Master of Bankdam
Encyclopedia
The Master of Bankdam is a 1947
British historical film directed by Walter Forde
from the novel, The Crowthers of Bankdam, by Thomas Armstrong
. It starred Anne Crawford
, Dennis Price
, Tom Walls
, Stephen Murray, Linden Travers
and David Tomlinson
. Two generations of brothers struggle for control of the family business in 19th-century Yorkshire
.
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 in oppose one and other. Joshua dies with many others in Mill collapse, partially blamed on his brother Zebediah. Joshua's roll 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 and a fatally ill, Zebediah returns and, with a mob outside the door, in a final scene he 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.
It was produced by Walter Forde
and Edward Dryhurst, and directed by Walter Forde.. It was adapted for screen by Edward Dryhurst with additional dialogue by Moie Charles. The music is by Arthur Benjamin
, performed by London Philharmonic and conducted by Muir Mathieson
.
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.
Published: October 17, 1949
1947 in film
The year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
British historical film directed by Walter Forde
Walter Forde
Walter Forde was a British actor, Screenwriter and Director. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1896 he directed over fifty films between 1920 and 1949.-Silent era filmography:* The Wanderer * The Handyman ...
from the novel, The Crowthers of Bankdam, by Thomas Armstrong
Thomas Armstrong
Sir Thomas Armstrong was an English organist, conductor, educationalist and adjudicator. He had a substantial influence on British music for well over half a century. From 1955 to 1968 he was principal of the Royal Academy of Music...
. It starred Anne Crawford
Anne Crawford
Anne Crawford , born Imelda Crawford, was a British film actress, in films such as Millions Like Us...
, Dennis Price
Dennis Price
Dennis Price was an English actor, remembered for his suave screen roles, particularly Louis Mazzini in Kind Hearts and Coronets, and for his portrayal of the omniscient valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptations of P. G...
, Tom Walls
Tom Walls
Tom Kirby Walls was a popular English stage and motion-pictures character actor, and film director. He has claim to be one of the most influential figures in British comedy.-Early career:...
, Stephen Murray, Linden Travers
Linden Travers
-Life and career:Travers was born Florence Lindon-Travers in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, the daughter of Florence and William Halton Lindon-Travers. She was the elder sister of Bill Travers, and attended La Sagesse. She made her first stage appearance at the Newcastle Playhouse in 1933...
and David Tomlinson
David Tomlinson
David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson was an English film actor. He is primarily remembered for his roles as authority figure George Banks in Mary Poppins, fraudulent magician Professor Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and as hapless antagonist Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug.-Early life:Born...
. Two generations of brothers struggle for control of the family business in 19th-century Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
The film is the story of Bankdam, a small Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
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 in oppose one and other. Joshua dies with many others in Mill collapse, partially blamed on his brother Zebediah. Joshua's roll is taken over by his son Simeon. The old patriarch, Simeon dies. Zebediah with ill health retires to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
for treatment leaving his son, Lancelot Handel, with power of attorney in his absence. Things at the Mill deteriorate and a fatally ill, Zebediah returns and, with a mob outside the door, in a final scene he 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.
It was produced by Walter Forde
Walter Forde
Walter Forde was a British actor, Screenwriter and Director. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1896 he directed over fifty films between 1920 and 1949.-Silent era filmography:* The Wanderer * The Handyman ...
and Edward Dryhurst, and directed by Walter Forde.. It was adapted for screen by Edward Dryhurst with additional dialogue by Moie Charles. The music is by Arthur Benjamin
Arthur Benjamin
Arthur Leslie Benjamin was an Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher. He is best known as the composer of Jamaican Rhumba, composed in 1938.-Biography:...
, performed by London Philharmonic and conducted by Muir Mathieson
Muir Mathieson
James Muir Mathieson was a Scottish conductor and composer. Mathieson was almost always described as a "Musical Director" on a large number of British films.-Career:...
.
The film was made by Holbein Films at Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios were located in what is now Hepworth Way, Walton-on-Thames. Cecil Hepworth began film making there in 1899, but the name derives from the subsequent owner, Archibald Nettlefold, who rebuilt the studios on the original site. During the late fifties the studio changed its name to...
, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. It was produced by Rank Films and distributed by Prestige Films.
External links
- All Movie website Hal Erickson's review
- Music and psychology: from Vienna to London, 1939-52 at Google books
- Review at British Pictures web site
- New York Times web site Review by BOSLEY CROWTHER
Published: October 17, 1949