EARLY CINEMA
A Cottage on Dartmoor PG
UK | 1930 88 minutes
DIRECTED BY
Anthony Asquith
STARRINGHans Adalbert Schlettow | Uno Henning | Norah Baring
Anthony Asquith’s A Cottage on Dartmoor stands as one of the great achievements of British silent cinema. Set against a windswept landscape, it is a psychological thriller that explores jealousy, obsession, and doomed love. It follows Joe, a barber’s assistant, whose infatuation with Sally, a manicurist, turns dark when she chooses to marry another man. Through a series of intense, emotionally charged sequences, Joe’s inner turmoil escalates into violence, leading to a tragic conclusion.
The film is notable for its sophisticated visual style, drawing clear inspiration from German Expressionism and Soviet montage, both of which Asquith admired. His dynamic editing, inventive camera angles, and careful use of close-ups and shadow give A Cottage on Dartmoor a level of cinematic artistry that was rare in British films of the time.
Asquith, son of former British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, was an educated, cosmopolitan figure who sought to raise the status of British film-making, long overshadowed by Hollywood. Before A Cottage on Dartmoor, he directed Shooting Stars (1928) and Underground (1928), both acclaimed for their technical innovation and sensitivity to character.
Asquith adapted gracefully to the new era of sound, forging a reputation for tasteful, literate films. He directed the celebrated adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion (1938), and in the postwar years, collaborated with playwright Terence Rattigan on several prestigious dramas, including The Winslow Boy (1948) and The Browning Version (1951). His work is characterised by its understated emotional power, elegant craftsmanship, and a strong focus on character psychology.
2 June 2025 MONDAY 19:30
GREEN ROOM
Tickets £7.00|£5.00 (under 26) CONCESSION NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE