The sacred fire
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The sacred fire |
| Original title | The Lamp Still Burns |
| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1943 |
| length | 92 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Maurice Elvey |
| script | Elizabeth Baron |
| production | Leslie Howard |
| music | John Greenwood |
| camera | Robert Krasker |
| cut | Frederick Wilson |
| occupation | |
| |
The Holy Fire is a 1943 British melodrama produced by Leslie Howard , starring Stewart Granger and Rosamund John . Directed by Maurice Elvey . The story is based on a novel by Monica Dickens .
action
Great Britain in World War II. The young architect Hilary Clarke is currently discussing building plans with the manufacturer Laurence Rains. Although he largely complied with the government's requirements with his structural systems, it warns the annoyed company owner that he must expand his first aid room. A little later she is an eyewitness as a delivery boy from her office is injured in a traffic accident and is then taken to Queen Eleanor's Hospital. Sir Marshall Freyne, known to her through her father and an architectural contract, turns out to be a board member of the hospital. Hilary, who actually only became an architect for the sake of her father, realizes that in these difficult times of war, nurses and other assistants to care for the wounded and injured may be needed more than architects. Also, this work is much more in line with her own inclination. Both Sir Marshall and the head nurse try to talk her out of this idea, but Hilary signs up for a training course anyway. She is received in a friendly manner by her fellow sisters and they are always on hand to help, even if she is regularly reprimanded for some technical errors. The head nurse in particular makes life difficult for Hilary with her constant criticism, because Hilary often cannot simply accept the applicable hospital rules.
Hilary developed a particularly good relationship with the surgeon Hervey. Hilary soon leads a mission back to the Laurence Rains factory site. Here she assists the doctor Dr. Barrett during a transfusion. Rains recognizes Hilary, and in a conversation he is astonished to learn that Hilary has given up her architectural job in favor of nursing. Shortly thereafter, a violent explosion occurs on the premises, in which Laurence and his girlfriend, the aspiring violinist Pamela Siddell, are seriously injured. Temporarily lost his memory, Larry Rains gradually begins to fall in love with his savior Hilary. Hilary also takes care of Pamela, who was also injured in the explosion and asks about Laurence. When Hilary is caught acting as a postillon d'amour between Pamela and Larry, the strict head nurse transfers her to another infirmary. Once again, Hilary is extremely annoyed about the petty careers in the hospital regulations, which mainly affect the nurse, who for example is not allowed to speak to the doctors directly. This is reprimanded by her boss as indiscipline.
It's Christmas day and Surgeon Hervey has dressed up as Santa Claus and invites Hilary to help distribute gifts at the hospital. In doing so, she “stumbles” over Larry and Pamela. Hilary knows how Larry feels about her, but later makes it clear to him that she will not accept his proposal. Pamela has long since noticed that something is going on between her boyfriend Laurence Rains and Hilary Clarke. She does not want to stand between the two and therefore releases her de facto fiancé. But Hilary is completely absorbed in her new job and wants to use all her energy to improve the hospital system and the working conditions of the sisterhood. Unlike her friend and co-sister Christine Morris, who has decided in favor of love and wants to give up her job, Hilary continues to choose her job. Laurence, who is shocked at how poorly British hospitals are financially and has made a generous donation to the hospital treating him, is ready to accept Hilary's decision and says he will wait for her until she has achieved her professional goals and feel free for a future together with him. Hilary's exam results become known and they are excellent. The head nurse now knows that her tough line towards Hilary was correct, because she too had started out a bit impetuous and undisciplined, and Hilary will one day become as good a nurse as herself.
Production notes
The sacred fire premiered in London on November 29, 1943. In Germany, the strip started shortly after the end of the war, in August 1945.
Phil C. Samuel took over the production management, Alex Vetchinsky created the film structures. Jack Hildyard was a simple cameraman. Muir Mathieson conducted John Greenwood's composition with the support of the London Symphony Orchestra .
Like all of his other films, in which Howard had worked as an actor or as a director or as a producer during the Second World War, The Holy Fire also conveyed clearly patriotic and propaganda messages. This film was also Howard's last cinematic activity. The actor was killed in a plane crash over the Bay of Biscay on June 1, 1943.
Reviews
The British Film Institute said, “Given the government support, it is both surprising and commendable that the film is so brutally honest about the downside of entering careers. The crunchy rough script can be criticized in many ways, but it certainly doesn't cover the subject with icing. "
The Radio Times wrote , “Every hospital stereotype has been scrubbed off and put into service - the cold-efficient matron, the edgy patient, and the handsome young doctor - and the war sounds give the film a home-front heroism that is homely to audiences at the time , now appears as stiff as a starched uniform. "
The Lexicon of International Films said: "Melodrama with an appeal to patriotic idealism."
Halliwell's Film Guide characterized the film as follows: “Unobtrusive wartime morale builder, not very interesting today”.
Individual evidence
- ^ Criticism on BFI Screenonline
- ^ Review in the Radio Times
- ↑ The sacred fire. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed May 1, 2020 .
- ^ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 577
Web links
- The holy fire on BFI Screenonline
- The sacred fire in the Internet Movie Database (English)