Balaclava

Harold Huth - Adjutant
Wally Patch

The ill-advised battle of Balaclava was lavishly re-created in this British historical spectacle. Among those converging in the Crimea in the mid-19th century are "good" British officer Cyril McLaglen and his "bad" counterpart Miles Mander. The latter falsely accuses the former of murder, whereupon McLaglen is dishonourably discharged from the service. He returns to the Crimea as a common horse soldier, whereupon heroine Benita Hume warns him of the presence of a Russian spy amidst the British troops. This minor revelation snowballs into the "heroic" military blunder at Balaclava. Completed as a silent film by the prolific Maurice Elvey, Balaclava was extensively re-shot as a talkie under the direction of Milton Rosmer; the dialogue was written by Robert Stevenson.
Copyright Hal Erickson.