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Major Barbara

  • 1941
  • Approved
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Wendy Hiller in Major Barbara (1941)
Comedy

A young and idealistic woman, who has adopted the Salvation Army and whose father is an armament industrialist, will save more souls directing her father's business. A comedy with social com... Read allA young and idealistic woman, who has adopted the Salvation Army and whose father is an armament industrialist, will save more souls directing her father's business. A comedy with social commentary.A young and idealistic woman, who has adopted the Salvation Army and whose father is an armament industrialist, will save more souls directing her father's business. A comedy with social commentary.

  • Directors
    • Gabriel Pascal
    • Harold French
  • Writers
    • George Bernard Shaw
    • Marjorie Deans
    • Anatole de Grunwald
  • Stars
    • Wendy Hiller
    • Rex Harrison
    • Robert Morley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Gabriel Pascal
      • Harold French
    • Writers
      • George Bernard Shaw
      • Marjorie Deans
      • Anatole de Grunwald
    • Stars
      • Wendy Hiller
      • Rex Harrison
      • Robert Morley
    • 28User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos11

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    Top cast31

    Edit
    Wendy Hiller
    Wendy Hiller
    • Major Barbara Undershaft
    Rex Harrison
    Rex Harrison
    • Adolphus Cusins
    Robert Morley
    Robert Morley
    • Andrew Undershaft
    Robert Newton
    Robert Newton
    • Bill Walker
    Sybil Thorndike
    Sybil Thorndike
    • The General
    Emlyn Williams
    Emlyn Williams
    • Snobby Price
    Marie Lohr
    Marie Lohr
    • Lady Britomart
    Penelope Dudley-Ward
    Penelope Dudley-Ward
    • Sarah Undershaft
    Walter Hudd
    Walter Hudd
    • Stephen Undershaft
    David Tree
    David Tree
    • Charles Lomax
    Deborah Kerr
    Deborah Kerr
    • Jenny Hill
    Donald Calthrop
    Donald Calthrop
    • Peter Shirley
    Marie Ault
    Marie Ault
    • Rummy Mitchens
    Cathleen Cordell
    Cathleen Cordell
    • Mog Habbijam
    Torin Thatcher
    Torin Thatcher
    • Todger Fairmile
    Miles Malleson
    Miles Malleson
    • Morrison
    Felix Aylmer
    Felix Aylmer
    • James
    Stanley Holloway
    Stanley Holloway
    • Policeman
    • Directors
      • Gabriel Pascal
      • Harold French
    • Writers
      • George Bernard Shaw
      • Marjorie Deans
      • Anatole de Grunwald
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filming went on through the German Blitz. Producer and Director Gabriel Pascal had his own spotter on the roof who blew a horn when he spied German planes. According to Ronald Neame, nobody had told Wendy Hiller, so when the horn sounded during a rehearsal and everybody left, Hiller was bewildered.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 35 mins) Just before she scolds her husband for addressing her as "Biddy", a boom mic shadow passes over the lace trim on the bosom of Lady Britomart's (Marie Lohr) gown.
    • Quotes

      Andrew Underschaft: [to son, Stephen] Well, is there anything you know or care for?

      Stephen Underschaft: I know the difference between right and wrong.

      Andrew Underschaft: You don't say so! What? No capacity for business? No knowledge of law? No sympathy with art? No pretention to philosophy? Only a simple knowledge of the secret that has baffled all the lawyers, muddled all the men of business, and ruined most of the artists - secret of right and wrong. Why man, you're a genius. A master of masters. A god. And at 28, too.

    • Alternate versions
      A long final speech by Undershaft (Robert Morley) was filmed but cut before release. The National Film Theatre showed this version many years ago. The British Film Institute lists a print running 136 minutes - some 15 minutes longer than the released version - which presumably is that version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Discovering Film: Rex Harrison (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
      (uncredited)

      Music by Alexander Reinagle (1836)

      Words by John Newton (1779)

      Arranged by William Walton

    User reviews28

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A few more comments
    This movie is a George Bernard Shaw vehicle. As such it is very heavy handed. But of course that's what we love about Shaw. Isn't it?

    No one yet has mentioned the cinematography. I'm no student on this topic, but the scenes where Undershaft gives a tour of his factory and his vision of paradise are truly awe inspiring. There's nothing subtle in it, it is quite vivid for its time. And I think black & white is perfect here. If it were done today in color, I'm sure it would lose something. As someone else said they're not sure why the movie is a comedy. Intentional (as a comedy) or not, t could be this scene.

    I haven't seen the movie in years, it is this one scene that lives on in memory above all others.
    • rich-473
    • Mar 3, 2005
    • Permalink

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    Production art
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    FAQ16

    • How long is Major Barbara?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1941 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara
    • Filming locations
      • Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, England, UK(Salvation Army rally scene)
    • Production company
      • Gabriel Pascal Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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