The Queen’s Guards ** (1961, Daniel Massey, Raymond Massey, Robert Stephens, Ursula Jeans) – Classic Movie Review 7961

Director Michael Powell handles this 1961 British film The Queen’s Guards as a dull, flag-waving tale of two generations of The Queen’s Grenadier Guards, old Captain Fellowes and young John Fellowes (Raymond Massey and Daniel Massey), looking back on the past with affection, regret and a little anxiety.

The son John (Daniel Massey) is regularly told by his ex-Guards officer father that he is not as good as his brother, but finds the reality behind his brother’s death during the war and goes off to battle with the Arabs.

Unfortunately, despite its thematic connections with The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, it is probably Powell’s least interesting film, with an outmoded, stilted feel and clumsy characterisations.

The sterling cast help out a bit: Robert Stephens, Ursula Jeans, Judith Stott, Elizabeth Shepherd, Duncan Lamont as Major Wilkes, Anthony Bushell as Major Cole, Ian Hunter, Jack Watling, Frank Lawton, Jess Conrad, Lawrence Payne, Tony Selby, William Roache, John Chappell, William Fox, Eileen Peel, Patrick Connor, William Young and Nigel Green. Powell is always good at casting and directing actors.

The Queen’s Guards is directed by Michael Powell, runs 111 minutes, is made by Imperial, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Roger Milner (story and screenplay), from an idea by Simon Harcourt-Smith, is shot in Technicolor and CinemaScope by Gerald [Gerry] Turpin, is produced by Michael Powell and Simon Harcourt-Smith (associate producer), and is scored by Brian Easdale, with art direction by Wilfred Shingleton.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7961

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