His Brother's Keeper (1940 film)

Written by

Austin Melford
Brock Williams
Roy William Neill

Starring

His Brother's Keeper
Frame from the film^[1]
Directed by	Roy William Neill
Written by	Austin Melford Brock Williams Roy William Neill
Produced by	Samuel Sax
Starring	Clifford Evans Tamara Desni Una O'Connor
Cinematography	Basil Emmott
Music by	Bretton Byrd
Production company	Warner Brothers-First National Productions
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	27 January 1940 (1940-01-27)
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£18,238^[2]
Box office	£10,383^[2]

His Brother's Keeper is a lost 1940 British second feature ('B')^[3] crime film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Clifford Evans, Tamara Desni and Una O'Connor.^[4] It was written by Austin Melford, Brock Williams and Neill.

The British Film Institute has classed His Brother's Keeper as a lost film.^[1] Its National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.^[4]

Plot

A successful sharp shooting act is threatened when a gold-digging blues singer attempts to split them up.

Cast

Clifford Evans as Jack Cornell
Tamara Desni as Olga
Una O'Connor as Eva
Peter Glenville as Hicky
Reginald Purdell as Bunny Reeves
Ronald Frankau as George Hollis
Antoinette Lupino as Pat
Aubrey Dexter as Sylvester
Frederick Burtwell as Harry
Roddy McDowall as boy

Production

It was made at Teddington Studios and was completed before the outbreak of the Second World War.^[3]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The story opens slowly and gradually achieves a rhythm of suspense. The photography is very sharp and clear, which helps to intensify the atmosphere of strain. The film is very well cast, especially Peter Glenville as the idealistic Hicky and Clifford Evans as the elder brother brusquely devoted to the younger. The minor characters are also well worked out, Una O'Connor as Olga's dresser, particularly, adding many touches to the detail of the story. The direction by Roy William Neill is excellent."^[5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "An artificial story set in an artificial world, its emotionalism is mostly superficial. Still, if it seldom approximates to life, it is at least good theatre, and on this score it is entitled to a measure of popular approbation. The principal players, none of whom is unknown, are adequate in the circumstances, and the ambitious settings have an aura of authenticity. ... It is not easy to believe the unsophisticated Hicky could share an act with his cynical brother Jack without gaining some knowledge of the ways of women of the world, but this fundamental extravagance apart the film does not make bad dramatic entertainment. Love, filial and profane, is responsible for moving emotionalism. The sharpshooting act contributes to essential excitement. The ending, too, has a note of irony as well as one of tragedy. Staging is particularly good."^[6]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Tensely worked out, with holding climax, story is elegantly staged ... It is not a pretty tale, but it is deftly presented, with smart directorial touches, and packs a suspenseful climax."^[7]

Picturegoer wrote: "The variety stage background is not convincing but it is well set technically; although one never really believes in the characters, there is a certain amount of dramatic conflict and emotional thrill. Tamara Desni sings and dances and does not act badly as the woman in the case; Clifford Evans is sound if a little unrestrained as the elder brother and Peter Glenville is suitably susceptible as the young brother."^[8]

v t e Films directed by Roy William Neill
1910s	The Mother Instinct (1917) The Price Mark (1917) Vive la France! (1918) The Bandbox (1919)
1920s	The Woman Gives (1920) Yes or No? (1920) Dangerous Business (1920) Something Different (1920) The Idol of the North (1921) The Conquest of Canaan (1921) The Iron Trail (1921) What's Wrong with the Women? (1922) The Man from M.A.R.S (1922) Toilers of the Sea (1923) By Divine Right (1924) Vanity's Price (1924) Broken Laws (1924) Percy (1925) Marriage in Transit (1925) The Kiss Barrier (1925) Greater Than a Crown (1925) The Cowboy and the Countess (1926) The Fighting Buckaroo (1926) A Man Four-Square (1926) Black Paradise (1926) The City (1926) Marriage (1927) The Arizona Wildcat (1927) The Olympic Hero (1928) Lady Raffles (1928) The Viking (1928) San Francisco Nights (1928) Behind Closed Doors (1929) Wall Street (1929)
1930s	Just Like Heaven (1930) The Melody Man (1930) Fifty Fathoms Deep (1931) The Menace (1932) That's My Boy (1932) Above the Clouds (1933) The Circus Queen Murder (1933) Fury of the Jungle (1933) The Ninth Guest (1934) Black Moon (1934) I'll Fix It (1934) Jealousy (1934) Mills of the Gods Eight Bells (1935) The Black Room (1935) Gypsy (1937) Doctor Syn (1937) The Viper (1938) Simply Terrific (1938) Thank Evans (1938) Many Tanks Mr. Atkins (1938) Everything Happens to Me (1938) A Gentleman's Gentleman (1939) Murder Will Out (1939)
1940s	His Brother's Keeper (1940) Hoots Mon! (1940) The Good Old Days (1940) Eyes of the Underworld (1942) Madame Spy (1942) Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943) Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) Rhythm of the Islands (1943) Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) The Spider Woman (1944) The Scarlet Claw (1944) The Pearl of Death (1944) Gypsy Wildcat (1944) Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear (1945) The Woman in Green (1945) Pursuit to Algiers (1945) Terror by Night (1946) Dressed to Kill (1946) Black Angel (1946)

His Brother's Keeper (1940 film)

Plot

Cast

Production

Reception

References

External links

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