The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)
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Released worldwide by 20th Century Fox, Carol Reed's The Young Mr. Pitt is a static but sincere filmed biography of 19th century British prime minister William Pitt Jr., here played by Robert Donat. Appointed to his office at the tender age of 24, Mr. Pitt spends most of his time in Parliament alerting his countrymen of the dangers posed by France's Emperor Napoleon (Herbert Lom, in his first English-speaking role). The Frank Launder-Sidney Gilliat screenplay works overtime drawing parallels between the Pitt-Napoleon conflict and the present crisis involving Great Britain and Nazi Germany. Various historical personages are impersonated by the likes of Phyllis Calvert, John Mills, and Robert Morley, with Morley stealing the show hands down. Like its thematic "twin" Penn of Pennsylvania, Young Mr. Pitt is lavishly produced, but suffers from pedantic speechifying and substandard special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Robert Donat - William Pitt
- Phyllis Calvert - Eleanor Eden
- Max Adrian - Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- Felix Aylmer - Lord North
- Jean Cadell - Mrs. Sparry
- Neal Arden
- Robert Donat - Earl of Chatham
- Muriel George
- Stuart Lindsell - Earl Spencer
- Frederick Leister
- James Kenney
- Billy Holland
- James Harcourt
- Merle Tottenham
- John Slater
- John Salew - Smith
- John H. Roberts
- Bromley Davenport - Sir Evan Nepean
- Alfred Sangster - Lord Grenville
- Stanley Escane
- Owen Reynolds
- Johnnie Schofield
- D.J. Williams
- Jack Watling
- Frederick [Fritz] Valk
- Esme Percy
- Gibb McLaughlin
- Aubrey Mallalieu
- Herbert Lom - Napoleon
- Leo Genn
- Frederick Culley - Sir William Farquhar
- Leslie E. Bradley - Gentleman Jackson
- Robert Morley - Charles James Fox
- John Mills - William Wilberforce
- Raymond Lovell - George the Third
- Stephen Haggard - Lord Horatio Nelson
- Ann Stephens
- Esma Cannon
- Roy Emerton - Dan Mendoza
- Morland Graham
- Albert Lieven - Talleyrand
- Agnes Laughlan - Queen Charlotte
- W.E. Holloway
- Henry Hewitt - Henry Addington
- Austin Trevor - French Registrar
- Sydney Tafler
- Ronald Shiner
- Ralph Roberts
- Kynaston Reeves
- Townsend Whitling
- Leslie Harcourt
- Gordon James
- Lloyd Pearson
- Bruce Winston
- Edmund Willard
- Margaret Vyner
- Frank Pettingell - Coachman
- Charles Paton
- Hugh McDermott - Mr. Melvill
- Ian MacLean - Henry Dundas
- Alf Goddard
- Leslie Dwyer
- Geoffrey Atkins - William Pitt (as a boy)
- Kathleen Byron
- Director(s):
- Carol Reed
- Writer(s):
- Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat
- Producer(s):
- Edward Black, Maurice Ostrer
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