Fine Feathers

This is another of the collaborations between Leslie Hiscott as director and Michael Barringer as writer. Scots showgirl Renee Houston takes refuge in a country home and discovers that Donald Stewart is there to negotiate a deal for an American syndicate to bail out the government of yet another mythical country. The principle impediment is that the Crown Prince is carrying on with Marcelle Rogez, and the country may collapse in civil war, which would cause the syndicate to not make the loan. If, however, Miss Houston will pretend to be Miss Rogez, her presence in Britain will calm the country and thus the syndicate. Later it becomes necessary for purposes of the plot, such as it is, for them to go to Paris, where, of course, Miss Rogez is present.

All that survives of this movie is a 39-minute cutdown of the original, length unknown. The story is that British Lion, the production company behind this, was storing its negatives and theatrical prints together in a location that took a direct hit during the Battle of Britain. Pahe had already made these 9.5 millimeter abridgements for the show-at-home market. Contemporary reviews leave it unclear what was excised. Miss Houston and Stewart sing a song towards the end; perhaps other songs were removed as not being important to the plot. Perhaps Francis L Sullivan's role as a minister of the mythical country out to feather his own nest took up more screen time.

Speculation is useless. What's clear is that the leads have some very real chemistry together. They had appeared together in a live revue the previous year, and after this one picture, British Lion invoked the morals clause in her contract on the grounds she and Houston were having an affair. They married in 1948, and remained wed until his death.

I was only able to see the 39m version that survives on YouTube from a Pathe 9.5mm Pathescope print.

The notes there read: In addition to cinema shorts, many cinema feature films were also released in the UK on the 9.5mm 'home movie' film gauge by Pathescope. Generally the features were shortened to four, five or six reels.

Here is a 1937 comedy entitled "Fine Feathers" starring Renee Houston and Donald Stewart with Robb Wilton. It is a production from the 1930s British Lion company, whose total 1930s film output is virtually all 'lost' on the 35mm cinema format (supposedly a direct hit during the war on their temporary film store of original material and cinema prints) Many of these features and shorts do still survive, (the features drastically cut though), on the 9.5mm 'home movie' film gauge.

We can just follow the story of Teenie McPherson (Renee Houston) who takes refuge in a country house where she agrees to impersonate a Crown Prince's lover. There is one song "I'll Step Out Of the Picture" (at 34 minutes), but maybe others were cut from the 9.5mm print..

Renee Houston signed a film contract,which was squires by British Lion in 1936.It was for one year paying £3750,equivalent to £178500. This was the only film she made for them.British Lion invoked the morals clause to cancel the contract,as she was becoming involved with co star Donald Stewart who she would subsequently marry. The film was originally 68 minutes long and was cut down to 39 minutes for this Pathescope release to the home market.It is therefore rather difficult to follow the plot,not helped by the fact that she speaks far too fast.Some of the dresses she wears,particularly in the finale are quite hideous