SHOCK (1934) Ralph Forbes, Gwenllian Gill & Monroe Owsley | Drama, Romance, War | B&W

Shock is a 1934 American film written by Madeleine Ruthven from a story by Roy J. Pomeroy. It is also directed by Pomeroy and stars Ralph Forbes, Gwenllian Gill and Monroe Owsley.

SYNOPSIS
Captain Bob Hayworth, his brother Lieutenant Gilroy Hayworth and Captain Derek Marbury are in a World-War 1 trench on the front-lines in France. Bob Hayworth resents Marbury greatly as the latter had married the girl, Lucy Neville, Marbury was courting in pre-war London. Ordered to go on a night patrol, the cowardly Gilroy committed suicide rather than face his fear. Bob and Derek arrange it to appear that Bob had been killed by a shell-burst, and Derek, with his face camouflaged, takes the patrol posing as Gilroy. While on patrol, Derek is hit by a shell-burst and found by the German Red Cross, who turn him over to a family of French peasants. Weeks later, Drek awakens in an English field-hospital and has amnesia. Since he had no papers on him when found, the hospital staff name him Private John Drake, and he is shipped back to England several months later. There, he is recognized by Bob Hayworth, who has been courting the widow Marbury. Despite the fact that Marbury had undertaken the mission on order to keep the Hayworth family-name from shame, Bob brings charges of battlefield desertion against Derek. The latter, not even knowing who he really is, has no defense against the charges.

While on a pass from his unit, Derek Marbury, a British lieutenant during World War I meets and falls in love with Lucy Neville, a young lady his company's captain, Bob Hayworth, had been romantically interested in. The two hastily marry, and are just beginning their honeymoon, when Marbury's leave is cancelled and all personnel are called back to their regiments, due to an impending German offensive. Once back at the front, his best man and the captain's brother, Gilroy Hayworth, is selected for a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Gilroy is so distraught over the mission he kills himself, rather than face the danger. To prevent a family disgrace, Marbury offers to go on the mission, and making it look like Gilroy was killed in action. Bob agrees with the plan, but on the mission, Marbury is injured by a German shell and knocked unconscious. He awakes in a London hospital, not knowing where or who he is.

Without knowing his real name, the hospital attendant gives him the name of John Drake, and after he recovers he is sent back to the front. Meanwhile, Bob has gone to see Lucy, and tell him that her husband as more than likely deserted, hoping the disgrace will lead Lucy to divorcing Marbury, so that Bob can marry her. Lucy refuses to believe that of the man she married and rebuffs Bob. Marbury is assigned to an aerial unit. Over the next year, he distinguishes himself in combat, as well as becoming friends with Captain Peabody, and Alan Neville, who unbeknownst to them both, is his brother-in-law. On their next leave the three friends intend to go back to England and visit Neville's sister. However, on the next mission Alan is mortally wounded. Before he dies, he makes Marbury/Drake promise to visit his sister, and let her know how he died.

After the war ends, Marbury/Drake, now a major tracks down Lucy, who now has a son, which was conceived during the one day honeymoon with her husband, before he was sent back to the front. While she recognizes him, she does not let on that she knows who he is, and Marbury/Drake agrees to help her search for her missing husband. As the search goes on, he falls in love with Lucy for the second time.

CAST & CREW
Ralph Forbes as Derek Marbury, aka John Drake
Gwenllian Gill as Lucy Neville Marbury
Monroe Owsley as Captain Bob Hayworth
Reginald Sharland as Captain Peabody
Mary Forbes as Lady Heatherly
Douglas Walton as Gilroy Hayworth
Billy Bevan as Meadows
Clyde Cook as Clyde CookeHawkins
Margaret Seddon
Alex Courtney as Alan Neville
David Holt as Rickey Marbury
Charles Coleman as Colonel
Colin Campbell as Orderly
David Dunbar as Sergeant Matthews
C. Montague Shaw as Montague ShawMajor
Eric Snowden as Cockney
Olaf Hytten as Adjutant
Harry Holden as Clerk

Directed by Roy J. Pomeroy
Screenplay by Madeleine Ruthven, Story by Roy J. Pomeroy
Cinematography Jack MacKenzie
Edited by Jack Ogilvie
Production company Monogram Pictures
Release date July 20, 1934 (US)
Running time 70 minutes
Country United States
Language English

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