Comedy

Major Barbara

Idealistic young Barbara is the daughter of rich weapons manufacturer Andrew Undershaft. She rebels against her estranged father by joining the Salvation Army. Wooed by professor-turned-preacher Adolphus Cusins, Barbara eventually grows disillusioned with her causes and begins to see things from her father's perspective.

Release Date : 1941-05-14

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Gabriel Pascal Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Major Barbara Undershaft

Original Name : Wendy Hiller

Gender : Female

Character Name : Adolphus Cusins

Original Name : Rex Harrison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Andrew Undershaft

Original Name : Robert Morley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bill Walker

Original Name : Robert Newton

Gender : Male

Character Name : The General

Original Name : Sybil Thorndike

Gender : Female

Character Name : Snobby Prince

Original Name : Emlyn Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lady Britomart

Original Name : Marie Lohr

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sarah Undershaft

Original Name : Penelope Dudley-Ward

Gender : Female

Character Name : Stephen Undershaft

Original Name : Walter Hudd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charles Lomax

Original Name : David Tree

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny Hill

Original Name : Deborah Kerr

Gender : Female

Character Name : Peter Shirley

Original Name : Donald Calthrop

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rummy Mitchens

Original Name : Marie Ault

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mog Habbijam

Original Name : Cathleen Cordell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Todger Fairmile

Original Name : Torin Thatcher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Morrison

Original Name : Miles Malleson

Gender : Male

Character Name : James

Original Name : Felix Aylmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman

Original Name : Stanley Holloway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ling

Original Name : S.I. Hsiung

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Price

Original Name : Kathleen Harrison

Gender : Female

Character Name : A Girl

Original Name : Mary Morris

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bilton (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Victor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pettigrew (uncredited)

Original Name : O.B. Clarence

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cast Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Dane Gordon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man on Quayside (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Rigby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself (in theatrical release print only) (uncredited)

Original Name : George Bernard Shaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Wells

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-25

Gabriel Pascal and (George) Bernard Shaw have reunited for this enjoyably paced, quirky and characterful adaptation of his 1905 play. That creation uses chocolate, this one replaces it with arms as the eponymous, upright and virtuous character - Wendy Hiller - re-evaluates her leading light position in the Salvation Army when their General (Dame Sybil Thorndike) agrees to accept two huge donations - one from a recently ennobled brewing magnate, the other from her father "Andrew Undershaft" (Robert Morley) - the aforementioned, billionaire arms dealer. It's oft described as a comedy, this - and there are certainly comedic elements to it, especially from Morley and her academic suitor Rex Harrison ("Adolphus Cusins"), but is largely presented more of a question to us, the audience. It challenges us to assess which is (or might be) the more important influence: religion or money; prosperity or integrity. Are they mutually exclusive? Perhaps it is a rather simplistic choice, but Shaw offers us scenarios ably illustrating the opportunity and hypocrisy that we may appreciate both the emotional and practical quandaries of "Maj. Barbara" as her resistance to her father's mercenary existence is tempered with his argument justifying his wealth, and his power. Morley is super - his delivery potently justifies his position to the point where it seems irrational to doubt it! The staging is a little too fixed. Though there are a few outdoor scenes, the vast majority appears overly hemmed in. The brewery lights flashing on and off; the scenes in their shelter, and at their home - all are just a bit linear. The pretty lively scenes with an on-form Robert Newton (the down-to-earth, working-class pragmatist "Billy") come across as just a bit too stifled - the flow is almost staccato at times. With the likes of Ronald Neame, David Lean, Charles Frend and Vincent Korda helping out behind the camera, it was always going to be a well made film, and indeed it is. A social commentary that pitches avarice against principle - and one that leaves us to decide... Good stuff.