9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Imperial Minister, January 31, 2002
"Stagey" it is but thats the point. Disraeli is a man of wit and guile and a tongue that is always at the ready with a clever twist of phrase or turn of logic. Arliss makes this history lesson very enjoyable. And the history lesson is a good one. The struggle over the Suez canal crystallizes a growing mistrust between the growing empires of west(England) and east(Russia),in the middle is Egypt and her poverty has made her sell her "ditch in the sand" to the highest bidder. To England that ditch is the key to keeping India. It is all played like a drawing room comedy of errors though with Russian spies and coded messages and nasty antisemite English bankers who refuse to back the prime ministers plan, at first, and with a love story thrown in to boot. Lots of great lines if not great visuals. It was all filmed on just a few sets but that just makes you listen all the more carefully. A smart film that will please the discerning historian as well as the drawing room wit in you.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
George Arliss at 61, Joan Bennett at 19. Great acting, great looks, May 19, 2007
This review is from: Disraeli [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"The less a politician does the fewer mistakes he makes." The actual line is "prime minister" in place of "politician" but the same amused skepticism holds true. The speaker is British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, played by George Arliss. Disraeli was a clever and ambitious politician, heartily disliked by a great section of the English ruling class because he was born a Jew, "not one of us, you know," cleverer than anyone, and with a vision of British imperial destiny that encouraged many and made many more nervous. George Arliss was as much a film phenomenon as Dizzy was a political marvel. Arliss gained a great stage reputation in England, came to America and repeated the trick on Broadway, made a handful of silent films to acclaim and, with his first talking movie, this one, won an Academy Award for best actor. He was a slight man without an ounce of fat on his bones. He looked his age. He had a narrow skull, prominent cheekbones, thin lips and a regal nose. With a commanding acting style and diction as precise as an accountant's penmanship, Arliss is definitely old school by today's standards. I'll tell you something. When he's on screen you don't notice anyone else. When he's off screen, you realize you're waiting for him to reappear. From Disraeli in 1929 to his last movie, Dr. Syn, in 1937 when he was 69, he became the most successful older actor Hollywood has ever seen, before or since. He made 19 movies in those eight years, many of them historical dramas. He played everything from the Duke of Wellington to Cardinal Richelieu to Voltaire to Alexander Hamilton. His wife had played opposite him in a number of his stage and film vehicles. Her sight had been failing and when at last she became blind in 1937, he immediately left acting. They returned to London and spent the rest of their days in honored retirement. He died in 1946; she followed him four years later.
Why all this about a long gone and long forgotten actor? Partly it's because what makes his movies so watchable (I've seen three) is him. He knew exactly what he was doing and he is memorable at it. Mainly it's because he had a remarkable life as an actor and should be remembered by at least a few. As Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to miss out on a lot of good stuff," or something like that.
Disraeli was a proven success for Arliss. He played the drama many times on stage and again in a silent version. It's the story of Disraeli's determination to secure ownership of the Suez Canal for Britain. Among other advantages, the canal will provide a short and secure route to India and beyond. The Bank of England opposes him. Imperial Russia is out to thwart him using spies and skullduggery. And he has a window of opportunity of only three weeks to seal the deal. Disraeli uses every trick and every bluff he can think of to impose his will. And he still has time to encourage the love match between two young people he is quite fond of. We have the lovely, 19-year-old Lady Clarissa Pevensey (played by the lovely, 19-year-old Joan Bennett) and the well-intentioned but stuffy 25-year-old Lord Charles Deeford (Anthony Bushell). All turns out well, and Queen Victoria is pleased.
The movie is dated, declarative and stagy. Still, Arliss gives his man so much charm and wit, so much cleverness and power that the movie becomes something more than an artifact. So, if nothing else, consider watching it to observe a great actor. Or at least to see a teen-aged Joan Bennett. The VHS tape shows the movie's age, but it is still easy to watch. In one or two places the audio seems to fade out for a moment or two. The tape can probably be tracked down. Unfortunately, almost nothing of Arliss' work is easily available.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE GREAT ARLISS, May 18, 2000
George Arliss (1868-1946) portrays the titular British Prime Minister whose statesmanship (he secured Suez Canal) was equaled by his matchmaking skills. The film was nominated for three AA, including Best Picture and Best Writing and Arliss won the Oscar for the Best Actor of 1929. The acclaimed biographical film relates the colourful life of Benjamin Disraeli, a Jew who became the Prime Minister of England during the reign of Queen Victoria. The story focuses particualarly on Disraeli's effort the obtain control of the Suez Canal for Great Britain - but a female spy is in the scenerio......George Arliss portrayed Disraeli many times on the stage, and here he brilliantly reprises his role. One of the earliest of Warner's prestigious biographies of Great Men, DISRAELI set a high standard for future such movies. It's amazing to watch the great old trouper of the English stage play his role with zesty aplomb and chemistry between he and his real-life wife Florence is captivating. Although Arliss had an undeniable hamminess quality about his acting, it is nevertheless hamminess of the first calibre! Blonde Joan Bennett was young (19) and inexperienced here, and her playing of Lady Clarissa is merely adequate.
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