Movie Cosmos - Lloyd's of London

Description:

Norfolk, England, 1770. The nephew of an innkeeper and the son of a reverend maintain a very close friendship until, after living a great adventure, they must separate their paths. The former will head his footsteps to London and bound his destiny to Lloyd's, a thriving insurance company; the latter will eventually become one of the greatest heroes in the history of the British Empire.

Top Cast >

Freddie Bartholomew

As Young Jonathan Blake

Madeleine Carroll

As Elizabeth Stacy

Guy Standing

As John Angerstein

Tyrone Power

As Jonathan Blake

C. Aubrey Smith

As Old Q

Virginia Field

As Polly

Douglas Scott

As Horatio Nelson

George Sanders

As Everett Stacy

J.M. Kerrigan

As Brook Watson

Una O'Connor

As Widow Blake

Forrester Harvey

As Percival Potts

Gavin Muir

As Gavin Gore

E. E. Clive

As Magistrate

Miles Mander

As Jukes

Montagu Love

As Hawkins

John Burton

As Lord Nelson

Arthur Hohl

As First Captain

Robert Greig

As Lord Drayton

Lumsden Hare

As Captain Suckling

Will Stanton

As Smutt

Murray Kinnell

As Reverend Nelson

Billy Bevan

As Innkeeper

Elsa Buchanan

As Servant Girl

Georges Renavent

As French Lieutenant

Reginald Barlow

As Second Captain

May Beatty

As Lady Markham

Lester Matthews

As Captain Hardy

Vernon Steele

As Thomas Lawrence

Barlowe Borland

As Joshua Lamb

Hugh Huntley

As Prince of Wales

Charles Croker-King

As Willoughby

Ivan F. Simpson

As Old Man

Holmes Herbert

As Spokesman

Charles McNaughton

As Waiter #1

Leonard Mudie

As Waiter #2

Charles Coleman

As Waiter #3

Thomas Pogue

As Benjamin Franklin

Yorke Sherwood

As Sam Johnson

Agostino Borgato

As French Miller (uncredited)

Winifred Harris

Top Crew >

Henry King

Director

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (6/10)

This is quite an interesting tale that shows us some of a very young Tyrone Power's potential and also tells us a little about the establishment of Lloyd's of London - the world's largest maritime insurance operation. The story starts in rural Norfolk where two boys decide to run away together - one is Horatio Nelson (Douglas Scott) the other "Jonathan Blake" (Freddie Bartholomew). Their plan is thwarted, though, and "Blake" ends up serving on a ship with his uncle - and on returning from his escapades at sea, visits Lloyd's Coffee House with some secret information on dodgy insurance fraudsters. He is taken under the wing of the honest and reputable "Mr. Angerstein" (Sir Guy Standing) and is soon learning the ropes of the insurance business. What follows is quite an engaging tale of his life and loves as he spars with the duplicitous George Sanders ("Lord Stacy") over his wife, whom "Blake" has fallen head over heels for - Madeleine Carroll; and his ambition to make his own fortune by insuring just about anything - including lives - against a background of the war between Britain and Napoleon! The film offers only a slight nod to fact, but the personification of "Blake" as a patriot determined to help his childhood friend and his country at all costs is at times quite brave and rousing - and the ensemble, including cameos from C. Aubrey Smith and Una O'Connor help to keep this interesting for a slightly over-long 2 hours.

2022-06-19