Break the News (film) explained

Break the News
Director:René Clair
Producer:René Clair
Based On:novel by Loïc Le Gouriadec
Starring:Jack Buchanan
Maurice Chevalier
June Knight
Music:Cole Porter (songs & lyrics)
Theo Mackeben (incidental music)
Van Phillips (musical direction)
Cinematography:Philip Tannura
Editing:Frederick Wilson
Studio:A Jack Buchanan Productions Picture
Trio Productions
Distributor:General Film Distributors (Uk)
Runtime:78 minutes
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English

Break the News is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by René Clair and starring Jack Buchanan, Maurice Chevalier and June Knight.[1] Two struggling performers decide to create a fake murder scandal in order to drum up publicity for their act. It was based on the novel Le mort en fuite by Loïc Le Gouriadec which had previously been made into a 1936 French film Death on the Run. Songs featured include It All Belongs to You (Cole Porter, sung by Chevalier) and We're Old Buddies (Van Phillips, Jack Buchanan, sung by Chevalier and Buchanan).[2]

Cast

Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "What a combination! Break the News boasted the talents of English stage star Jack Buchanan, French entertainer Maurice Chevalier, legendary director Rene Clair, and songwriter Cole Porter. But what should have made for dynamite entertainment, fizzled in the eyes of disappointed contemporary reviewers" ;[3] as The New York Times put it, "there is little to suggest the old Clair wit and humor."[4] However, TV Guide wrote, "the always enchanting Buchanan and Chevalier are a pleasure to watch in this funny, energetic musical that features some hilariously suspenseful sequences. Although it may not rank with director Clair's French classics, this perfect piece of British entertainment holds its own special place."[2]

References

  1. Web site: Break the News (1938). BFI. 17 November 2019.
  2. Web site: Break The News. TVGuide.com.
  3. Web site: Break the News (1939) - René Clair - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie. Hal Erickson. AllMovie.
  4. News: Movie Reviews. The New York Times. 20 January 2022.