You will never recognize Irene Dunne as Queen Victoria here, but that is really who she is. I have seen many Queen Victorias passing over the screen, and not one did ever fail in that part, and maybe especially not the American Irene Dunne. Alec Guinness is as magnificent as would be expected as Disraeli, and his major speech in Parliament is the principal highlight of the film. All the rest is the boy's show, gorgeously seconded by Finlay Currie as Mr Brown, the best Mr Brown I have seen and probably truer to reality than one would think, like this whole story is: they say the film and story is based on a legend, and there is never a legend without some ground for it. Jean Negulesco made almost exclusively masterpieces, and this was made in his prime after "Johnny Belinda" and "Britannia Mews" to add jewels to the crown. There are some charming subplots also with Anthony Steel as a dashing and very correct lieutenant, and the whole parade of servants at the Windsor Castle constitute a priceless comedy of its own. In brief, this is a wonderful picture.
Review of The Mudlark
