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Nell Gwyn
Nell Gwyn
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Directed by	Herbert Wilcox
Written by	Marjorie Bowen (novel) ; Herbert Wilcox
Produced by	Herbert Wilcox
Starring	Dorothy Gish; Randle Ayrton; Juliette Compton; Sydney Fairbrother
Cinematography	Roy F. Overbaugh
Edited by	William Hamilton
Production; company	British National Pictures
Distributed by	First National Film Distributors ; Paramount Pictures (US)
Release date	18 July 1926 (US);
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	Silent (English intertitles)
Budget	£20,000 or £22,000
Box office	over £100,000

Nell Gwyn is a 1926 British silent romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Dorothy Gish, Randle Ayrton and Juliette Compton.^[3] It was based on the 1926 novel Mistress Nell Gwyn by Marjorie Bowen^[4] and follows the life of Nell Gwynne, the mistress of Charles II. Wilcox later made a second version of the film in 1934, Nell Gwynn which starred Anna Neagle.^[5]

Plot

As described in a film magazine review,^[6] Nell Gwyn is first seen as an orange girl at the Old Drury Theatre in London. She attracts the eye of the King and he makes her one of the players at His Majesty's Theatre. She succeeds and winning the King's affection becomes his favorite, vying with Lady Castlemaine for his favors. Through her efforts, a palace which he is building for her is converted into a home for disabled soldiers and sailors. When his hour of death nears, the King dies in her arms, with her name on his lips.

Cast

Dorothy Gish as Nell Gwyn
Randle Ayrton as Charles II
Juliette Compton as Lady Castlemaine
Sydney Fairbrother as Mrs. Gwyn
Donald Macardle as Duke of Monmouth
Johnny Butt as Samuel Pepys
Gibb McLaughlin as Duke of York
Judd Green as Toby Clinker
Edward Sorley as Dickon
Forrester Harvey as Charles Hart
Fred Rains as Earl of Shaftesbury
Rolf Leslie as Evelyn
Aubrey Fitzgerald as Tom Killigrew
Tom Coventry as Innkeeper
Booth Conway as Messenger
Dorinea Shirley as Maid

Production

Wilcox said he got the idea to make the film after making The Only Way. He saw a theatre bill headlined by "Dolly Elswrothy" and remembered a sketch he saw where Elsworthy played Nell Gwyn. He cabled to see if Dorothy Gish was available and she accepted.^[7]

Dorothy Gish was paid £7,000 (£1,000 a week plus expenses^[8]). Wilcox arranged to finance the film with an accountant, everyone contributing half. Wilcox says the accountant reneged and he had to finance the film entirely himself. To save money he edited the film himself.^[9]

One report says the film was made for £20,000 and Wilcox sold it outright for £35,000.^[1] Wilcox says it was made for £14,000 and he sold it for £20,000.^[10] The company that bought it was British National Pictures.^[11]

Reception

Critical

The New York Times wrote, "Whatever may be the shortcomings of English motion picture producers. If they can put together other pictures as simply and with as much dramatic effect as this story of Nell Gwyn they should have no difficulty obtaining a showing for them anywhere. The story moves quickly and surely, with nothing to strain one's credulity, and the acting of Miss Gish and Randie Ayrton, who takes the part of Charles, is excellent. So is that of Juliette Compton as Lady Castlemaine. The immorality of the period is suggested without being offensive, and for the second time this Summer a good picture has not been spoiled by prudery. The titles are unusually good and frequently amusing, that dear old gossip Pepys being resorted to for purposes of verisimilitude."^[12]

Box office

Wilcox says the film "was a riotous success throughout the world."^[13] It was sold to the US for £28,000.^[14]

It did so well that British National Films signed Wilcox and Gish to make three more films together, which would be financed by Paramount.^[15]

Censorship

British National Pictures objected after the Quebec Board of Censors, known for its strictness, banned the showing of Nell Gwyn on the grounds of "nudity."^[16]^[17]

References

^ ^a ^b "Anna Neagle's Herbert Takes On A New Star". Truth. No. 2756. Brisbane. 18 January 1953. p. 22. Retrieved 17 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b "The Man Who Made "Dawn."". Daily Examiner. Vol. 21, no. 28497. New South Wales. 24 April 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Nell Gwyn A Character Study (1925)". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
^ Nell Gwyn: A Decoration, by Marjorie Bowen, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1926. This book was not written under the pen name, Joseph Shearing
^ "Nell Gwyn (1926) - Herbert Wilcox - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
^ Pardy, George T. (6 February 1926), "Pre-Release Review of Features: Nell Gwyn", Motion Picture News, 33 (6), New York City, New York: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 705, retrieved 5 February 2023 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Wilcox p. 65
^ "Dorothy Gish Made £41,000 from Three British Films". The Sun. No. 5408. Sydney. 8 March 1928. p. 1 (Final Extra). Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Wilcox p. 66
^ Wilcox p. 67
^ "British-Made Films". Daily Mercury. Vol. 59, no. 1120. Queensland. 9 February 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 5 January 2022.
^ Wilcox p. 68
^ "Wrongful Dismissal". Daily Standard. No. 4729 (3 p.m. ed.). Queensland. 8 March 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Three New British Pictures". The Daily News. Vol. XLV, no. 16, 039 (Home (Final) ed.). Western Australia. 22 September 1926. p. 5. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Canada Censors Ban Nell Gwyn, an English Picture". Exhibitors Daily Review. New York City: Quigley Publishing Company. 19 October 1926. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^ "Quebec Censors Busy". Exhibitors Daily Review. New York City: Quigley Publishing Company. 28 October 1926. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved 8 October 2024.