Thunder in the City (1937)
Directed by Marion Gering and produced by Alexander Esway, Thunder in the City is a British-American comedy-drama starring Edward G. Robinson in a rare non-gangster role. The film explores cultural clashes and entrepreneurial ambition, set against the backdrop of prewar England’s aristocratic decline.
Plot Summary
Dan Armstrong (Edward G. Robinson), a brash American salesman, travels to England to learn the subtleties of British business etiquette. Mistaken for a millionaire by the cash-strapped Duke and Duchess of Glenavon, Armstrong is invited into their social circle and becomes entangled in a scheme involving Rhodesian mining shares. He falls for Lady Patricia Graham (Luli Deste), the Duke’s daughter, and uses his bold marketing tactics to revive the family’s fortunes—while teaching the British elite a thing or two about American hustle.
Cast Highlights
- Edward G. Robinson as Dan Armstrong
- Luli Deste as Lady Patricia Graham
- Nigel Bruce as Duke of Glenavon
- Constance Collier as Duchess of Glenavon
- Ralph Richardson as Manningdale
- Arthur Wontner, Nancy Burne, and Annie Esmond in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film marked Miklós Rózsa’s first film score, launching a legendary career in film music
- It performed poorly at the box office, and Robinson was widely considered miscast in the role of a cheerful entrepreneur
- The aerial scenes feature a de Havilland DH86 Express departing from Gatwick Aerodrome, with the iconic Beehive control tower visible—though the Vienna-bound flight was fictional
- The cast includes three actors associated with Sherlock Holmes adaptations: Arthur Wontner (Holmes in five films), Nigel Bruce (Watson in 14 films), and Ralph Richardson (Watson on radio)
- The film aired on early American television as far back as 1944, with broadcasts on WNBT (New York), WTTG (Washington, D.C.), and KTLA (Los Angeles)
