Customer Reviews

Nurse Edith Cavell (1939-USA)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Edith Louisa Cavell (played by Anna Neagle) was a British nurse, serving as matron of the Berkendael Institute in Brussels, Belgium. After the Germany Army occupied Brussels, Miss Clavell's faith would not let her sit still, and ignore the fate of Allied soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. And so she became involved in smuggling men out of the country. But, the Germans are the activities are going on, and they are determined to stop the flow of soldiers and those that are helping them.

This 1939 movie was made at the beginning of the Second World War, and was intended to remind the British people of heroes of yesterday. It is very well written, telling the story of the life and death of Nurse Clavell with a lot of power. I really enjoyed this moving movie, and do not hesitate to recommend it to you and your family.

(By the way, one of the characters in this movie is played by George Sanders, one of my favorite actors!)

Its a good movie. Well acted with an excellent cast. The problem is that the print badly needs some form of restoration. The sound is crackly, and at times inaudible, and the print is very dark - even the daylight scenes appear to be at night. I'm a big fan of Edna May Oliver, so am glad to have the movie for her performance alone. One hopes a better quality print will be issued in due course.

This story was a well-written, excellently acted film. Time does not diminish the facts or ideas it puts forward. Anna Neagel and her husband, the director/producer had a reputation for providing good solid work and entertainment. This print was poor in spots, rather dark around the edges. I encountered a couple of transmission problems, however, I cannot lay that completely at the door of the film. We were having severe thunderstorms the entire time it was playing.

Despite the quality of the print it is well worth watching. One might think the subject matter a bit melancholy but at the film's end you cannot help but think the moments well spent.

Produced the year WW2 began in Europe (1939),Heroic examples were certainly needed.
My interest in the film was not with Nurse Edith or Dame Anna Neagle who played her; it was the sublime Edna May Oliver who I wanted to see. I've suffered thru Shirley Temple and bad hollywood Shakespeare to enjoy a few screen moments with this towering and sardonic figure. She seldom disappoints. There simply isn't enough of her.