The Sun Never Sets (film)

1939 film by Rowland V. Lee

Arthur Fitz-Richard
Jerry Horwin

Produced byRowland V. LeeStarring

Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Basil Rathbone
Barbara O'Neil

CinematographyGeorge RobinsonEdited byTed J. KentMusic byFrank Skinner

Production
company

Universal Pictures

Distributed byUniversal Pictures

Release date

May 31, 1939 (1939-05-31)

Running time

97 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$800,000^[1]

The Sun Never Sets is a 1939 American drama film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Basil Rathbone and Barbara O'Neil.^[2]^[3]

Plot

The Randolph family have a tradition of working in the British colonial service. Clive comes home from a mission in the Gold Coast of Africa accompanied by his wife Helen. He discovers his younger brother John, who is in love with Phyllis is not keen on following in his footsteps.

John is persuaded to try colonial service by his grandfather Sir John. John goes to the Gold Coast. He is accompanied by Clive who has been sent to investigate the source of a series of radio broadcasts that are sewing unrest throughout the world. These may be linked to Hugo Zurof, a man plotting to rule the world.

Clive leaves his pregnant wife Helen behind to go on a mission. Zurof tricks John into calling his brother back, causing Clive to be sent home in disgrace, despite the fact that Clive and Helen's child dies in childbirth.

John goes to Zurof's base and infiltrates it by pretending to be drunk. He manages to broadcast a code to his family. Clive leads a bombing mission to destroy the base. John survives it. Zurof and his men are killed.

Cast

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as John Randolph
Basil Rathbone as Clive Randolph
Barbara O'Neil as Helen Randolph
Lionel Atwill as Zurof
Virginia Field as Phyllis
C. Aubrey Smith as Sir John Randolph
Melville Cooper as Cosey
Mary Forbes as Mrs. Randolph
John Burton as Simon
Arthur Mulliner as Uncle Gerald
Theodore von Eltz as Delafons
Douglas Walton as Carpenter
Cecil Kellaway as Colonial Official
Lionel Belmore as Third Selection Board Member
Sidney Bracey as Minister of Colonial Affairs
Jess Lee Brooks as Angry - Heavyset Chief
Russell Burroughs as Young Candidate
Frederick Clarke as Dr. Anderson
Harry Cording as Zurof Camp Guard
Jack Deery as Command Bomber Pilot
Al Duvall as Kim Kroo
James Eagles as Assistant Operator
Mary Field as Maid
Lawrence Grant as Second Selection Board Member
Eddie Hall as Henchman Bringing John Randolph Through Sliding Doors
Holmes Herbert as Colonial Official
Claude Horton as Sir Walter Raleigh
Philip Hurlic as Tuppence - Native Boy
Brandon Hurst as A Doctor
Olaf Hytten as Statesman
Edward Keane as DNXY Radio Operator
Robert Emmett Keane as Henchman Careira
Walter McGrail as Henchman DaCosta
Lew Payton as Village Chief
Hilda Plowright as Queen Elizabeth
Napier Raikes as First Selection Board Member
Hassan Said as 'Palaver' Translator
C. Montague Shaw as Colonial Affairs Official
Ivan F. Simpson as A Doctor
Eric Snowden as The Randolph Manservant
Eric Wilton as Colonial Affairs Official

Production

The film had been in development and Universal "on and off" for three years.^[4] Eventually Rowland V. Lee was assigned to direct and Basil Rathbone to star. (The two men had just made Son of Frankenstein together.) In February Douglas Fairbanks Jr. signed to co star.^[5]

The script was written by W.P. Lipscomb who said the film wanted to pay tribute to the British colonial service.

We attacked it by telling the story of one family, typical of hundreds of families who devote their lives to "the service." We show human beings and human emotions involved in affairs greater than themselves., and watch how they react. ' They are not conscious heroes; they make bad mistakes and cause intense suffering- If they worry through, it is by keeping their sense of humour in desperate circumstances and trusting that doing one's best, although one can't see the end in sight, may sometimes bring unexpected results. That is a trait common to all people in "the service" and is particularly true of Englishmen whose ability to take on a big job, face difficulties and meet them with good humour when 'things go badly, is accepted as one of the finest traditions of their national character.^[6]

Filming began 13 March 1939.^[7] Lipscomb was a friend of Virginia Field and wrote her into the movie.^[8]

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. says C Aubrey Smith walked up to him on the first day of filming and said, "Rotten title. It already has set."^[9]

Reception

Fairbanks Jr. said the film "did nothing at the bo [box office] because Americans were realizing we'd soon be at war."^[9]

References

^ "Fancy Coin". Variety. 18 January 1939. p. 3.
^ Dick p.97
^ Sun Never Sets, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 6, Iss. 61, (Jan 1, 1939): 141.
^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: 'Disputed Passage,' Based on Medical Novel, to Be Made by Paramount in April PRISON PLAY FOR METRO '6,000 Enemies' Is by Surgeon at San Quentin--Soviet Film Opens Today New York Times 14 Jan 1939: 12.
^ NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Warners Seeking Film Rights to 'Gettysburg' and 'Cyrano'--Fairbanks Jr. in 'Sun Never Sets' Davis Slated for "Desert Song" Cianelli in "Penthouse" Of Local Origin New York Times 21 Feb 1939: 21.
^ "SCREEN STORY OF BRITISH COLONIAL SERVICE". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 8 August 1939. p. 16 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Two Studios Planning 'Atlantic Cable' Films: Herbert, Hodges Cast Ann Sheridan Wins Lead Rathbone Role Notable 'Penthouse' Progresses Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 Feb 1939: 14.
^ "THE FEMININE ANGLE". The Canberra Times. Vol. 13, no. 3676. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 July 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ ^a ^b Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (4 March 2016). Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era. University Press of Kentucky. p. 101. ISBN 9780813167121.