When Anthony Asquith directed his first film "Shooting Stars", a topical murder mystery set amid the trappings of a film studio his co-director was the experienced A.V. Bramble but for his next one he was on his own. "Underground and "A Cottage on Dartmoor" were dazzling movies, the latter almost topping Hitchcock in it's moody and evocative images of a disturbed loner. "Underground" was a stylish thriller and it was clear that Asquith had an awareness of the art of cinema that seemed to elude his more established contemporaries.
With this movie, as well as "Cottage" Asquith attempted to delve into the personalities and psychological problems of everyday people. The first title tells us that the story is set in the "Underground" where ordinary workaday people with names such as Nell, Bill, Bert and Kate meet. The establishing scenes with the mighty escalators taking centre stage hurtle the cinema audience into the hustle and bustle of the busy London metropolis. Bert has a lot in common with Asquith's moody barber from "Cottage" - he meets Nell on the train and for him it is love at first sight. For Nell though, she isn't impressed by his aggressive tactics but he becomes fixated on her. He finds the store where she works behind the scarf counter and finds her friendly but it is only for show - the store manager has his eye on her and she wants to show she is charming to all customers!!
By the time of this incident Nell has met Bill, a station attendant who has returned a glove that she dropped on the escalator - the attraction is mutual and they are now planning their future. Meanwhile there is Kate, a seamstress who was Bert's old girlfriend and can't get over him. Norah Baring makes the most of her part - playing Kate walking a tight line between happiness and hysteria, she is tremendous. After a bar room brawl, the realism has to be seen to be believed, you feel you are a front seat onlooker - Bert finds out about Bill and Nell and returns home furious, to find Kate begging to be taken back. He promises marriage if she will promise something in return......
So many magnificent scenes - the wondrous Underground where, amazingly with the sheer volume of people carried on the escalators every day, a little human drama of boy meets girl is carried out. Scenes on the train and also when Nell re-enacts her unwanted meeting with Bert and the novel way she gets rid of him. The walk of Bill and Nell through the park with the stately elms making the two lovers look insignificant in the scheme of things. Norah Baring's scene where she is pushed over the edge, Bill has done a runner and she is alone making sure everything is just so,(moving flower pots to the centre of the saucers etc). Then there is the power station where Bert works. He is planning to throw the whole Underground into chaos. The shots and location shooting of the mighty Power Station are very reminiscent of the German Expressionism still very much in vogue - cranes in silhouette, stark shots of buildings, the roof chase between Bert and Bill, Kate, stumbling over the debris to her fate...
Elissa Landi was so stunning as Nell but her British career didn't go anywhere and she eventually went to Hollywood. Cyril McLauglin (Bert) was the younger brother of Victor and while Bert dominated the scenes he was a part of, he also went to Hollywood where he found himself mostly in uncredited bits. Brian Aherne (Bill) was the acting success story of the group. Persevering in British movies until 1934, he then moved to Hollywood where he starred with some of the top actresses of the day. Norah Baring (Kate) gave magnetic performances in both this movie and "A Cottage on Dartmoor" but unfortunately her career never really got off the ground and was over by 1934.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
With this movie, as well as "Cottage" Asquith attempted to delve into the personalities and psychological problems of everyday people. The first title tells us that the story is set in the "Underground" where ordinary workaday people with names such as Nell, Bill, Bert and Kate meet. The establishing scenes with the mighty escalators taking centre stage hurtle the cinema audience into the hustle and bustle of the busy London metropolis. Bert has a lot in common with Asquith's moody barber from "Cottage" - he meets Nell on the train and for him it is love at first sight. For Nell though, she isn't impressed by his aggressive tactics but he becomes fixated on her. He finds the store where she works behind the scarf counter and finds her friendly but it is only for show - the store manager has his eye on her and she wants to show she is charming to all customers!!
By the time of this incident Nell has met Bill, a station attendant who has returned a glove that she dropped on the escalator - the attraction is mutual and they are now planning their future. Meanwhile there is Kate, a seamstress who was Bert's old girlfriend and can't get over him. Norah Baring makes the most of her part - playing Kate walking a tight line between happiness and hysteria, she is tremendous. After a bar room brawl, the realism has to be seen to be believed, you feel you are a front seat onlooker - Bert finds out about Bill and Nell and returns home furious, to find Kate begging to be taken back. He promises marriage if she will promise something in return......
So many magnificent scenes - the wondrous Underground where, amazingly with the sheer volume of people carried on the escalators every day, a little human drama of boy meets girl is carried out. Scenes on the train and also when Nell re-enacts her unwanted meeting with Bert and the novel way she gets rid of him. The walk of Bill and Nell through the park with the stately elms making the two lovers look insignificant in the scheme of things. Norah Baring's scene where she is pushed over the edge, Bill has done a runner and she is alone making sure everything is just so,(moving flower pots to the centre of the saucers etc). Then there is the power station where Bert works. He is planning to throw the whole Underground into chaos. The shots and location shooting of the mighty Power Station are very reminiscent of the German Expressionism still very much in vogue - cranes in silhouette, stark shots of buildings, the roof chase between Bert and Bill, Kate, stumbling over the debris to her fate...
Elissa Landi was so stunning as Nell but her British career didn't go anywhere and she eventually went to Hollywood. Cyril McLauglin (Bert) was the younger brother of Victor and while Bert dominated the scenes he was a part of, he also went to Hollywood where he found himself mostly in uncredited bits. Brian Aherne (Bill) was the acting success story of the group. Persevering in British movies until 1934, he then moved to Hollywood where he starred with some of the top actresses of the day. Norah Baring (Kate) gave magnetic performances in both this movie and "A Cottage on Dartmoor" but unfortunately her career never really got off the ground and was over by 1934.
Highly, Highly Recommended.