“AN ENGLISHMAN’S HOME”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 9

“AN ENGLISHMAN’S HOME”

A TOPICAL STORY. Thirty years ago a far-sighted Englishman, Guy du Maurier, wrote a play entitled “An Englishman’s Home.” The play enjoyed an exceptionally successful run. It dealt with a sudden invasion of England by an enemy who took advantage of a strike and a fog to descend on Britain from warships anchored along the coast. It is interesting to

recollect that in Berlin it was hissed off the stage! The play has been made into a film, and the story is modernised. A British company, has produced “An Englishman’s Home,” making of it a film that pictures aspects of the contemporary scene with startling accuracy; England’s quiet preparations, and the average Englishman pretty well convinced that “it can’t happen here!” Meanwhile the enemy is preparing his plans, and getting ready for "the day.” When “the day” arrives, enemy warplanes co-operating with a well organised espionage system, drop armed parachutists at selected points whose job it is to hold their ground while the main battle squadrons concentrate on London. The Air Ministry put at the disposal of the producers whole squadrons of their latest ’planes, including Blenheim and Wellington bombers, Spitfires, Bombay troop-carriers and Lysander machines. The result is a marvellously realistic production, with some tremendously impressive flying shots. The. cast is headed by Edmund Gwenn, Mary Maguire, Goeffrey Toone and Paul von Hernried.