Nell Gwyn (1934 - Public Domain - Colorized)

I did a colorized version and tried to revive the audio. This would be a fine educational comedy if it was good quality. It is a pity so many excellent films have not been preserved.Show more

David Lean edited Nell Gwyn (uncredited on the celluloid but verified as true by the British Film Institute).

Nell Gwyn is a 1934 British historical drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Cedric Hardwicke, Jeanne de Casalis, Miles Malleson and Moore Marriott. The film portrays the historical romance between Charles II of England and the actress Nell Gwyn. In the opening credits, the dialogue is credited to "King Charles II, Samuel Pepys and Nell Gwyn" with additional dialogue by Miles Malleson. It was also released as Mistress Nell Gwyn.

Herbert Wilcox had enjoyed a big success with the film, 'Nell Gwynn', in 1926 with Dorothy Gish staring, and decided to remake it with Anna Neagle (who would become his wife in 1943). Part of the finance was raised by United Artists. The film encountered censorship difficulties in the US, insisting on the deletion of some scenes and addition of others, including a marriage between James and Nell, and an ending where Nell winds up in the gutter.

Plot: Nell Gwyn is first seen as an orange girl at the Old Drury Theatre in London. She attracts the eye of the King and he makes her one of the players at His Majesty's Theatre. She succeeds and winning the King's affection becomes his favourite, vying with Lady Castlemaine for his favours. Through her efforts, a palace which he is building for her is converted into a home for disabled soldiers and sailors. When his hour of death nears, the King dies in her arms, with her name on his lips.