The Light That Failed (1939)
- Starring:
- Ronald Colman, Walter Huston, (more)
- Director(s):
- William Wellman
Synopsis of The Light That Failed
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
Complete Cast of The Light That Failed
- Ronald Colman - Dick Heldar
- Muriel Angelus - Maisie
- Dudley Digges - The Nilghai
- Ferike Boros - Madame Binat
- Colin Tapley - Gardner
- Ronald Sinclair - Dick as a boy
- Halliwell Hobbes - Doctor
- Francis McDonald - George
- Wilfred Roberts - Barton
- Pat O'Malley - Bullock
- Barry Downing - Little boy
- Harold Entwistle - Old man with dark glasses
- George Melford
- Gerald Rogers - Sick man
- Connie Leon - Flower woman
- Leslie Francis - Man with Bandaged Eyes
- George Chandler
- Harry Cording - Soldier
- Walter Huston - Terpenhow
- Ida Lupino - Bessie Broke
- Ernest Cossart - Beeton
- Pedro de Cordoba - Monsieur Binat
- Fay Helm - Red-Haired Girl
- Sarita Wooton - Maisie as a Girl
- Charles Irwin - Soldier Model
- George Regas - Cassavetti
- James Aubrey - Soldier
- Carl Voss - Chops, the Officer
- Barbara Denny - Waitress
- Clara Blore - Mother
- Hayden Stevenson - War Correspondent
- Cyril Ring - War Correspondent
- Colin Kenny - Doctor
- Sam Harris - Wells
- Clyde Cook - Soldier
- Director(s):
- William Wellman
- Writer(s):
- Robert Carson, Robert Carson
- Producer(s):
- William Wellman
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