The Light That Failed (1939)

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(20 ratings)

Based on a classic tale from Rudyard Kipling, this melodrama chronicles the desperate attempt of a painter to finish his greatest painting before he goes blind. His affliction is due to a war wound and his final project is to paint a portrait of London's most notorious prostitute. Trouble begins… More Based on a classic tale from Rudyard Kipling, this melodrama chronicles the desperate attempt of a painter to finish his greatest painting before he goes blind. His affliction is due to a war wound and his final project is to paint a portrait of London's most notorious prostitute. Trouble begins when the hooker falls deeply in love with the artist. Unfortunately, social mores forbid their union and this frustrates the wanton woman. Meanwhile, the artist feverishly continues to paint her. The result is exquisite. Unfortunately, by this time, the whore can no longer contain her frustrated rage, and unbeknownst to the painter whose sight is nearly gone, viciously slashes it. Later the artist takes his prized work and shows it to his best friend, a military officer, in a heartbreaking scene. Afterward the two colleagues head down to fight in the Sudan. There, the devastated painter begs the officer to allow him to participate in one final, glorious charge atop a shining white stallion. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: William A. Wellman
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 24, 1939 Wide

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Cast

            Ronald Colman as Dick Heldar

            Walter Huston as Terpenhow

            Muriel Angelus as Maisie

            Ida Lupino as Bessie Broke

            Dudley Digges as The Nilghai

            Ernest Cossart as Beeton

            Ferike Boros as Madame Binat

            Pedro de Cordoba as Monsieur Binat

            Colin Tapley as Gardner

            Fay Helm as Red-Haired Girl

            Ronald Sinclair as Dick as a boy

            Sarita Wooton as Maisie as a Girl

            Halliwell Hobbes as Doctor

            Charles Irwin as Soldier Model

            Francis McDonald as George

            George Regas as Cassavetti

            Wilfred Roberts as Barton

            James Aubrey as Soldier

            George Chandler
            
            Clyde Cook as Soldier

            Harry Cording as Soldier

            Leslie Francis as Man with Bandaged Eyes

            Sam Harris as Wells

            Colin Kenny as Doctor

            Connie Leon as Flower woman

            Pat O'Malley as Bullock

            Cyril Ring as War Correspondent

            Gerald Rogers as Sick man

            Hayden Stevenson as War Correspondent

            George Melford
            
            Clara Blore as Mother

            Harold Entwistle as Old man with dark glasses

            Barbara Denny as Waitress

            Barry Downing as Little boy

            Carl Voss as Chops the Officer
See full cast

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