Road House
Opening titles
Directed by	Maurice Elvey
Written by	Leslie Arliss Austin Melford
Based on	Road House by Walter Hackett
Produced by	Michael Balcon Jerome Jackson
Starring	Violet Loraine Gordon Harker Aileen Marson Emlyn Williams
Cinematography	Leslie Rowson
Edited by	Paul Capon
Music by	Bretton Byrd and Harry Woods
Production company	Gaumont British
Distributed by	Gaumont British Distributors
Release date	29 November 1934 (1934-11-29)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Road House is a 1934 British comedy crime film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Violet Loraine, Gordon Harker and Aileen Marson. ^[1] It was written by Leslie Arliss and Austin Melford, based on the 1932 play Road House by Walter Hackett. ^[2]

Contents

• Plot
• Cast
• Production
• Reception
• References
• Bibliography
• External links

Plot

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Cast

Production

The film was made by British Gaumont at the Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush, with shooting beginning in July 1934. ^[3] The film's art direction was by Alfred Junge. British Gaumont's contract director Alfred Hitchcock was originally reported to be making the film, but instead directed The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934). ^[4]

The song "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", written by Harry Woods, is sung in the film by Violet Lorraine.

Reception

Picture Show wrote: "A romantic comedy in which a barmaid rises to become a variety star. Violet Loraine as Belle Tout, the barmaid, gives an excellent performance singing some of her old-time songs, and is strongly supported by Gordon Harker as Sam, who is as usual most entertaining with his own particular brand of Cockney humour. Hartley Power, Emlyn Williams and Anne Grey make a convincing bunch of crooks, and a word of praise must go to Stanley Holloway's amusing policeman. Good entertainment." ^[5]

Variety wrote: "Very little more than the name of Walter Hackett's play has been left in the screen version. It was a wise thing to make such a drastic adaptation, because the original play was a trifle above the heads of most picture goers. Then, again, it was necessary to add legitimate excuses for Violet Loraine to sing songs, for which she was famous in pre-war and wartime musical shows at the Hippodrome and Alhambra. Gordon Harker is co-starred and has the role he originated in the stage play.. .. Filmization is straight melodrama, containing equally direct and appealing heart interest, plus Harker's compelling cockney humor. ... No reason for this film failing to entertain audiences on both sides of the pond." ^[6]

References

Bibliography

• Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.
• Ryall, Tom. Alfred Hitchcock and the British Cinema. Athlone Press, 1996.
• Wood, Linda. British Films 1927-1939. BFI, 1986.

External links

• Road House at IMDb