The Light That Failed

I just discovered this drama from Bill Wellman which I did not know at all. Ronald Colman is terrific here, as he was in TALE OF TWO CITIES too. A real moving, poignant and sad drama which grabs you to the guts. It seems to hesitate between drama, romance and adventure story, as many Paramount film of this period were: THE LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER, BEAU GESTE and a film that I commented yesterday: LAST OUTPOST. A very unknown gem from Wellman the great, one of the most awesome director from Hollywood.

There is more than a hint of misogyny in this Rudyard Kipling story where both educated careerist (Marie Angelus) and streetwalker (Ida Lupino) are placed in less than complimentary light while artist (Ronald Colman) loses his. Colman gives one his finest performances but it is Lupino who remains memorable.

Aspiring conscripted artist Dick Heldar is wounded in Africa saving Topenhow's (Walter Huston) life. Mustered out he moves in to Topenhow's adjoining studio a starving artist and emerges a famous illustrator of the horrors of battle that gain recognition but then as now realizes medium cool is what the public wants and sells out. He becomes insufferable then begins to lose his sight. He takes on the conniving Betsy Broke (don't you just love it) to model and then to complete the portrait of the love of his life who rejected him who briefly returns to once again disappoint.

Powell is outstanding as he stretches from his usual noble self at first to an arrogant, obnoxious successful artist and into decline as a terrified man losing his sight. Marie Angelus as an ambitious driven artist wanting nothing to do with the traditional 19th century women comes across both selfish and immature. Huston delivers his usual well crafted performance as the kindhearted, generous, truly loyal writer as the self serving Kipling character perhaps revealing more than he thinks while Duddley Digges makes no bones about being a male chauvinist pig. It is Lupino's Ms. Broke who really raises the emotional tenor in most scenes first at the abuse of Healder and then while exacting cruel revenge in which Ida serves it like a French chef, coldly.

Opening and closing with some rousing battle scenes,( the first an impressive overhead of the battle square, the last a powerful reoccurring image realized) the film is basically a stage play with half a dozen characters moving between a few rooms which might make it claustrophobic were it not for the sonorous voices of Colman and Huston in discussion or Lupino's raging Eliza Dolittle raising the roof.

In this movie, Colman picks up a little dog, stares into his eyes, and says "I love you." The fur practically melts right off the dog.

This is a shameless old-fashioned love story - but the kind Rudyard Kipling wrote - a strictly for men love story - the women are all heartless or useless, and all that a man really needs to justify his existence is a war, a dog, a horse, a rifle, and his faithful army buddies - but you can forgive all that tripe because of Colman's persuasive persona and performance, Ida Lupino's brave, unsympathetic portrayal, and the trite story that will get to you and leave tears in your eyes, no matter what you believe.

If Colman picked me up and spoke to me the way he spoke to that little dog......

The Light That Failed was the second of a two picture deal Ronald Colman made with Paramount after getting shed of his contract to Sam Goldwyn. Hard to choose between this and If I Were King the other film that was part of the deal as to which was better. I won't even try.

Colman essays the part of Richard Heldar who, but for a tragic accident might have gone on to be acclaimed one of the great artists of the 19th century. The film is based on the first published novel by Rudyard Kipling and according to the Citadel Film series book The Films Of Ronald Colman, this film stayed truer to the story that Kipling told than two previous silent screen versions.

While a pictorial correspondent covering the British war in the Sudan against the Mahdi, Colman is accidentally cut on the forehead by a blade wielding Walter Huston during a battle. A slow moving injury to the optic nerve degenerates Colman's vision, but he's determined to paint on while he can.

Two women are involved with Colman, long time childhood sweetheart Muriel Angelus and tart in every sense of the word Ida Lupino who serves as a model for Colman. Lupino had to battle for this part, director William Wellman wanted her, Colman wanted Vivien Leigh. As much as I like Vivien Leigh, I can't see her doing this part better than Lupino did.

The film really is a personal vehicle for Ronald Colman who typifies the British ideal, it's how they see themselves, it's the image they like to convey to the world. Colman does dominate this film as he usually does in his films.

And as entertainment it holds up well after more than 70 years, don't miss The Light That Failed if you are a fan of Ronald Colman.

Well worth watching, James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 11/2020