Derwent Hall Caine
Encyclopedia
Sir Derwent Hall Caine, 1st Baronet (12 September 1891 2 December 1971) was a British actor, publisher and Labour
politician.
Caine was born into an Isle of Man
family, the son of novelist Hall Caine
and his wife Mary Chandler. He was born at Keswick
in Cumberland
, and so derived his name from the nearby lake of Derwent Water
. He was a sensitive child with asthma,and attended St Cyprian's School
in Eastbourne
for his health. He became an actor and in 1915 took one of the parts in his father's first authorised film — a version of The Christian, made by the London Film Company.
His father went to America to encourage American involvement in World War I
and had dramatic interests there. In 1915 Derwent Caine sailed to America to look after those interests. Although he was declared unfit for active service, he was nearly prevented from travelling because of a change of rules.
In America he starred in three films made by the Arrow Film Corporation. These were The Deemster (which had been written by his father), a version of Crime and Punishment
by Dostoyevsky, and the propaganda film Huns at our gate.
Back in England, with his brother Gordon Ralph Hall Caine
, he founded the publishing house The Reader's Library.
In 1929 he stood for parliament as Labour candidate for Liverpool, Everton
and was returned as Member of Parliament
. When the Labour government collapsed in 1931 he carried on supporting Ramsay MacDonald
as a National Labour MP. Hall Caine was the only sitting National Labour MP to be opposed by the Conservatives in the 1931 General Election. He lost his seat, to Frank Hornby
, and finished bottom of the poll. At the same election, his elder brother Gordon Hall Caine was elected Conservative member for East Dorset
. In 1935 the two brothers established the Hall Caine Airport
on the Isle of Man.
He was given a knighthood
in 1935 and a baronetcy in 1937.
Caine had at least three children out of wedlock, and one of them, Elin, was adopted by Caine's parents as their own daughter in 1912. He died in Miami.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician.
Caine was born into an Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
family, the son of novelist Hall Caine
Hall Caine
Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine CH, KBE , usually known as Hall Caine, was a Manx author. He is best known as a novelist and playwright of the late Victorian and the Edwardian eras. In his time he was exceedingly popular, and at the peak of his success his novels outsold those of his...
and his wife Mary Chandler. He was born at Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, and so derived his name from the nearby lake of Derwent Water
Derwent Water
Derwentwater is one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District National Park in north west England. It lies wholly within the Borough of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria....
. He was a sensitive child with asthma,and attended St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School
St Cyprian's School was an English preparatory school for boys, which operated in the early 20th century in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Like other preparatory schools, its purpose was to train pupils to do well enough in the examinations to gain admission to leading public schools, and to provide an...
in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
for his health. He became an actor and in 1915 took one of the parts in his father's first authorised film — a version of The Christian, made by the London Film Company.
His father went to America to encourage American involvement in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and had dramatic interests there. In 1915 Derwent Caine sailed to America to look after those interests. Although he was declared unfit for active service, he was nearly prevented from travelling because of a change of rules.
In America he starred in three films made by the Arrow Film Corporation. These were The Deemster (which had been written by his father), a version of Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. It was later published in a single volume. This is the second of Dostoyevsky's full-length novels following his...
by Dostoyevsky, and the propaganda film Huns at our gate.
Back in England, with his brother Gordon Ralph Hall Caine
Gordon Hall Caine
Gordon Ralph Hall Caine was a British publisher and Conservative politician.Caine was born into an Isle of Man family, the son of novelist Hall Caine and his wife Mary Chandler...
, he founded the publishing house The Reader's Library.
In 1929 he stood for parliament as Labour candidate for Liverpool, Everton
Liverpool Everton (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool Everton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
and was returned as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. When the Labour government collapsed in 1931 he carried on supporting Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
as a National Labour MP. Hall Caine was the only sitting National Labour MP to be opposed by the Conservatives in the 1931 General Election. He lost his seat, to Frank Hornby
Frank Hornby
Frank Hornby was an English inventor, businessman and politician. He was a visionary in toy development and manufacture and produced three of the most popular lines of toys in the twentieth century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys...
, and finished bottom of the poll. At the same election, his elder brother Gordon Hall Caine was elected Conservative member for East Dorset
East Dorset (UK Parliament constituency)
East Dorset is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was formally known as the Eastern Division of Dorset. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. In 1935 the two brothers established the Hall Caine Airport
Hall Caine Airport
Hall Caine Airport was the first airfield on the Isle of Man and was located near Ramsey. It was named after the author Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine CH, KBE by his sons Gordon Hall Caine and Derwent Hall Caine, who were the project initiators. From 1935 to 1937 it handled some domestic scheduled...
on the Isle of Man.
He was given a knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1935 and a baronetcy in 1937.
Caine had at least three children out of wedlock, and one of them, Elin, was adopted by Caine's parents as their own daughter in 1912. He died in Miami.
Filmography
- The Deemster (1917) as Daniel Mylrea
- Crime and Punishment (1917) as Rodion Raskolnikoff
- Huns Within Our Gates (1918) as Arthur Morgan