Loyalties

A houseguest at an upper-class gathering, wealthy Jew Ferdinand de Levis, is robbed of £1,000 with evidence pointing towards the guilt of another guest, Captain Dancy. Instead of supporting De Levis, the host attempts to hush the matter up and when this fails, he sides with Dancy and subtly tries to destroy de Levis' reputation. When Dancy is later exposed, and commits suicide, de Levis is blamed for his demise.

It's really the subject matter of this film that makes it enthralling to watch. Basil Rathbone is effective as the wealthy, and Jewish, "De Levis" who arrives for a weekend with his supposed friends. He goes for a bath and when he returns discovers that £1,000 of his money has been stolen. He alerts his hosts and after initially suggesting it be forgotten, agree to summon the authorities and it's at this point he alights on his prime suspect. "Capt. Clancy" (a solid contribution from Miles Mander). This officer had the room next door, and as the conversation expands, we discover that he is quite an athletic man who could easily have jumped from his balcony to his neighbour's and appropriated the cash. Of course, actual proof is seriously lacking and when he makes his accusation, "De Levis" soon finds out that his friendships are little better than skin deep. The great and the good rally around "Clancy" and suspend this impudent upstart from their exclusive number. Having been subject to the allegation, however, the defendant has little choice but to sue to protect his honour and it's in court that the truth will hopefully out. The first twenty minutes, or so, are quite interesting. They clearly illustrate a degree of resentment not just of the man's wealth, but of his Jewishness. Whilst never directly expressed, anti-Semitism is writ large here. Sadly, though, once the court case starts and thereafter, the story starts to meander and become a bit contrived and muddled. It's at this stage that you notice the lack of quality in the production and an excess of script that adds very little to the thrust of this rather bold and accusatory story. It's certainly worth a watch. That this was a topic deemed worthy of commercial release as early as 1933, before the rise of National Socialism in Germany, speaks volumes for the anticipation of the hatred that existed then, and was only about to increase, of the Jewish race. Rathbone delivers well as the clever and sophisticated gent - but it all just falls a little but short at the end.