THUNDER IN THE CITY (1937)

In ‘Golden Age’ Hollywood, filming in England usually meant demotion: punishment of some sort; nothing ready to go at your studio; or your box-office was slipping.  Not that the films were all bad.  Sylvia Sidney now largely remembered for the flop she made with Alfred Hitchcock (SABOTAGE/’36) after her studio protector was fired.  It makes this decent little comedy with Edward G. Robinson something of a puzzle.  Much in demand at the time (at Warners and away from his home studio), perhaps he was being packaged as a ‘ringer’ to get Stateside distribution.  Or just in Europe on an art collecting spree.*  Eddie G.’s an unpolished American publicity exec, kicked out of his job in spite of success by a boss who cares for dignity over ballyhoo.  Off to England to grab a little class, he’s soon back to his old ways, hobnobbing with high & low (distantly related/cash poor toffs and street buskers) while pumping up the stock on a new, mystery commodity.  Old tired Europe vs Ugly American?  Not really; with a script that manages to stop well short of the dumb & the obvious. Robinson dresses properly and knows which fork to use.  While well known Hollywood British Colony types (Nigel Bruce & Constance Collier) help him along.  He's also got a pair of below-the-line Stateside pros for protection (Robert Sherwood on script, Alfred Gilks lensing), so the low production values and effects don’t hurt much.  Lili Deste makes for unusual romantic interest and Ralph Richardson is a solid rival in romance & business.  A bit more style from director Marion Gering might really have put this over.  Give it a Gentlemen’s C for not pushing too hard.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID/LINK:  *Robinson an art collection decades ahead of conservative Hollywood tastes.    https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-hollywood-gangster-one-frida-kahlos-first-collectors   ALSO: Many miserable Public Domain prints online.  The full British cut of 1'28" in horrid shape, but what appears to be the Stateside release of 1'18' is easy to find in perfectly watchable prints if you look around.