Break the News (film)

1938 film by René Clair

June 1938 (1938-06) (U.K.)

Running time

78 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

Break the News is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by René Clair and starring Jack Buchanan, Maurice Chevalier and June Knight.^[1] Two struggling performers decide to create a fake murder scandal in order to drum up publicity for their act. It was based on the novel Le mort en fuite by Loïc Le Gouriadec which had previously been made into a 1936 French film Death on the Run. Songs featured include It All Belongs to You (Cole Porter, sung by Chevalier) and We're Old Buddies (Van Phillips, Jack Buchanan, sung by Chevalier and Buchanan).^[2]

Cast

Maurice Chevalier as François Verrier
Jack Buchanan as Teddy Enton
June Knight as Grace Gatwick
Marta Labarr as Sonia
Gertrude Musgrove as Helena
Garry Marsh as Producer
Wallace Douglas as Stage manager
Joss Ambler as Press agent
Mark Daly as Property man
Gibb McLaughlin as Superintendent
Robb Wilton as cab driver
Felix Aylmer as Sir George Bickory
C. Denier Warren as Sir Edward Phring
George Hayes as Tribunal President
Guy Middleton as Englishman
Athole Stewart as Governor
Charles Lefeaux as Interpreter
D.J. Williams as Judge
Elliott Mason as Dresser
J. Abercomie as Neighbor
William Fazan as Passport Official
H.R. Hignett as Prison Guard
Wally Patch as Prison Guard
Hal Gordon as Prison Guard
George Benson as Firing Squad Officer
Nigel Stock as Stage Boy

Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "What a combination! Break the News boasted the talents of English stage star Jack Buchanan, French entertainer Maurice Chevalier, legendary director Rene Clair, and songwriter Cole Porter. But what should have made for dynamite entertainment, fizzled in the eyes of disappointed contemporary reviewers" ;^[3] as The New York Times put it, "there is little to suggest the old Clair wit and humor."^[4] However, TV Guide wrote, "the always enchanting Buchanan and Chevalier are a pleasure to watch in this funny, energetic musical that features some hilariously suspenseful sequences. Although it may not rank with director Clair's French classics, this perfect piece of British entertainment holds its own special place."^[2]

References

^ "Break the News (1938)". BFI. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Break The News". TVGuide.com.
^ Hal Erickson. "Break the News (1939) - René Clair - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 20 January 2022.