The Skin Game (1931)
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17% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
27% of users liked it
(293 ratings)
This uncharacteristic Alfred Hitchcock endeavor was adapted by Hitch and his wife, Alma Reville, from a play by John Galsworthy. The British countryside turns into an ideological battlefield when Hornblower (Edmund Gwenn), a wealthy, self-man tradesman, stakes his claim to a piece of valuable forest… More This uncharacteristic Alfred Hitchcock endeavor was adapted by Hitch and his wife, Alma Reville, from a play by John Galsworthy. The British countryside turns into an ideological battlefield when Hornblower (Edmund Gwenn), a wealthy, self-man tradesman, stakes his claim to a piece of valuable forest property controlled for literally centuries by the "landed gentry." The local squire (C.V. France) and his wife (Helen Haye) dig in their heels and refuse to acknowledge Hornblower's presence -- how dare he use mere money to challenge the rights of blood? Their genteel snobbery is every bit as obnoxious as Hornblower's brash effrontery, and the result is a film with virtually no heroes or villains whatever. Never in any future film did Hitchcock ever lobby so strong an attack on the smug implacability of the aristocracy -- perhaps wisely, since The Skin Game proved to be one of his least-successful films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Written By
- Alfred Hitchcock, Alma Reville
- Genres
- Drama, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jun 20, 1931 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 5, 2000
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The playing is exceptional, both men and women.
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Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
Mr. Galsworthy's narrative is bound to enlist one's attention, but Mr. Hitchcock, who is responsible for the adaptation as well as the direction, cannot be said to have accomplished either task in a fashion the subject deserves.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A rather stagy and creaky early talkie (1931) by Alfred Hitchcock.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Stagy and verbose, this British play adaptation is one of the few weak movies Hitchcock had made in an otherwise brilliant career.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This early Hitchcock talkie shows none of the mastery that would subsequently make the director an internationally recognized genius.
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Cast
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Edmund Gwenn
as Mr. Hornblower
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Jill Esmond
as Jill Hillcrest
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Phyllis Konstam
as Chloe Hornblower
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John Longden
as Charles Hornblower
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C.V. France
as Mr. Hillcrest
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Helen Haye
as Mrs. Hillcrest
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Frank Lawton
as Rolf Hornblower
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Edward Chapman
as Dawker
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Herbert Ross
as Mr. Jackman
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Dora Gregory
as Mrs. Jackman
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R.E. Jeffrey
as 1st Stranger
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George Bancroft
as 2nd Stranger
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Ronald Frankau
as Auctioneer
- Ivor Barnard
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Edward Asner
as Plunkett
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Parley Baer
as Mr. Claggart
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Tracy Bogart
as Lizabeth
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Jim Boles
as Auction Clerk
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Al Checco
as Room Clerk
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Dort Clark
as Pennypacker
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Susan Clark
as Ginger
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Royal Dano
as John Brown
- Charles Drake
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Andrew Duggan
as Calloway
- Paris Earl
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Joel Fluellen
as Abram
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Robert Foulk
as Sheriff
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James Garner
as Quincy
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Louis Gossett Jr
as Jason O'Rourke
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Don Haggerty
as Speaker
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Henry Jones
as Sam
- Forrest Lewis
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Athena Lorde
as Margaret
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James McCallion
as Stanfil
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Juanita Moore
as Viney
- Burt Mustin
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J. Pat O'Malley
as William
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Neva Patterson
as Mrs. Claggart
- Suzanne Pleshette
- Hari
- Robert Stack
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Brenda Sykes
as Naomi
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George Tyne
as Bonner
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Napoleon Whiting
as Ned
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Jason Wingreen
as 2nd Speaker
- Rossano Brazzi
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George Wallace I
as Auctioneer
