| Doctor Syn | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) DVD-R cover | |
| Directed by | Roy William Neill Maude T. Howell (asst.) |
| Written by | Roger Burford Michael Hogan |
| Based on | Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh byRussell Thorndike |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon Edward Black |
| Starring | George Arliss Margaret Lockwood John Loder |
| Cinematography | Jack E. Cox |
| Edited by | R. E. Dearing |
| Music by | Louis Levy Hugh Bath Jack Beaver |
Production company | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Doctor Syn (Dr. Syn in the United States) is a 1937 Britishblack-and-whitehistorical dramaticadventure film, directed byRoy William Neill forGainsborough Pictures. It starsGeorge Arliss (in his last feature film),Margaret Lockwood,Graham Moffatt, andRonald Shiner.[1] The film is based on theDoctor Syn novels ofRussell Thorndike, set in 18th-centuryKent. The character of Syn and the events at the film's climax were both softened considerably in comparison to Thorndike's original storyline.
Led by Captain Collyer, a detachment ofRoyal Navy tax revenue collectors arrive in the village ofDymchurch onRomney Marsh. The area is known for liquor-smuggling, and they are on the trail of the culprits. They find a peaceful village of apparently honest, pious, and simple folk, looked after benevolently by their philanthropic vicar, Doctor Syn.
Dr Syn is in fact The Scarecrow, the leader of the band of parish smugglers. He uses his cover as aman of the cloth to run a profitable smuggling ring, whose profits are used to improve the lives of the local citizenry by paying their heavy tax burden imposed by the Crown. Collyer gradually comes to suspect what is going on, after which a series of chases and confrontations takes place. The Scarecrow and his smugglers narrowly outwit their Royal Navy pursuers on the surrounding marshlands.
Captain Collyer finally discovers that Syn is none other than the notorious pirate Captain Clegg, thought to have been hanged many years earlier and buried in the graveyard at Dymchurch. Still one step ahead of the Collyer and his men, Syn destroys all incriminating evidence, after which he and his smugglers disappear, making their escape from England by merchant ship.
This was the last film of George Arliss' contract withGaumont British.[3] According to Arliss: "He is a quite good parson and there is virtue even in his smuggling. I think we can make him quite an amusing character, and the subject is picturesque and dramatic".[4]
The film was announced in April,[5] taking place at Gaumont British'sstudio at Islington.[6] There was some location work inDymchurch[7] and the marshes aroundRye andWinchelsea.[8]
Anna Lee was to play the female lead. She was replaced byMargaret Lockwood who impressed with her performance so much she was offered a three-year contract byGainsborough Pictures.[9] This was a key turning point in Lockwood's career.[10]
There are two songs used in the film:
Dr. Syn was released in the U.S. on a public domain Region 1 DVD-R in 2014.