''The Middle Watch'' is a 1930 British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Norman Walker and starring

Owen Nares Owen Ramsay Nares (11 August 1888 – 30 July 1943) was an English stage and film actor. Besides his acting career, he was the author of ''Myself, and Some Others'' (1925). Early life Educated at Reading School, Nares was encouraged by his m ...

, Jacqueline Logan,

Jack Raine Thomas Foster "Jack" Raine (18 May 1897 – 30 May 1979) was an English stage, television and film actor. Career He was a leading man of the British cinema in the late twenties and early thirties in such films as '' The Hate Ship'' (1929), ...

and Dodo Watts. It was based on a play of the same name by

Ian Hay Major (Honorary Major General) John Hay Beith, Order of the British Empire, CBE Military Cross, MC (17 April 1876 – 22 September 1952), was a British schoolmaster and soldier, but is best remembered as a novelist, playwright, essayist, an ...

. (The play is mentioned by David Niven in his memoir, along with Ann Todd who had a minor role in it). The film's sets were designed by John Mead. The film was made by

British International Pictures Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appro ...

at its

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

. It was later remade in 1940 by the same company.

Cast

as Captain Maitland * Jacqueline Logan as Mary Carlton *

as Commander Baddeley * Dodo Watts as Fay Eaton *

Frederick Volpe Frederick Volpe (31 July 1865 – 7 March 1932), sometimes printed Volpé, was an English actor. He made his stage debut in his early twenties. From 1894 until his death he was a familiar figure on the West End theatre, West End stage, generally ...

as Admiral Sir Herbert Hewitt * Henry Wenman as Marine Ogg *

Reginald Purdell Reginald Purdell (4 November 1896 – 22 April 1953) was an English actor and screenwriter who appeared in over 40 films between 1930 and 1951. During the same period, he also contributed to the screenplays of 15 feature films, such as '' The Da ...

as Corporal Duckett * Margaret Halstan as Lady Agatha Hewitt * Phyllis Loring as Nancy Hewitt *

Hamilton Keene Hamilton George Keene (15 November 1896 – 4 October 1975) was a British stage actor, stage and film actor.Edwards p.188 He appeared in more than thirty British films, originally in more prominent roles during the early 1930s and later in smalle ...

as Captain Randall *

Muriel Aked Muriel Aked (9 November 1883 – 21 March 1955) was an English film actress. Early life, family and education Aked was born in Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England to George Henry Aked and his wife Emma (née Bairstow). Her sister was th ...

as Charlotte Hopkinson * George Carr as Ah Fong *

Syd Crossley Syd Crossley (18 November 1885 – 1 November 1960) was an English stage and film actor. Born in London in 1885, Crossley began his career as a music hall comedian. He appeared in more than 110 films, often cast as a butler, between 1925 an ...

as Sentry

Reception

The film was voted the best British movie of 1931.

References

External links

* 1930 films 1930 comedy films 1930s British films 1930s English-language films British black-and-white films British comedy films British films based on plays English-language comedy films Films based on works by Ian Hay Films directed by Norman Walker Films shot at British International Pictures Studios Seafaring films {{1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub