Matheson Lang Movies
Canadian actor Matheson Lang first gained considerable renown in British theater before turning to silent films in 1916. He was one of the first major theater stars to do so, and he continued starring in British films through the mid 1930s. The son of a clergyman and the cousin of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lang's decision to forgo religious life in favor of acting caused considerable controversy in his family. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1936
Set in 15th-century Italy, The Cardinal stars Matheson Lang as one Cardinal de Medici. Bound by the rules of the confessional, the cardinal is unable to disclose the multitude of sins revealed to him by one of his most influential parishioners. De Medici's dilemma is compounded by the fact that the confessor has committed a murder for which the Cardinal's brother has been arrested. The basic plot gimmick was good for another go-round in the 1953 Hitchcock flick I Confess. This 7-reel British film was based on a play by Louis N. Parker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Eric Portman, (more)
- 1935
His Hollywood career a thing of the past, director Herbert Brenon returned to his native England in 1934, where he continued making films until his retirement in 1940. Brenon's first project upon his arrival in London was the feature-length documentary Royal Cavalcade. Covering a 25-year period, the film is an encapsulation of the comings and goings of the British empire since the 1910 coronation of King George V. The highlights, drawn from the newsreel files of several English and European archives, include Captain Scott's arrival at the South Pole (and the tragic aftermath), the First World War, the Roaring 20s, and the Depression. Of special interest to show-biz buffs is the footage of the first Royal Command Performance at the Palace in 1911, featuring such matchless performers as Anna Pavlova and George Robey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1935
Drake of England was released variously to the British Empire, its commonwealths and the United States as Drake the Pirate and Elizabeth of England. In an agreeably compact fashion, the film recounts the exploits of British privateer Sir Francis Drake (played by the slightly long-in-tooth Matheson Lang), culminating with his 1588 triumph over the Spanish Armada. Athene Seyler appears as Queen Elizabeth I, bad wig and all. A goodly portion of screen time is devoted to the secret marriage between Drake and one of Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting (Jane Baxter). Drake of England was based on a flagwaving stage play by Louis N. Parker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler, (more)
- 1935
Sir Francis Drake (Lang), first English circumnavigator of the globe, is featured in this exciting adventure with his amazing defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and a romance between the dashing sailor and a lady-in-waiting for Queen Elizabeth (Baxter). ~ All Movie Guide
- 1935
This story is based both on a long-standing legend and a play by E. Temple Thurston. Veteran British director Maurice Elvey brought years of experience with theatrical adaptations to the difficult task of filming a movie that spans centuries and strains credulity. Conrad Veidt stars as the Jew who urges Roman authorities to crucify Jesus and release Barabbas. As a punishment, he is condemned by God to wander the Earth for many centuries, enduring innumerable trials and tribulations on several continents. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conrad Veidt, Matheson Lang, (more)
- 1934
Matheson Lang stars as a brilliant British barrister, about to retire due to ill health. He reluctantly agrees to take on the case of a young man (Arthur Margetson) accused of murdering his mistress (Jeanne Stuart). The young man's wife (Margaret Bannerman) does not condone her husband's peccadilloes, but she doesn't want him to go to the gallows. The actual culprit, is exposed approximately five minutes before fade-out time. Having won his case, the ailing Lang dies, postponing his journey into the Hereafter long enough to deliver a colorful curtain speech. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Margaret Bannerman, (more)
- 1934
In this drama a rich banker loses his fortune in the stock market. His secretary's lover finds out that the banker has been using fake bonds to make a deal. The opportunistic young lout then begins threatening to blackmail the financier. In a panic, the banker tosses the extortionist overboard. When he learns that his secretary loved the creep, the boat captain launches a search party and the man is all wet, but saved. The repentant banker then kills himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Constance Cummings, (more)
- 1934
Fourteen-year-old British actress Nova Pilbeam (best known for her work in Hitchcock's Man Who Knew too Much and Young and Innocent) plays the title role in Little Friend. When her parents (Matheson Lang and Lydia Sherwood) decide to divorce, poor Felicity Hughes (Pilbeam) seeks out a way to bring them back together. She tells a few "white lies" on the witness stand, which merely exacerbates the situation. Finally she attempts suicide, and it is this that brings Mr. and Mrs. Hughes back to their senses. Surprisingly, the Margaret Kennedy-Christopher Isherwood screenplay isn't as sappy and overdone on screen as it plays on paper. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Nova Pilbeam, (more)
- 1931
A love triangle forms the basis of this melodrama set during a Venetian carnival. The main couple are a famed actor and his possibly adulterous wife. During the fair, the actors do the closing scenes from Othello. At that time, the insanely jealous actor tries to choke his wife on stage. As the curtain comes down, the actor calms down and realizes his mistake in judgment. He apologizes profusely to his woman and she forgives him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Schildkraut, Dorothy Bouchier, (more)
- 1930
The second of three versions of the Marion Osmond-James Corbett stage melodrama The Chinese Bungalow, this one was adapted for the screen by the playwrights themselves. Jill Esmond (then the wife of Laurence Olivier) plays Jean, a British girl who foolishly marries Chinese mandarin Yuan Sing (Matheson Lang). Even more foolishly, Jean then falls in love with countryman Richard Marquess (Ballard Barkely), prompting Yuan Sing to concoct a grisly revenge. As Jean's sister Charlotte, Anna Neagle is merely decorative, exhibiting little of the charisma which distinguished her later starring roles. Previously filmed in 1926 (with Matheson Lang in the same role), Chinese Bungalow was filmed again in 1956, by which time the villain had metamorphosed into a Chinese communist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Jill Esmond, (more)
- 1928
Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel was the source for this economical period melodrama. Matheson Lang stars as Sir Percy Blakeney, who adopts the guise of an insufferable fop to cover his nocturnal activities as the Scarlet Pimpernel, fearless rescuer of the aristocratic victims of the French Revolution. The scriptwriters have bypassed the Pimpernel's traditional opponent, fiery revolutionary leader Chauvelin, in favor of real-life revolutionist Robespierre, here played with relish (and not a little mustard) by Nelson Keyes. Further departing from the Orczy original, Robespierre contrives to kidnap Sir Percy's beautiful wife (Marjorie Hume), forcing the Pimpernel out in the open. Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel boasted an expensive veneer which effectively obscured its tiny budget. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Marjorie Hume, (more)
- 1926
This silent British adventure centers on the exploits of a beautiful actress who is kidnapped by a wealthy Mandarin Chinese, whom she decides to marry. They move to a beautiful "bungalow." She then sends for her sister. Things are fine until the English owner of a nearby plantation embarks upon a passionate affair with the actress. Her sister warns her, but the foolish star is too smitten to listen. When her husband learns of the tryst, the fellow mysteriously dies. His brother comes to look into the death and soon finds himself falling in love with the sister. Unfortunately, the Mandarin is also in love with her and tells her that if she refuses his proposal, he will murder the actress. The brother tries to negotiate with the ruthless husband, who finally agrees to share some wine with his unwanted guest. Both drink and afterward, the Mandarin tells him that one of the cups contained poison and one of them will surely die. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Shayle Gardner, (more)
- 1925
Canadian-born stage actor Matheson Lang starred in this British-lensed adventure melodrama set in the south seas. Lang played Peter Duffy, a renowned author seeking inspiration by obtaining a position on an ocean-going vessel. The author gets more excitement than he bargained for when the ship is taken over by gangsters. Assisted by the vessel's Chinese cook (Kyoshi Tekase), Duffy manages to quell a mutiny. As it turns out, the cook is in reality a Manchurian prince. Lang, who is perhaps best remembered for playing Cardinal de Medici in The Cardinal (1936), was here supported by British comedy icon Moore Marriott. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1921
Silvio Steno (Matheson Lang) is an actor who also manages the theater company that includes his wife Simonetta (Hilda Bayley). While Silvio buries himself in his work, his wife feels neglected. Silvio's best friend Andrea (Ivor Novello) takes a liking to the lonely wife, but Simonetta only wishes to be friends. When her brother Lelio (Clifford Gray) sees his sister and Andrea together on the Grand Canal, he threatens to tell Silvio if she does not give him money. Silvio is called to the deathbed of his mentor when he and Simonetta attend a carnival ball. The husband learns of his wife's alleged indiscretion, and a worried Simonetta flees on the next train. During the staging of Othello Simonetta plays Desdemona and Silvio takes the murder scene too seriously. The curtain goes down and stagehands must wrestle him away from his wife to prevent her strangulation. After the play, Simonetta asks to be alone with her husband and begs Silvio's forgiveness ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Ivor Novello, (more)
- 1919
This first film version of the Harry Maurice Vernon-Harold Owen stage perennial Mr. Wu stars Matheson Lang in the title role. When an American lad (Roy Royston) seduces his beloved daughter Nang Ping (Meggie Albenisi), Mr. Wu reluctantly, and with the girl's consent, kills her. He then sets about to make the American's family suffer as much as he's suffered. The climax finds the boy's mother (Mrs. Gregory) offering to sacrifice her own life for the sake of her son's. A more famous filmization of Mr. Wu emerged nine years later, with Lon Chaney in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
