Another Dawn (film)
- Kay Francis: Julia Ashton Wister
- Errol Flynn: Captain Denny Roark
- Ian Hunter: Colonel John Wister
- Frieda Inescort: Grace Roark
- Herbert Mundin: Wilkins
- G. P. Huntley: Lord Alden
- Billy Bevan: Hawkins
Another Dawn is an American film directed by William Dieterle in 1937 with Kay Francis and Errol Flynn in the lead roles. The screenplay is based in part on the short story The Ambassador 's Wife by W. Somerset Maugham.
Action
The story begins aboard an ocean liner. Juliet Ashton is being harassed on the journey of a fellow traveler continuously when Captain John Wister helps her gallant. Both meet up some time later in England, where John learns why Julia is so reticent: her lover Duncan is only shortly before died in a plane accident. Although Julia Duncan has sworn eternal love, she is persuaded by John to marriage, despite major concerns and inner torment. Both live for a while happy in the desert post which John commanded. One day, Denny Roark, a leichtlebiger pilot and the best friend of John, on the border posts. Julia Denny and discover common interests and Julia begins more and more similarities between Duncan and Denny to discover. After a skirmish with Bedouin, in which Denny is seriously injured, the two lovers recognize the futility of their relationship. In the end, John sacrifices for the happiness of the two and is in the fight against insurgents in certain death.
Background
Kay Francis in 1932 came from Paramount to Warner Brothers and became within a few years one of the highest paid actresses. In 1936, she earned 227,000 U.S. dollars and income for 1937 amounted to 209,000 U.S. dollars. Their success was based on their ability to play sentimental and implausible stories with confidence and integrity. Then there was her reputation to be one of the best dressed women of the United States. 1936 her the title of Best Dressed Woman was given to movies, which she won against competition from Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and Carole Lombard. After the failure of The White Angel of the status of Francis as the star was at risk and the studio took in 1937 everything again almost bring the actress her fans.
The men at Francis page were Errol Flynn and Ian Hunter, who replaced George Brent as a permanent partner. Francis and Hunter had worked together successfully in I Found Stella Parrish, Give Me Your Heart and The White Angel. The chemistry between Francis and Flynn agreed neither on the screen nor during the filming. The dislike was mutual and common scenes seemed stiff and without passion. The shooting took place late 1936 partially in the desert of Yuma, in the Imperial Valley and the Lake Messa Agoura instead, the lead female role was initially intended for Bette Davis, but shortly before the beginning sued the studio, so that the role of Francis went. The title of Another Dawn was previously often used in the years as a working title for various productions. Producer Hal B. Wallis directed two alternate endings: in one dies Flynn and in the other Hunter. The test screenings finally brought a clear vote for the happy ending with Errol Flynn.
The film, which shows Francis repeatedly in spectacular dresses in the middle of the desert, has remarkable similarities with The Garden of Allah, who as searching for meaning lady of high society in an endless succession of different chiffon evening dresses and high heels in the middle of last year Marlene Dietrich the Sahara presented.
Theatrical Release
With production costs of 552,000 U.S. dollars Another Dawn was an average for Warner Brothers expensive endeavor. In the U.S. the film with 572,000 U.S. dollar played a rather modest sum, to which further 473,000 dollars came from foreign markets. At the end, there were total income of 1,045,000 dollars.
Criticism
In the New York Times quite cynical words were read:
" Not since the days of the legendary Phoenix is the Arabian desert seen anything so breathtaking as Kay Francis and her extensive wardrobe in " Another Dawn ". Miss Francis wanders with an amorous expression and surrounded by a mystical aura in long, flowing robes that are better than any vacuum cleaner to clean the floor. "