Master of Bankdam

Master of Bankdam
1-sheet theatrical poster
Directed by Walter Forde
Produced by Edward Dryhurst
Walter Forde
Screenplay by Edward Dryhurst
Moie Charles (additional dialogue)
Based on The Crowthers of Bankdam
by Thomas Armstrong
Starring Anne Crawford
Dennis Price
Tom Walls
Stephen Murray
Linden Travers
David Tomlinson
Music by Arthur Benjamin
Cinematography Basil Emmott
Edited by Terence Fisher
Production
company
Holbein Films
Distributed by General Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
 29 September 1947
Running time
 105 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The Master of Bankdam is a 1947 British historical film directed by Walter Forde and based on the novel The Crowthers of Bankdam by Thomas Armstrong.[1] It stars Anne Crawford, Dennis Price, Tom Walls, Stephen Murray, Linden Travers and David Tomlinson. The story concerns two generations of brothers who struggle for control of the family business in 19th-century Yorkshire.

Plot

The film is the story of Bankdam, a small Yorkshire mill run by the Crowther family around 1860. It prospers and grows under its patriarch owner, Simeon Crowther. After family upheavals the firm goes through several crises under the management of his sons Zebediah and Joshua, who tend to oppose one another. Joshua dies with many others in a mill collapse, partially blamed on his brother Zebediah. Joshua's role is taken over by his son Simeon. The old patriarch, Simeon, dies. Zebediah with ill health retires to Vienna for treatment, leaving his son, Lancelot Handel, with power of attorney in his absence. Things at the mill deteriorate. In the final scene a fatally ill Zebediah returns and, with a mob outside the door, makes amends and entrusts Bankdam, not to his own son, but to Simeon, as he realises that he is the only person that can save Bankham.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Walter Forde and Edward Dryhurst, and directed by Walter Forde. It was adapted for the screen by Edward Dryhurst with additional dialogue by Moie Charles. The music was by Arthur Benjamin, performed by London Philharmonic and conducted by Muir Mathieson.[2][3] There is also evidence that it was produced by Ernest G. Roy of Nettlefold Studios, according to his death notices.

The film was made by Holbein Films at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. It was produced by Rank Films and distributed by Prestige Films.[4]

References

  1. ↑ The Crowthers of Bankdam by Thomas Armstrong ( ISBN 9780002211024), published by Collins
  2. ↑ British Film Institute http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/42116
  3. ↑ Film summary, in relation to the musical content, in the book Music and Psychology: from Vienna to London, 1939-52 ISBN 978-0-9540123-1-1, by Hans Keller, edited by Christopher Wintle, Page 158
  4. ↑ Bosley Crowther (17 October 1949). "'Master of Bankdam,' British Film About Yorkshire Woolen Mill Folk, at Embassy". New York Times. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.