Evensong

Evensong is a 1934 British musical film directed by Victor Saville and starring Evelyn Laye, Fritz Kortner and Emlyn Williams. It is loosely based on the story of the singer Nellie Melba. It was shot the Lime Grove Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alfred Junge. This movie was the first film of Alec Guinness, who appears as an uncredited extra. Cast Evelyn Laye as Madame Irela Fritz Kortner as Arthur Kober Emlyn Williams as George Leary Carl Esmond as Count Ehrenburg/Archduke Theodore Alice Delysia as Madame Valmond Conchita Supervia as Baba L'Etoile Muriel Aked as Tremlowe Dennis Val Norton as Sovino Arthur Sinclair as Pa O'Neil Patrick O'Moore as Bob O'Neil Browning Mummery as solo tenor/Alfredo the Gondolier Frederick Leister as Emperor Franz Josef George Treger as Solo Gypsy Violinist Alec Guinness as Soldier (uncredited) Critical reception The New York Times found the film "politely dull in its reverent examination of a songbird's career. But in its sober way it emerges as a superior musical entertainment...Victor Saville tells the story with tenderness, intelligence and skill and his method is technically invigorating in one lengthy sequence which he develops through the use of musical pantomime" ; while Allmovie noted "Evelyn Laye made only a handful of film appearances, of which Evensong was arguably her finest" ; and Time Out found it "a touch more sophisticated than the usual run of homegrown '30s musicals, genre specialist Saville's film benefits no end from the commanding and courageous central performance."