British Drama Full Movie Phyllis Calvert, James Mason | Fanny by Gaslight (1944) | Retrospective

Posted on by womo



During the nineteenth century, Fanny, the illegitimate daughter of a British Cabinet Minister, begins a new life as a lady’s maid in the household of her real father.

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Fanny by Gaslight (1944)
Studio: Gainsborough Pictures
Director: Anthony Asquith
Writer: Doreen Montgomery
Cast: Phyllis Calvert, James Mason, Stewart Granger

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38 Replies to “British Drama Full Movie Phyllis Calvert, James Mason | Fanny by Gaslight (1944) | Retrospective”

  3. Apparently this movie had to be renamed for US release because “fanny” has an anatomical meaning here. But today it has a different anatomical meaning in the UK. I wonder when that change rook place?

  13. FANNY BY GASLIGHT (…also known by "an allternate title" MAN OF EVIL…) was a wonderful surprise as a 'strikingly lavish' Victorian melodrama in the 'tradition' of GONE WITH THE WIND…! JAMES MASON and STUART GRANGER both excelled in the 'leading men' roles…much in the same way CLARK GABLE and LESLIE HOWARD excelled in the 'leading men' roles in "GWTW". In fact, the entire production 'very much' made me ponder what "GWTW" would have been like had "GWTW" been filmed in 'classic Black & White' rather than 'glorious Technicolor '…! The story…the acting…the art direction…the costume design…the cinematography…are all 'first-rate elements and components' contributing to this "genuinely classic" film. Hopefully the "primary film elements" still exist to make possible a 'high-definition' home video release available on Blue-Ray Disc and ???? DVD. That would be "awesome"…no ifs…no ands…no buts…!!!

  18. I've watched this before and think I'll watch it again. I love the amazing cast and definitely love the blacks and whites. ????️????️????️

  21. I just realized the stepmother was the same actress that played Mrs Pumphrey in All Creatures Great and Small back in the 70s. She certainly was striking in her younger days wasn't she?

  23. Beautiful movie. Thank you. For preserving these movies and sharing them. This is why I love YouTube. So enjoy all these older movies made even before my Mom was born.

  28. Great well done flick had me totally involved. All the acting was well done but there is something about Mason that brings a character deeper into ones consciousness. Tku for post.

  29. I can not believe how emotionally invested I was in this movie. ???? I just put it on for background noise and ended up glued to the screen.

    Fanny was just a fantastic woman who ALWAYS kept trying to do the right thing, even as life just kept wrecking her, and then Seymore is just the perfectly honorable man that keeps trying to do the right thing, as well.

    I was sitting there ready to be furious or overjoyed as the ending approached. I was like "I'm going to either hate this ending or love this ending."

    I loved the ending.

    I'll never forget this movie.

  32. Another comment:
    The manner of class distinctions is well brought out when Kate (Cathleen Nesbitt) visits the pub for the first time and addresses Fanny (Phyllis Calvert) for the first time. The upper class person demonstrates considerable narrow-mindness and prejudice in this exchange:

    Kate: "His career depends on his social connections."
    Fanny: "Not on his abilities?"

    This is very telling, I think, and shows her character to be a lot stronger than appears on the surface, considering the trials and tribulations she goes through, which can only make her stronger.

    But we have to wait until later, when she has the opportunity to finally tell her off. (Why did she feel obligated to summon her to Paris in the first place?)

    The makers of this film had plenty of material to enable them to make a sequel to this film, as there were lots of loose ends at the end.

    Some possible scenarios for a continuing story:

    Kate continues to try to interfere with the happiness of Harry and Fanny after they are married.

    Alicia Seymour (Margaretta Scott) could cause trouble out of revenge for Harry having killed her man in that duel.

    Lucy (Jean Kent) might get in trouble with the law and Harry and Fanny are both involved trying to help her out of her difficulty.

    Chunks/Joe Box (Wilfred Lawson) will continue to be a stabilizing factor in any scenario that is created.

    I'm simply pointing out that a very viable (and quite welcome) sequel could have been made from this film.

  38. James Mason true to himself a devil at times and his part is always entertaining…,such a great actor I felt like I hated him! Love these Classic Movies in black and white! Thanks so much for posting this one many will agree it's well worth the time to relax and enjoy and old Movie from the 40's! =) =) =)

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