Loyalties is a 1933 British drama film directed by Basil Dean and starring Basil Rathbone, Heather Thatcher and Miles Mander. It is based on the 1922 John Galsworthy play Loyalties.
The film addresses the theme of antisemitism. The film was part of an increased trend depicting mistreatment of Jews in British films during the 1930s, tied to the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, but is unusual in its depiction of prejudice in Britain as most other films were set in a non-British, historical context.
Contents
Plot
While a houseguest at an upper-class gathering, the wealthy Jew Ferdinand de Levis is robbed of nearly £1,000 with evidence pointing towards the guilt of another guest, Captain Dancy. Instead of supporting De Levis, the host attempts to hush the matter up and then sides with Dancy and subtly tries to destroy de Levis's reputation. When Dancy is later exposed and commits suicide, de Levis is blamed for his demise.
Cast
Basil Rathbone as Ferdinand de Levis
Heather Thatcher as Margaret Orme
Miles Mander as Captain Ronald Dancy, DSO
Joan Wyndham as Mabel, Mrs. Borring
Philip Strange as Major Colford
Alan Napier as General Canynge
Cecily Byrne as Lady Adela
Athole Stewart as Lord St. Erth
Patric Curwen as Sir Fredric Blair
Marcus Barron as The Lord Chief Justice
Ben Field as Gilman
Griffith Humphreys as Inspector Jones
Robert Coote as Robert
Aubrey Dexter as Kentman
Laurence Hanray as Jacob Twisden
Stafford Hilliard as Treisure
Anthony Holles as Ricardos
Mike Johnson as Jenkins
Arnold Lucy as Googie
Don MacKay as Mike Sawchuck
Robert Mawdesley as Edward Graviter
Maxine Sandra as Ricardo's Daughter
Patrick Waddington as Augustus Borring
Algernon West as Charles Winsor
Production
Film rights were purchased by Herbert Wilcox for £9,000. He developed a screenplay for an extra £2,000. Galsworthy had contractual rights of approval over the project. Wilcox sold the project to William Fox for £20,000.
The film was the first to be made by Associated Talking Pictures (which later became Ealing Studios), after the breakdown of their arrangement with RKO Pictures. Carol Reed and Thorold Dickinson both worked on the film's production as assistant directors. Edward Carrick designed the film's sets.