The Young Mr. Pitt

1942 British film

The Young Mr. Pitt

A scene from the film

Directed by| Carol Reed
Written by| Frank Launder
Sidney Gilliat
Viscount Castlerosse (additional dialogue and original novel)
Starring| Robert Donat
Robert Morley
Phyllis Calvert
John Mills
Cinematography| Freddie Young
Edited by| R. E. Dearing
Music by| Louis Levy
Distributed by| 20th Century Fox

Release date

* 21 September 1942 (1942-09-21)

Running time

| 118 minutes
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English

The Young Mr. Pitt is a 1942 British biographical film of the life of William Pitt the Younger and in particular his struggle against revolutionary France and Napoleon. It was directed by Carol Reed and stars Robert Donat, Robert Morley, Phyllis Calvert and John Mills.[1] Made in black-and-white, it was produced by Edward Black and Maurice Ostrer for the British subsidiary of 20th Century Fox.[2]

It was filmed as the Second World War was raging. Similar parallels with the struggle against Hitler's Germany were implied in That Hamilton Woman (aka Lady Hamilton, 1941), made by Alexander Korda in the United States[3] with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in the leads. Several of the speeches which Pitt makes against Napoleon are actually the words of Churchill in relation to Hitler, in particular the "we stand alone" speech from 1940.

## Plot

[edit]

In 1770, William Pitt the Elder gives a speech in Parliament strongly advising against war with the American colonies, and then advises his second son, a young man also named William Pitt, to avoid seeking fame through war. Years later, the ministry of Charles James Fox and Lord North falls. Pitt the Younger is only 24, unpopular due to his opposition to the war in America and with a reputation as a reformer, and with no majority in the House of Commons. However, despite all this, King George III summons him and asks him to form a government.

Pitt tries to gain Fox's support, but is rebuffed. He is ridiculed in Parliament, but despite having no majority, refuses to resign. He is even subject to a night ambush, but noted boxers Dan Mendoza and Gentleman Jackson help drive the assailants away. Reassured by the boxers' claims of strong support for him amongst the general public, Pitt calls an election on a platform of peace and prosperity, which gives him a majority. Against Fox's constant opposition, he then institutes reforms and strengthens the Royal Navy, whilst intermittently events in Napoleon Bonaparte's childhood and military training are shown.

The French Revolution erupts and France invades Belgium. With France and Britain both nominally committed to Dutch neutrality, Talleyrand fails to convince Pitt into an alliance with France or at least pro-French neutrality and a French invasion of the Dutch Republic soon afterwards triggers a British declaration of war. Public opinion turns against the war as early successes turn to defeats such as the Siege of Toulon, won by Napoleon's artillery knowledge, but even when Britain's continental allies fall, Pitt refuses to sue for peace.

Pitt's friend William Wilberforce continues to support peace negotiations and abstains from a vote on the matter. Via Melvill, an American intermediary, Talleyrand sends word to Pitt that French moderates are willing to make peace, but before Pitt can exploit this, Napoleon seizes power. Learning of this during one of his regular visits to Walmer Castle, Pitt realises Napoleon's desire is for world domination and commits himself totally to the arduous struggle ahead, sacrificing even his hopes for marriage to Eleanor Eden. He also discovers that he has neglected his personal finances and is now deeply in debt, though these debts are soon paid off by an unknown friend.

He institutes a bold but risky strategy, going on the offensive in the Mediterranean, and chooses Horatio Nelson over more senior admirals to lead the naval squadron assigned the task. Napoleon sails from Toulon to invade Egypt while Nelson's blockading ships are scattered by a gale. Meanwhile, Pitt collapses from overwork and is warned by his doctor about his health. Nelson finds and destroys the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile. The people cheer Pitt, but the war continues until Napoleon personally writes to George III, superficially to suggest peace negotiations but in fact to exacerbate pro- and anti-war divisions in Britain. Pitt is forced to resign, just before receiving news of Eleanor's impending wedding. A peace treaty is signed, giving Napoleon time to build up his armies and his fleet, whilst Addington's administration naively hopes for a lasting peace and neglects Britain's defences.

Napoleon gathers his forces on the French coast facing England and popular opinion thrusts Pitt back into power, replacing Addington, despite his doctor's warnings. He gains the support of the king and even of Fox as he rearms Britain and institutes a system of fencibles and militia for home defence. The decisive British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar puts an end to the invasion threat, though in a speech at the Guildhall Pitt states that victory has been achieved not just by him but the whole nation, also predicting that Britain will go on to save Europe.

## Cast

[edit]

* Robert Donat as the Earl of Chatham / William Pitt
* Geoffrey Atkins as William Pitt as a boy
* Robert Morley as Charles James Fox
* Phyllis Calvert as Eleanor Eden
* John Mills as William Wilberforce
* Jean Cadell as Mrs. Sparry
* Raymond Lovell as George III
* Agnes Lauchlan as Queen Charlotte
* Felix Aylmer as Lord North
* Ian McLean as Henry Dundas
* Max Adrian as Richard Brinsley Sheridan
* A. Bromley Davenport as Sir Evan Nepean
* Herbert Lom[a] as Napoleon
* Albert Lieven as Talleyrand
* Stephen Haggard as Lord Nelson
* Stuart Lindsell as Earl Spencer
* Henry Hewitt as Addington
* Frederick Culley as Sir William Farquhar
* Frank Pettingell as Coachman
* Leslie Bradley as Gentleman Jackson
* Roy Emerton as Daniel Mendoza
* Hugh McDermott as Mr. Melvill
* James Harcourt as Bellamy[b]
* Frederick Leister as Auckland[b]
* Gibb McLaughlin as George Selwyn[b]
* Jack Watling as Atkinson[b]

## Production

[edit]

Sidney Gilliat says he had a big fight with Carol Reed during the making of the film which resulted in Gilliant leaving the project.[4]

## Reception

[edit]

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times felt "the nature of the historical period in which this film is set and the evident fidelity of the authors to the facts of Mr. Pitt's life conspire to prevent this picture from having a sharp dramatic impact."[5]

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was one of the most popular at the British box office in 1942, after Mrs Miniver, First of the Few, How Green Was My Valley, Reap the Wild Wind, Holiday Inn, Captains of the Clouds, Sergeant York, One of Our Aircraft is Missing and Hatter's Castle.[6]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ His first English-speaking role
2. ^ a b c d Uncredited

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017.
2. ^ Vagg, Stephen (1 December 2024). "Forgotten British Film Moguls: Ted Black". Filmink. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
3. ^ Patricia Warren British Film Studios: An Illustrated History, London: B.T. Batsford, 2001, pp. 33, 145
4. ^ Fowler, Roy; Haines, Taffy (15 May 1990). "Interview with Sidney Gilliat" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. p. 125.
5. ^ Bosley Crowther (11 March 1943). "' The Young Mr. Pitt,' a British Historical Drama, With Robert Donat in Title Role, Has Its Premiere at the Roxy". The New York Times.
6. ^ Lant, Antonia (1991). Blackout : reinventing women for wartime British cinema. Princeton University Press. p. 231.

## External links

[edit]

* The Young Mr. Pitt at IMDb
* ‹The template AllMovie title is being considered for deletion.› The Young Mr. Pitt at AllMovie
* The Young Mr. Pitt at the TCM Movie Database

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Carol Reed

* Midshipman Easy (1935)
* Laburnum Grove (1936)
* Talk of the Devil (1936)
* Who's Your Lady Friend? (1937)
* Bank Holiday (1938)
* Penny Paradise (1938)
* Climbing High (1938)
* A Girl Must Live (1939)
* The Stars Look Down (1940)
* The Girl in the News (1940)
* Night Train to Munich (1940)
* Kipps (1941)
* A Letter from Home (1941)
* The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)
* The New Lot (1943)
* The Way Ahead (1944)
* The True Glory (1945)
* Odd Man Out (1947)
* The Fallen Idol (1948)
* The Third Man (1949)
* Outcast of the Islands (1951)
* The Man Between (1953)
* A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)
* Trapeze (1956)
* The Key (1958)
* Our Man in Havana (1959)
* The Running Man (1963)
* The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
* Oliver! (1968)
* Flap (1970)
* Follow Me! (1972)

* v
* t
* e

Films of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat

Gilliat only|

| Writer only|

* Red Pearls (1930)
* You'd Be Surprised! (1930)
* Lord Richard in the Pantry (1930)
* Bed and Breakfast (1930)
* Third Time Lucky (1931)
* The Ringer (1931)
* The Ghost Train (1931)
* The Happy Ending (1931)
* A Gentleman of Paris (1931)
* Rome Express (1932)
* Falling for You (1933)
* Orders Is Orders (1933)
* Friday the Thirteenth (1933)
* Jack Ahoy (1934)
* Chu Chin Chow (1934)
* My Heart is Calling (1935)
* Bulldog Jack (1935)
* King of the Damned (1936)
* Where There's a Will (1936)
* The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)
* Strangers on Honeymoon (1936)
* Take My Tip (1937)
* A Yank at Oxford (1938)
* Strange Boarders (1938)
* The Gaunt Stranger (1938)
* Ask a Policeman (1938)
* Jamaica Inn (1939)
* The Girl in the News (1940)
* Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light (1941)
* Kipps (1941)

|

Director|

* Waterloo Road (1945)

Launder only|

| Writer only|

* Under the Greenwood Tree (1929)
* Children of Chance (1930)
* The W Plan (1930)
* The Middle Watch (1930)
* How He Lied to Her Husband (1931 short)
* Hobson's Choice (1931)
* Keepers of Youth (1931)
* The Woman Between (1931)
* Children of Fortune (1931)
* After Office Hours (1932)
* Josser in the Army (1932)
* Old Spanish Customers (1933)
* You Made Me Love You (1933)
* For the Love of Mike (1932)
* Hawley's of High Street (1933)
* A Southern Maid (1933)
* Those Were the Days (1933)
* Happy (1933)
* Get Off My Foot (1935)
* Rolling Home (1935)
* The Black Mask (1935)
* Emil and the Detectives (1935)
* So You Won't Talk (1935)
* Mr. What's-His-Name? (1935)
* I Give My Heart (1935)
* Educated Evans (1936)
* Where's Sally? (1936)
* Don't Get Me Wrong (1937)
* Oh, Mr Porter! (1937)
* A Girl Must Live (1939)
* Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It (1941)
* We Dive at Dawn (1943)
* Ring of Spies (1964)

|

Director|

* The Last Coupon (1932)
* Two Thousand Women (1944)
* The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980)

Together|

| Writers only|

* Facing the Music (1933)
* Twelve Good Men (1936)
* Seven Sinners (1936)
* The Lady Vanishes (1938)
* Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939)
* They Came by Night (1940)
* Night Train to Munich (1940)
* The Young Mr. Pitt (1942)
* The Green Man (1956)

|

Directed together|

* Partners in Crime (1942 short)
* Millions Like Us (1943)
* The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966)

Directed by Gilliat|

* The Rake's Progress (1945)
* Green for Danger (1946)
* London Belongs to Me (1948)
* State Secret (1950)
* The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953)
* The Constant Husband (1955)
* Fortune Is a Woman (1956)
* Left Right and Centre (1959)
* Only Two Can Play (1962)
* Endless Night (1972)

Directed by Launder|

* I See a Dark Stranger (1946)
* Captain Boycott (1947)
* The Blue Lagoon (1949)
* The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)
* Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951)
* Folly to Be Wise (1952)
* The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954)
* Geordie (1955)
* Blue Murder at St Trinian's (1957)
* The Bridal Path (1959)
* The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960)
* Joey Boy (1965)

Producers only|

* The Smallest Show on Earth (1957)
* Ooh… You Are Awful (1972)

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