Wings of the Morning (1937) User Reviews

A Scandalous Marriage, A Derby Horse

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 10 January 2007]

Wings of the Morning is both the title of the film and the name of a gypsy horse who rides in the English Derby at Epsom Downs. It was the first modern technicolor film to be shot in the British Isles. To insure quality cinematographer Ray Rennahan who was THE color guy in Hollywood was brought over and he did a first rate job. I guess for good luck Henry Fonda who appeared in the first outdoor technicolor film in the USA came over to appear in this one. In the tradition of Americans appearing in British productions, Fonda plays a Canadian horse trainer with the Irish name of Kerry Gilfallen replete with his Nebraska twang.

In fact most of this British production is shot in Ireland and I hope that Wings of the Morning is available to folks in Ireland in any format. Their country is really nicely captured in some really lush greens. And there is some nice color footage of London and the Epsom Derby in the middle Thirties.

There are two stories, a brief prologue involving gypsy princess Annabella and the Irish Lord Clontarf played by Leslie Banks. They wed against all convention and soon after, Banks is killed in a riding accident. Of course most of the family snubs the widow and she returns to the gypsies.

Fast forward some forty years and Annabella is now playing her own great granddaughter and she's back in Ireland having fled Spain from the revolution going on there. She flees like Katharine Hepburn did in Sylvia Scarlett, in the guise of a boy and fools everybody including horse trainer Henry Fonda.

Of course the romance develops and a pair of horses get trained and primed for the Epsom Derby. Horse stories are no different in the UK then they are the USA and if you've seen enough of them on the silver screen you have an idea how the rest of the film goes.

Champion jockey Steve Donoghue makes an appearance in Wings of the Morning and lucky indeed we are to have a technicolor filmed appearance of the great John McCormack who favors us with four songs sung at a party scene at Clontarf castle. McCormack was an icon in many an Irish and Irish American household. A great concert singer, he and an Italian tenor named Caruso share equal credit in developing the record industry as they both signed with Edison's fledgling RCA Victor label back in the day. You couldn't find too many Italian households without a Caruso record back in the day nor many Irish households without a gramophone and McCormack records to play on them.

During his sequence McCormack sings and reads material, lyrics I'm sure he must have sang a gazillion times. My guess is that he was 53 when Wings of the Morning was made and may have been sustaining memory problems. McCormack died in 1945 and had not sung for several years at that point.

Wings of the Morning were it not for McCormack and technicolor would be a rather ordinary race track story. Still it's good entertainment and for folks in Ireland, a must.

A slightly odd but historically important film

[trevorwomble · 7/10 · 14 June 2009]

This is the first true technicolor feature to be made in the UK. The story concerns a beautiful young Spanish gypsy woman (French actress Anna Bella) who flees to England where she falls in love with a Canadian horse trainer (Henry Fonda) against a back drop of the UK's premier horse race, The Derby.

The story is a bit unoriginal and the dialogue extremely clunky in places. There is also an element of tweeness to the depictions of gypsy life. Yet despite the so-so plot and (at times) wooden acting there is a certain charm in the film. The Technicolor photography is gorgeous and it provides a very rare colour record of what England & Ireland looked like prior to the second world war. The scenes on Epsom downs are also remarkably well filmed (considering the technical limitations of early technicolor filming on location) and the colour really brings an otherwise very average film to vivid life. There are one or two moments which would make the politically correct viewer squirm, such as the depiction of black & white minstrels.

If this film had been made in black & white i suspect it would have been long forgotten now, but as a curio it is a fascinating insight into another era. The photography is beautiful at times and make the film watchable. If only the same care had been taken with the script. Its a shame that this DVD only seems to be available in the U.S. though as i think it is calling out for a decent release.

Historically Valuable

[nigel_hawkes · 7/10 · 18 August 2022]

Forget the plot, which is silly, but bask in the glorious 3-strip Technicolor-the first British colour film-which is very fine indeed, natural and delicate and not at all garish. I assume that the use of many different coloured props (dresses, fruits etc.) was deliberate to show off the process, but the result is beautiful; it must have been something of a sensation for the 1937 audiences.

Add to this cameos by the famous (ageing here) jockey Steve Donoghue; songs by the much-loved singer Count John McCormack; cameos by two well-known (in their day) racing commentators; and extremely rare footage in colour of Derby Day, and you have quite a valuable historical record of the times.

A young Henry Fonda (well-31 but only into his 3rd. Year of movies) is almost unrecognisable apart from his distinctive voice and hints of those pale blue eyes that became more piercing as he aged.

The print that UK's Talking Pictures channel showed (August 2022) is almost beyond criticism, maybe a little faded in places, but what a joy to view!

decent film of historical note

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 3 July 2012]

"Wings of the Morning" (1937) has the distinction of being the first Technicolor film shot in the British isles, made when the great cinematographer Jack Cardiff was operating a camera. It also introduced the Irish tenor John McCormack to the public. Wings of the Morning might have been important for being French actress Annabella's first English-speaking film, but Annabella was two years away from becoming very famous for another reason which basically stopped her film career.

Annabella has a dual role here, actually a triple role, in a film that takes place first in the 1800s and then in the present day. First, she is Marie, a gypsy, who is with other gypsies in Ireland in 1869. The Lord Clontarf (Lesley Banks) gives the gypsies rights to live on his land in perpetuity. He falls in love with Marie and the two marry, a union that is definitely controversial. When Lord Clontarf is killed in a fall while riding, Marie jumps on the gypsy caravan, and ever the roamers, they leave the area.

Fifty years later, Annabella plays Maria, Duchess of Leyva, who is Marie's great-granddaughter and engaged to Don Diego (Teddy Underdown). The gypsies must flee Spain due to a revolution, so they return to the Clontarf land in Ireland. Marie (now played by Irene Vanbrugh) is worried that Maria will not get out of Spain, but she does, dressed as a boy. While so dressed, she meets horse trainer Kerry Gilfallen (Fonda), a Canadian.

Eventually he discovers he's a she and falls for her. Maria has traded her great-grandmother's horse, Wings of the Morning to Kerry, not realizing the importance of the animal. Marie intends to enter it in a race in order to win money for Maria's dowry.

Henry Fonda was such a handsome young man, and always a good actor, but he doesn't come off as Canadian with that drawl of his. Despite being new to English, Annabella does a very effective job in all of her roles - she was, after all, a huge star in France. Singer John McCormack had a beautiful Irish tenor, but what a bore - no career in movies for him.

As far as the film itself, it's an interesting story but in the end, not a great film. The color isn't as sharp as we're used to today, but it doesn't diminish the incredible beauty of the Irish countryside.

Annabella met actor Tyrone Power on the set of Suez in 1938 and the couple married in 1939. Their boss, Darryl F. Zanuck, did everything he could to break them up -- he offered Annabella some films that were to be made in Europe -- but she refused to leave Power. Once they married, the star buildup for Annabella stopped. She would star on Broadway, work for the war effort, do radio, and a production of "Liliom" with her husband, finally returning to France after they were divorced in 1948. From what she said in interviews -- je ne regrette rien.

Gypsy Blood

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 21 September 2022]

While Korda was in the process of constructing his own Technicolor processing plant at Denham he in the meantime provided his studio facilities for this pioneering project, the very first Technicolor feature made outside Hollywood.

Inevitably it's quite a hybrid, with an American director and cameraman, an American leading man pretending to be Canadian and a French leading lady pretending to be a Spanish gypsy pretending to be a lad (a deception partly facilitated by wearing slightly less rouge on her cheeks than in the rest of the film).

Since most of the exteriors were shot in Ireland the colour scheme is inevitably predominantly green, but colour is occasionally used at the service of the narrative as when the heroine is spectacularly transformed by slipping into a burgundy gown, the progress by jockey Steve Donohue in the Epsom Derby is made possible to follow by his ochre shirt, followed by the dramatic climactic appearance of the bright red objection flag.

Archival interest is provided by the partiticipation of tenor John McCormack and tipster Ras Prince Monolulu.

A second try at watching this film was unsuccessful...

[Doylenf · 5/10 · 8 April 2011]

It's surprising to read everyone talking about the wonderful early British use of Technicolor for this film, when in fact the color photography (as seen in the print shown on TCM tonight) can best be described as murky, even in the close-ups.

Aside from the color, the script is a garbled hodge-podge of strangely related events, clumsily crafted and given stiff acting even by the lovely ANNABELLA. For a better view of this French actress, I suggest you watch one of her later U.S. films called 13 RUE MADELEINE, to fully appreciate her acting abilities.

The disjointed story, combined with the lackluster direction and the lame dialog, only undercuts whatever merits are in the film's script. ANNABELLA does nothing here to indicate that she's on the brink of better things in her future and her line readings are less than professional as delivered in her French accent.

Why Technicolor was wasted on this below average story is a mystery to me. Fans of Annabella and Henry Fonda are sure to be disappointed. Fox would have been more successful if they'd filmed this horse story here in the U.S. in sunny California for both the interior and exterior shots.

Surprised that this unrestored print was the best TCM could do.

High and Low Notes

[duke1029 · 7/10 · 27 November 2006]

Shot partially on location in Killarney, Ireland in Glorious Three-Strip Tecnicolor, "Wings of the Morning" can claim to be the first film shot in that process on the British Isles. Iconic cinematographer Jack Cardiff gets his first Technicolor credit as the film's camera operator and would go on to one of the most illustrious careers in film history. However, although it was financially successful during its initial release, fans of John McCormack and Henry Fonda will be disappointed with it today.

John McCormack, the pride of Athlone, County Westmeath and arguably the greatest Irish tenor of all time, failed in several attempts to break into the movies. That's not surprising when one views his stiff acting and singing in this film. Although he sings three songs here, he evidently didn't even bother to memorize the lyrics and sings while looking at a notebook he carries with him. It's no wonder that the film editor decided to cut away from him to inserts of the idyllic Irish countryside during his performance rather than keep the overweight and unphotogenic singer on screen.

Fonda supposedly played a Canadian in this British movie shot partially in Ireland but clearly didn't have a competent dialogue coach because he plays his early scenes with a decidedly Southern drawl. He later lapses into his singularly un-Canadian Midwestern twang.

At this point in his career Fonda was a free-lancer and didn't have to do this film, which was designed as a showcase for French beauty Annabella in her English-speaking debut. After he did sign a long-term contract at Fox in 1940 as a condition of getting the role of Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath," the respected actor chafed when required to play support for films designed to showcase other Fox stars. His unhappy experience on the Alice Faye vehicle "Lillian Russell" is a prime example. Why did Fonda agree to do the film? A good guess would be that the trip to Englasnd and Ireland, rather than the script, was enough motivation.

You'd think that a milestone film would be better.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 18 April 2011]

This is the first full-length Three-Color Technicolor films made in the British Isles. Because of this, you might have imagined that it would be a particularly good film. Well, like the first full-length American film made using this process, Becky Sharpe (1935), it's no classic. Three-Color looks like true color (more or less), as previous attempts (such as the company's Two-Color process) were less than terrific.

"Wings of the Morning" starts with a completely ridiculous and improbable prologue. A group of gypsies are camping out on the land belonging to an Irish lord. Instead of throwing them off the land, though, the lord is swell and lets them stay. He also soon falls in love with one of the gypsies and marries her. Sadly, however, he dies in an accident shortly after the wedding and she is subsequently forced by his family to leave the country for Spain.

The story picks up half a century later. The Spanish Civil War is raging and the widow now decides to return to Ireland with her granddaughter (Annabella--who, oddly, has a French accent). There, Annabella meets Henry Fonda in one of the most annoying 'meeting' scenes I can recall (ooo, it's bad). He thinks she is a boy--I just think she was behaving in a boorish manner. It's supposed to be cute and funny...it isn't. Regardless, the cliché says that after such an inauspicious meeting that they'll soon fall in love. And, speaking of clichés, Annabella seems to be a walking cliché--headstrong, unreasonable and yet waiting to be tamed by Fonda (oh, brother). Much of the rest of the film consists of Fonda repeatedly about to take off his clothes in front of the prudish Annabella until he ultimately figures out she's a girl and they fall in love.

Of course, since it's only halfway through the film, you KNOW that some glitches must come to threaten their love. First, Don Diego, who was pledges to the Gypsy years ago now returns. Second, there is the 'big race'--neither of which is particularly interesting since you have known for most of the film what would ultimately happen by the end. Overall, despite some nice scenery, a clichéd film that didn't do much for me. The characters seemed clichéd and predictable from start to finish.

By the way, Henry Fonda should NOT sing in films. A fine actor, yes. A singer, good grief, no! As for Annabella, well, perhaps she could act but given this sort of drivel, it's sure not apparent in this film.

Britain's first Technicolor movie

[wilvram · 7/10 · 10 February 2021]

The story is pleasant, though artificial and inconsequential. The scene where the heroine was obliged to go swimming and thus reveal her true identity is almost identical to one in the earlier Girls Will Be Boys with Dolly Haas. The print I saw was from the Cohen Collection, looking superb, and what I really enjoyed was seeing Ireland and pre-war London and its people in colour, together with character actors like Mark Daly and D.J. Williams, previously confined to faded monochrome footage. And not least the legendary Irish tenor, John McCormack, whom I've long heard recordings of, but never seen. Annabella and Henry Fonda make an attractive leading couple.

A VERY appealing jumble of a movie

[trpdean · 8/10 · 24 October 2008]

This movie sets out to have much for many - and succeeds in a wacky, just relax and enjoy the utterly mixed bag way:

the first Technicolor movie made in Britain (well, Ireland actually) a tale of gypsies and their generations-long curses all the sentiment and memories of the Auld Sod in Ireland three songs sung complete by John McCormack, the great Irish tenor horse racing tale - mixing in news footage of Derby Day in England love story between Henry Fonda and beautiful French sensation Annabella

There are odd moments - e.g., Henry Fonda forcefully removing all Annabella's clothes (behind a willow tree) until apparently repulsed, he realizes she's a girl and tosses her undergarments back to her - disgusted

Strange scenes of "is she alive or is she dead" about an ancient gypsy woman.

We're asked to accept that a living woman may easily life to see a fourth generation of her family -- in 50 years. In this movie, they apparently have an entirely new generation of gypsy children every sixteen years! (In contrast, I hope to marry next year and have children in future - yet my own grandparents were born in the 1890s, 110-120 years ago - without a fourth generation yet!).

It's fun - and light, and romantic (annabella is really cute!) and it IS interesting to see John McCormack and the spectacular/sentimental scenes of Killarney - and to see a horse race at Ascot.

Don't expect a classic - but it's a big fun jumble of stuff designed to appeal to many. Often a quite beautiful movie visually too.

A Landmark

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 1 February 2019]

Although there had been earlier British colour films in other processes, this was the first in technicolour.Obviously Fox spent the money on the cast and colour,as the story is second rate. Lots of lovely country views and John Mccornick singing away.Curiously he keeps on looking at a small book for the lyrics.A very experienced cast many who had been in films since early silent films.

Good Movie, Great Singer

[GManfred · 4 May 2011]

"Wings Of The Morning" is a good movie. Not a great movie, but a good one and there are several reasons to watch it. First and foremost, it is a rare opportunity to see and hear Ireland's most famous tenor, John McCormack. He sings several songs as the featured entertainer at a dinner party. He doesn't appear in the picture until about an hour into it, but his gorgeous tenor voice delivers "Killarney" and "All Those Endearing Young Charms" and it is worth the wait.

This is also England's first Technicolor movie and it is pretty in its own right, but must seem primitive to film sophisticates. Especially eye-catching are shots of the Irish countryside as McCormack sings. Annabella makes her English-speaking debut in this picture and she is beautiful but her accent makes her difficult to understand at times.

Well, that's about it. The story is ordinary, the plot points telegraphed and it moves at glacial speed. I would have rated it lower were it not for the reasons mentioned above.

The first British full Technicolor film is good to look at

[vampire_hounddog · 6/10 · 9 October 2020]

In the late 19th century a Spanish gypsy princess (Annabella) falls in love and marries a nobleman (Leslie Banks) but he dies shortly after in a riding accident. She returns to Spain, but 40 years later descendents of the couple (Henry Fonda and Annabella in a dual role) meet and fall in love with their relationship also revolved around horses and horse racing.

This Irish set romancer is best known for being the first British three strip Technicolor feature film and one of only 9 made by Britain in the 1930s. It was also the film in which Hollywood star Henry Fonda met Frances Ford Seymour, the woman who would become his wife and the mother of Peter and Jane while they were filming on the set at Denham Studios where the film was in part shot. The film also benefits from a cameo by opera singer and tenor John McCormack, a cross dressing heroine and some good looking location work.