{"id":48494,"date":"2020-04-20T11:37:32","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T18:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48494"},"modified":"2020-11-27T15:26:26","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T22:26:26","slug":"major-barbara-1941","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48494","title":{"rendered":"Major Barbara (1941)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;My dear, I&#8217;m a millionaire &#8212; that&#8217;s my religion.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-48496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen the headstrong daughter (Wendy Hiller) of a millionaire weapons manufacturer (Robert Morley) becomes a major in the Salvation Army, she makes it her life&#8217;s mission to save souls, and quickly secures a fiance (Rex Harrison) willing to do anything for her love. Meanwhile, Morley struggles over the question of who to leave his inheritance to.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deborah Kerr Films<\/li>\n<li>Inheritance<\/li>\n<li>Missionaries and Revivalists<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Rex Harrison Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Morley Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Newton Films<\/li>\n<li>Wendy Hiller Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAfter producing a successful cinematic version of George Bernard Shaw&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48515\"><em>Pygmalion<\/em> (1938)<\/a>, Austro-Hungarian Gabriel Pascal directed this adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Major_Barbara\">Shaw&#8217;s 1905 play<\/a> about an idealistic young woman grappling with issues of identity, morality, compromises, and love &#8212; specifically, whether poverty is worse than munitions, and whether it&#8217;s better to feed the poor or provide them with work. Such universal concerns remain as relevant today as ever, and fans of Shaw&#8217;s work will likely be quite happy with this outing (though it&#8217;s not a personal favorite  of mine). Hiller is note-perfect in the title role; Harrison is less annoying than usual as her sincere yet opportunistic suitor; Morley (only four years older than Hiller) is suitably pompous as heir to a dubious fortune; Robert Newton is on hand to provide plenty of nastiness <em>a la<\/em> his later characters in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15172\"><em>Oliver Twist<\/em> (1948)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=6344\"><em>Treasure Island<\/em> (1950)<\/a>; playwright Emlyn Williams has fun as shyster &#8220;Snobby Price&#8221;; and Deborah Kerr gives a sweet and compelling supporting performance in her film debut. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> <em>Major Barbara<\/em> is historically notable for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0033868\/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2\">having been filmed<\/a> during <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Blitz\">the Blitz<\/a>, yet still coming across as polished and professional.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the entire cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-1024x644.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"403\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-1024x644.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-768x483.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller-1536x967.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Hiller.png 1543w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-1024x637.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"398\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-1024x637.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-300x187.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-768x478.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr-1536x956.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Kerr.png 1557w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-1024x605.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"378\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-1024x605.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-768x454.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley-1536x908.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Morley.png 1599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still-1024x657.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"411\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still-1024x657.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still-768x492.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Still.png 1527w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography by Ronald Neame<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets-1536x922.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets.png 1615w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Impressive sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2-1024x648.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"405\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-48503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2-1024x648.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Major-Barbara-Sets2.png 1527w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look for its historical relevance. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0033868\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/major-barbara\/review\/105321\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/82446\/major-barbara#articles-reviews?articleId=294708\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3143shaw.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1941\/05\/15\/archives\/george-bernard-shaws-major-barbara-at-the-astor-seen-as-a-triumph.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;My dear, I&#8217;m a millionaire &#8212; that&#8217;s my religion.&#8221; Synopsis: When the headstrong daughter (Wendy Hiller) of a millionaire weapons manufacturer (Robert Morley) becomes a major in the Salvation Army, she makes it her life&#8217;s mission to save souls, and quickly secures a fiance (Rex Harrison) willing to do anything for her love. Meanwhile, Morley struggles over the question of who to leave his inheritance to. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Deborah Kerr Films Inheritance Missionaries and Revivalists Play Adaptations&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48494\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48494"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55331,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48494\/revisions\/55331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}