Lady in Danger

For the play by Max Afford, see Lady in Danger (play).

Lady in Danger is a 1934 British comedy thriller film directed by Tom Walls and starring Walls, Yvonne Arnaud and Anne Grey.^[1] The screenplay was by Ben Travers.

Lady in Danger
Original Trade Ad Poster
Directed by	Tom Walls
Written by	Marjorie Gaffney Ben Travers
Produced by	Michael Balcon
Starring	Tom Walls Yvonne Arnaud
Cinematography	Philip Tannura
Edited by	Helen Lewis
Music by	Jack Beaver
Production company	Gaumont British
Distributed by	Gaumont British Distributors (UK)
Release date	27 November 1934 (1934-11-27) (London)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

In the mythical European country of Ardenberg, General Dittling (Leon M. Lion) stages a military coup. His supporters believe that he will set up a republic but it is actually his desire to restore the monarchy. Therefore, he persuades British businessman Richard Dexter (Tom Walls) to escort the Queen (Yvonne Arnaud) to the safety of England. Once there his relations with the Queen are farcically misconstrued, when his fiancée Lydia (Anne Gray) arrives unannounced. After many adventures, the King (Hugh Wakefield), who has fled to Paris, is reunited with his wife.^[2]

Cast

• Tom Walls – Richard Dexter
• Yvonne Arnaud – Queen of Ardenberg
• Anne Grey – Lydia
• Leon M. Lion – Dittling
• Hugh Wakefield – King
• Marie Lohr – Lady Brockley
• Alfred Drayton – Quill
• Leonora Corbett – Marcelle
• O. B. Clarence -Nelson
• Cecil Parker – Piker
• Harold Warrender – Clive
• Hubert Harben – Matterby
• Charles Lefeaux – Hotel Manager
• Dorothy Galbraith – Mrs. Quill
• Jane Cornell – Shop Assistant
• Mervyn Johns – Reporter

Critical reception

TV Guide described the film as "a vague comedy that refuses to commit itself to a romance between the leads" ; while Allmovie called it an "airy comedy-melodrama...the farcical possibilities of Lady in Danger are played to the hilt, and the rest is good semi-clean fun."^[3][4]

Life imitates art

Lady in Danger was released in 1934, two years before the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. However, there are some intriguing parallels between the movie and the later civil war, particularly the similarities between the fictional General Dittling and the real-life Generalissimo Francisco Franco. During the war, Franco was part of the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups. He later became the dictatorial ruler of Spain. In 1969, in a surprise move, the monarchist-leaning Franco designated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor. When Franco died in 1975, he was indeed succeeded by the prince as King Juan Carlos I.