Donat had appeared in the stage play in 1945.[2] In 1948 it was announced he would make a film version for Alexander Korda.[3] It was his sole feature credit as director, although he had directed on stage.
Francis Wignall was chosen out of 3,000 boys to play a lead role.[4] Donat battled ill health during pre-production.[5] The production was shot at Shepperton Studios, with sets designed by the art directorWilfred Shingleton.
Reception
Trade papers called the film a "notable box office attraction" in British cinemas in 1950.[6] According to Kinematograph Weekly the 'biggest winners' at the box office in 1950 Britain were The Blue Lamp, The Happiest Days of Your Life, Annie Get Your Gun, The Wooden Horse, Treasure Island and Odette, with "runners up" being Stage Fright, White Heat, They Were Not Divided, Trio, Morning Departure, Destination Moon, Sands of Iwo Jima, Little Women, The Forsythe Saga, Father of the Bride, Neptune's Daughter, The Dancing Years, The Red Light, Rogues of Sherwood Forest, Fancy Pants, Copper Canyon, State Secret, The Cure for Love, My Foolish Heart, Stromboli, Cheaper by the Dozen, Pinky, Three Came Home, Broken Arrow and Black Rose.[7]
^Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p489
^"Gordon Gilmour's LONDON DIARY". The Sun. No. 11, 072. Sydney. 17 July 1945. p. 6 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 27 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"LATEST FILM NEWS FROM ABROAD". The Sun. No. 11, 912. Sydney. 1 April 1948. p. 17 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 27 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"STARRY WAY". The Courier-Mail. No. 3889. Brisbane. 14 May 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 27 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.