7/28/2019 The Skin Game (1931 Film)

1/3

The Skin Game (1931 film) 1

The Skin Game (1931 film)

The Skin Game

Region 4 DVD cover

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Produced by John Maxwell

Written by John Galsworthy (play)

Alfred Hitchcock

(adaptation)

Alma Reville (scenario)

Starring Edmund Gwenn

Helen Haye

C.V. France

Jill Esmond

John Longden

Phyllis Konstam

Cinematography Jack E. Cox

Distributed by Wardour Films Ltd.

Release date(s) 26 February 1931 UK release

Running time 77 mins

Country United Kingdom

Language English

The Skin Game is a 1931 film by Alfred Hitchcock, based on a play by John Galsworthy and produced by British

International Pictures (BIP). The story revolves around two rival families, the Hillcrists and the Hornblowers, and

the disastrous results of the feud between them.

After being thought to be in the public domain for decades, the film's rights were obtained by French media company

Canal+ in 2005. A restored and remastered print of the film was released on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment

in 2007.

Plot

The plot tells the story of a feud between two affluent families, the long-established (upper class) Hillcrists, played

by C.V. France, Helen Haye, and Jill Esmond, and the nouveau riche (formerly working class) Hornblowers, played

by Edmund Gwenn, John Longden, and Frank Lawton. Two underlying themes in the story are class warfare and the

urbanization of the countryside.

The Hillcrists are upset by the actions of Mr. Hornblower, whom they consider to be ostentatious and crass, in

buying up land, evicting tenant farmers, and surrounding the area with factories. The Hillcrists make every effort

they can to preserve the last large piece of open land that adjoins their beautiful rural estate.

After being tricked out of the land in an auction, the Hillcrists learn a dark secret about Mr. Hornblower's beautiful

daughter-in-law Chloe (played by Phyllis Konstam). It turns out that she had previously earned a living by playing

the professional "other woman" in pre-arranged divorce cases.

When Mr. Hornblower learns of this secret, and that the Hillcrists have discovered it and are prepared to use it

against his family, Mr. Hornblower agrees to sell the rural land to the Hillcrists for less than half the auction price,on the condition that the family swears to keep the information secret. However, the news starts to leak out,

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phyllis_Konstamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tenant_farmershttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Lawtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Longdenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edmund_Gwennhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jill_Esmondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helen_Hayehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C.V._Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2007_in_home_videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lionsgate_Home_Entertainmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canal%2Bhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Public_domainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_International_Pictureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_International_Pictureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Galsworthyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Hitchcockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1931_in_filmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_E._Coxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phyllis_Konstamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Longdenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jill_Esmondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C.V._Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helen_Hayehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edmund_Gwennhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alma_Revillehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Hitchcockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Galsworthyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Hitchcock

7/28/2019 The Skin Game (1931 Film)

2/3

The Skin Game (1931 film) 2

precipitating a crisis in the family.

Chloe Hornblower goes to the Hillcrists, begging them to help keep the secret from her husband, who is aware that

something is going on. She hides behind a curtain when her husband unexpectedly storms into the Hillcrist home,

demanding to know the secret.

Keeping his promise to Chloe, Mr. Hillcrist makes up a story, but the young Mr. Hornblower is not convinced, and

declares that he intends to end his marriage, even though Chloe is pregnant with his child.

Upon hearing this, Chloe runs to the lily pond outside the Hillcrist home and drowns herself. When her body is

discovered, the elder Hornblower concedes that Hillcrist has destroyed him and his family completely. Hillcrist

attempts to apologize.

Cast (in credits order)

C.V. France as Mr HillcristThe Hillcrists

Helen Haye as Mrs HillcristThe Hillcrists

Jill Esmond as JillThe Hillcrists

Edmund Gwenn as Mr Hornblower

The Hornblowers John Longden as CharlesThe Hornblowers

Phyllis Konstam as ChloeThe Hornblowers

Frank Lawton as RolfThe Hornblowers

Herbert Ross as The Jackmans

Dora Gregory as The Jackmans

Edward Chapman as Dawker

R.E. Jeffrey as First Stranger

George Bancroft as Second Stranger

Ronald Frankau as Auctioneer

External links

The Skin Game[1]

at the Internet Movie Database

The Skin Game[2]

at Rotten Tomatoes

The Skin Game Eyegate Gallery[3]

References

[1] http:/ /www.imdb.com/title/tt0022395/

[2] http:/ /www.rottentomatoes. com/m/1046655-skin_game/

[3] http:/ /www.eyegate.com/cine/The_Skin_Game/

http://www.eyegate.com/cine/The_Skin_Game/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1046655-skin_game/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022395/http://www.eyegate.com/cine/The_Skin_Game/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rotten_Tomatoeshttp://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1046655-skin_game/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Internet_Movie_Databasehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022395/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_Frankauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edward_Chapman_%28actor%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Lawtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phyllis_Konstamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Longdenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edmund_Gwennhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jill_Esmondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helen_Hayehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C.V._France

7/28/2019 The Skin Game (1931 Film)

3/3

Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and ContributorsThe Skin Game (1931 film) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=561476886 Contributors: Active Banana, Andrew777, Aspects, Auntof6, Bensin, Caiaffa, Cammoore, D6,

Danny, Davepattern, Deviantgoods, Feydey, Fpastor, Gadfium, GhostFace1234, Iantresman, Invertzoo, J04n, Jan B, Jh1888, Lugnuts, Magioladitis, Mallanox, Melaen, MrDarcy, Noirish,

Omgplz, Orangemike, PaddyBriggs, Pearle, Saga City, Skier Dude, Smith03, Someguy1221, Sreejithk2000, Sugar Bear, Tjmayerinsf, Tony1, Topbanana, Volatile, Who, Wmahan, Wool Mintons,

Zzyzx11, 9 anonymous edits

License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/