be any happier – or at least, mustn't be." Wonderful stuff.

A bit slow, but well worth your time.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 11 April 2019]

I think "Dishonour Bright" would play better to British audiences than American ones....mostly because the picture IS British and is about British morality. Still, it is enjoyable regardless and worth seeing.

The story begins with Stephen Champion (Tom Walls) being excoriated in court by a zealous prosecutor, Vincent Crane (Cecil Parker). In this case, Champion has been named a co-respondant...a man whose meddling has ruined a marriage. Champion seems amused by all this and readily admits loving the woman.

Later, Champion meets Mrs. Crane (Betty Stockfield) and they hit it off very well. But when Mr. Crane discovers this, he assumes the worst....and Champion agrees never to see the lady again.

Some time passes. Champion has just gotten married and on his honeymoon he once again is reunited with Mrs. Crane. It seems some blackmailers are trying to get money out of her...though she's completely innocent of any wrongdoing. They imply that she's having an affair...and Champion steps in to save her honor. What's next? And, what will happen if Mr. Crane learns that Champion and his wife are seeing each other?

This is an excellent comedy of manners. The only shortcomings are that the film is a tad slow at times and Walls seems oddly cast as a macho sort of hero. Still, it's well worth your time and is well made.

By the way, although the American actor Eugene Pallette received second billing, he is NOT that prominent in the film and probably should have received fifth billing. I assume this is because he was a relatively famous actor and the studio was hoping his being featured would help ticket sales.

Understated Sexiness. Interesting plot.

[idares · 7/10 · 8 September 2016]

Does honesty about your faults and normal human desires make you respectable or dis-respectable? Is it possible to feel attraction, but not act on it? This film has the trappings of fun frivolity: disarmingly candid and confident leading man, glamorous clothes, gorgeous leading lady, contrived situations, international travel. But its light touch gets a tad deeper than you'd expect it to. Interesting to watch understated sexiness and to see where the plot goes.

Apart from George Sanders as an apprentice cad/con artist, I'd never heard of any of the cast. All were good.

The main characters' exchange about honesty and respectability, alluded to above, is worth watching for. If you're used to Hollywood films, this English piece could be a refreshing change -- or a disappointment to you.

Sophisticated romantic comedy

[kinekrom · 11 December 2004]

This is one of those minor but skilfully constructed films from the 1930s which will presumably now disappear from public consciousness and are unlikely to be seen again. It's unlikely to turn up on TV or video, and unless someone puts on a George Sanders retrospective or seeks the film out at an archive somewhere (the British Film Institute has a copy), it will be gone. That would be such a pity, because the film is a gem. Seeing Tom Walls as director and star, and Ben Travers as the writer, would lead one to expect something along the witty but dated lines of the Aldwych farces. Far from it. After an extraordinary opening in a court where Walls offers us a paean to his own sex appeal, the film turns into sophisticated adult romantic comedy, a witty merry-go-round of marriage and divorce, with Sanders in his element. But the real star is Betty Stockfeld, of whom I know nothing, except that in this film she gives a delightful performance of intelligence, warmth and depth. A film to savour, if you ever get the chance.

Walls stars and directs a classic comedy of dialog

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 25 March 2020]

"Dishonour Bright" is an early British comedy packed with clever, witty dialog and much sexual innuendo. Tom Walls is the masterful purveyor of most of both as lead actor and director. Only here, the "innuendo" is as much fact as it is implied. His character, Stephen Champion, has libertine views and values which he avows in court, yet his actions remain honorable, if somewhat flirtatious.

Walls was known for his satire and matter-of-fact delivery on stage that could bring down the house in the dozen Aldwych farces that he produced and starred in. He carried that persona into films he began making rather late in his career - in 1930 at age 47. Only in his dramatic roles does Walls change from the self-assured, confident and easy-going character of wit and wisdom.

The rest of the cast in this film are all good. The most recognizable of them to movie mavens on both sides of the pond will be Eugene Pallette as Busby, George Sanders as Lisle, and Cecil Parker as Vincent Crane. But the wit and humor of "Dishonour Bright" are all Tom Walls' show.

This is a somewhat sophisticated comedy, and probably considered a little racy for its day. But, it's well done and filled with much humor. The fast action film followers of today may not be able to sit still for it, but people who like clever comedy and old films should enjoy this film. Here are some favorite lines.

Vincent Crane, "From your previous reply, I gather that you regard all women not only as potential, but willing victims." Stephen Champion, "No, how can a woman be a victim if she's willing?"

Stella Crane, "Candid's sort of an unusual virtue." Stephen Champion, "Oh, even my virtues are unusual."

Stephen Champion, "Then let's be perfectly honest with each other." Stella Crane, "Oh, good heavens, no. No respectable person's ever quite honest." Champion, "Oh, and no honest person is ever quite respectable." Stella Crane, "If you're respectable, you'll stop talking to me and go on." Champion, "And if I'm honest, I'll stay. Which would you rather I were?"

Stephen Champion, "Yes, darling, you always say the right thing -- even if you say it in the wrong way."

The new Don Juan? Don Juan, you're money's gone.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 2 February 2022]

The court has judged him. Men despised him, and women are fascinated by him. But 85 years later, modern audiences are perplexed by Tom Walls as a so-called Lothario in British Society, involved in scandal after scandal involving married women. Divorce attorney Cecil Parker annihilate him on the stand, but his wife Betty Stockfeld is intrigued by the headlines and longs to meet him. It doesn't matter that the case that sees a co-respondent in involving Diana Churchill. Interesting to note that Diana Churchill is not the daughter British prime minister Winston Churchill who also had a daughter named Diana.

An amusing drawing room style comedy that is dated today simply because Walls does not seem like the type of person who would be considered a lothario or a Don Juan. Actually, he looks either like a strict old Schoolmaster or a bookkeeper, but because he can raise his eyebrows and ogle the women while smirking, it's assumed that he'll be right for this type of Park. Hollywood cast John Barrymore and his forgotten look-alike Lowell Sherman in roles like this, Walls is certainly not the dream lover that young wives (all married to pompous older men here for some reason)would fawn over. Walls' performance is very monotone, further dismissing any idea that he could possibly steal the hearts of these women.

What makes this film seem a bit better is the light-hearted screenplay and subtle slyness of the characters who seemed to be playfully mocking the whole idea of the society affairs. Eugene Pallette, as a chauffer, enlivens the proceedings, but is not really a major role. A young George Sanders is present as well. The plot gets a little bit more complicated as it moves on as Walls marries Churchill, running into Stockfeld on their honeymoon while she's on vacation away from her husband. The old-fashioned type of romantic fluff that they don't make anymore, fascinating for its glamour and absurdities, but easily forgotten after it's done.

Understated Sexiness. Interesting plot.

[idares · 7/10 · 29 August 2016]

Does honesty about your faults and normal human desires make you respectable or dis-respectable? Is it possible to feel attraction, but not act on it? This film has the trappings of fun frivolity: disarmingly candid and confident leading man, glamorous clothes, gorgeous leading lady, contrived situations, international travel. But its light touch gets a tad deeper than you'd expect it to. Interesting to watch understated sexiness and to see where the plot goes.

Apart from George Sanders as an apprentice cad/con artist, I'd never heard of any of the cast. All were good.

The main characters' exchange about honesty and respectability, alluded to above, is worth watching for. If you're used to Hollywood films, this English piece could be a refreshing change -- or a disappointment to you.

Blunt cad behaviour to be applauded

[AAdaSC · 4/10 · 17 July 2022]

Tom Wallis (Champion) is a charming cad who loves women. He can't help himself and this film follows his antics.

The film scores points for the dialogue and the blunt way in which Wallis delivers his lines. It's very straight-talking and Wallis manages to keep a self-assured charm whilst delivering his cheeky lines. Other than this, the film can get a bit boring and confusing. However, my confusion may be due to the fact that I drifted off several times. This was partly because the film lost my interest and partly because I was experiencing a lasagne comedown and starting to tire.

Basil Radford (Henry) turns up as the brother of Wallis and affects a very annoying giggle and George Sanders (Lisle) is also in this one playing his usual self. You might not realize it is him with his pencil thin moustache but his voice gives him away immediately. Not sure Wallis would be able to knock him out, though, in what is a rather unlikely outcome to a confrontation between the two.

The film is a bit boring but Tom Wallis definitely comes across as an icon - a legend with the women. A good role model.

Aldwych Farce

[boblipton · 9/10 · 4 May 2017]

This movie is directed by Walls and written by Ben Travers, a cohort from Walls' Aldwych Farces days -- in fact, this may be based upon one of them. Walls is possessed of the twin sins of kindness and candor. This means he winds up being the co-respondent in divorce cases. He marries one of the divorcees, Diana Churchill, not because it's the right thing to do, but because he loves her, and they are off on their honeymoon in Switzerland, where they run across Betty Stockfeld. She's the wife of Cecil Parker, the divorce attorney who got Walls to pay five thousand pounds in damages in Miss Churchill's divorce. She was also the only person in court who smiled at him when he was being candid.

Miss Stockfeld is lured away from the hotel by George Sanders, who is playing, well, George Sanders. He's working with Eugene Palette in blackmailing wives. Walls knocks down Sanders and scares him off, but Palette has Miss Stockfeld's brooch and wants to be paid off. So they all go to Paris, where Cecil Parker turns up....

In general, I find Mr. Walls a capable but low-key performer. Here, it works very well for his nonchalant observations on humanity. There's a lot of wit in the lines and some real human emotion. It's one I can really recommend.