The Return of the Frog
The Return of the Frog is a 1938 British crime film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gordon Harker, Hartley Power and Rene Ray.[1] It is a sequel to the 1937 film The Frog, and was based on the 1929 novel The India-Rubber Men by Edgar Wallace.[2] It was shot at Beaconsfield Studios.[3] The film's plot concerns a police hunt for the criminal known as The Frog.[4]
| The Return of the Frog | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Maurice Elvey |
| Produced by | Herbert Smith Herbert Wilcox |
| Screenplay by | Gerald Elliott Ian Hay |
| Based on | novel The India-Rubber Men by Edgar Wallace |
| Starring | Gordon Harker Hartley Power Rene Ray |
| Music by | John Blore Borelli |
| Cinematography | George Stretton |
| Edited by | Peggy Hennessey Alan Jaggs |
Production company | Imperator Films |
| Distributed by | British Lion |
Release date | 24 November 1938 |
Running time | 73 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Cast
- Gordon Harker as Inspector Elk
- Hartley Power as 'Chicago Dale' Sandford
- Rene Ray as Lela Oaks
- Cyril Smith as Maggs
- Charles Lefeaux as Golly Oaks
- Una O'Connor as Mum Oaks
- Meinhart Maur as 'Dutchy' Alkmann
- George Hayes as Dandy Lane
- Charles Carson as Chief Commissioner
- Aubrey Mallalieu as Banker
- Alexander Field as Sniffy Offer
- Philip Godfrey as Number 39
- Patrick Holt as Cadet with Question
- David Keir as Number 23
- Norman Pierce as Policeman
- George Street as Waiter
- Charles Victor as Customer in Night Club
Critical reception
Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings wrote "On the plus side, this movie is well-acted, is full of amusing one-liners, and features Una O’Connor. On the minus side, the plot is confusing and it feels alternately rushed and dull. I get the feeling they were trying to shoehorn too much story into its 73 minute running time, and as a result, it feels cramped and doesn’t flow well";[5] while TV Guide noted "an enjoyable mix of comedy and drama," and singled out Gordon Harker as "likable in a role he had filled before in the movies and on stage."[6]
References
- "The Return of the Frog (1938)". BFI.
- Goble, Alan (8 September 2011). "The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film". Walter de Gruyter – via Google Books.
- Wood p.99
- "The Return of the Frog (1938) - Maurice Elvey - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- Sindelar, Dave (24 September 2016). "Return of the Frog (1938)".
- "The Return Of The Frog - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
Bibliography
- Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
- Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.