Programming Note

[Leslie Howard and Kay Francis in British Agent, 1934]

British Agent (1934) to air on TCM Friday, October 28, 10:45 AM EST, 7:45 AM PST [Please check your local listings]

British Agent is a film based on the autobiography of R. H. Bruce Lockhart, a member of the British Secret Service. Lockhart's book, Memoirs of a British Agent, was also said to have inspired one of the

Never In This World

In today's post you will find a recording of The Gulf Screen Guild Show for the CBS radio network, starring Leslie Howard, Kay Francis, young Virginia Weidler, Mary Nash, Irving Pichel and Morgan Wallace. The announcer was George Murphy. It was performed on March 26, 1939.

This is a very touching story of a young girl, adorably and brilliantly played by Virginia Weidler, whose time on earth is growing short. Her father, played by Leslie Howard, is doing his best to protect her and make her few remaining days enchanting. Their neighbor, and the Prince's "Godmother," is played by Kay Francis. It is called Never In This World and was written by Stephen Morehouse Avery (20 December 1893 to 10 February 1948). The show is directed by Sidney Franklin (21 March 1893 to 18 May 1972). The musical director is Oscar Bradley.

I have incorporated pictures of the actors in the video covering the radio show. The only actor I could not find a record for was Morgan Wallace. I did find a Morgan Wallace, but he is white and the actor in the radio show is supposed to be "Nubian." Of course, it is possible that the actor portraying the Nubian in the show was white, as only the studio audience could see him. This would say a lot about the exclusion of minorities in the early days of radio and film which, sadly to say, continues to this day. Nevertheless, I did not want to take a chance and give credit to what appears to be the white Morgan Wallace if there was a black Morgan Wallace who performed the part.

The recording is very good. It is a little bumpy in the beginning but the small "thumps" end as the story begins. In the middle of the show there is a spot where the volume goes down. Please do not turn up your sound because it comes back to full volume in a matter of seconds.

The Gulf Screen Guild Show was "owned" by actors. The actors' fees were donated to the Motion Picture Relief Fund and went toward building and maintaining the Motion Picture Country House which continued in existence until very recently.

The Gulf Screen Guild Show, Never In This World, March 26, 1939

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British Agent

Leslie Howard and Kay Francis in British Agent, a 1934 espionage film directed by Michael Curtiz. It is based on Memoirs of a British Agent, the 1932 autobiography of R. H. Bruce Lockhart, who had spent a number of years working for the British Secret Service. The film was produced by First National, which was then a division of Warner Bros.

[Leslie Howard and Kay Francis in British Agent, 1934]

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