CAVELL FILM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1939, Page 5

CAVELL FILM

STORY OF HEROIC NURSE. Going into production immediately, and rated as being a story that will arouse widespread interest throughout the world is the life story of Edith Cavell, heroic English nurse who met death before a German firing squad during the World War. Anna Neagle will play the role of Miss Cavell, the picture marking the first appearance of the noted British screen star in an American film.

Adhering strictly to historical fact,! the picture, first to be made by Her-1 bert Wilcox under his recent joint pro-' duction agreement with R.K.0.. will i have as its basic theme Nurse Cavell's i undying words: "Patriotism is not! enough. I must have no hatred or bit- , lerness toward anyone.” Also among will be the unavailing, effort of Ame-i the facts to be projected on the screen ’ rican Ambassador Whitlock to save; Miss Cavell's life by direct appeal to Kaiser Wilhelm. In connection with the announcement. it is interesting to recall that the greatest success scored by Wilcox as a British producer was his famous silent film. "Dawn,” in which Sybil Thorndike played Cavell. Subjected to

hostile Gorman criticism before it was shown, the picture became a storm centre in international politics. The word’s press eventually secured release of the film, with George Bernard Shaw helping to turn the tables in its favour with the statement: "If I were a German, I would insist on this film being shown in every German cinema house. In my opinion, it is the most helpful and sincere work I have ever witnessed on stage or screen.”