Sturm im Wasserglas (1937)

Sturm im Wasserglas: Directed by Ian Dalrymple, Victor Saville. With Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison, Cecil Parker, Sara Allgood. A local politician in Scotland tries to break the reporter who wrote a negative story about him, and who is also in love with his daughter.

“The provost (mayor?) of a small town in Scotland is an arrogant petty tyrant who is adamant that a poor womanu0026#39;s dog be put down because she canu0026#39;t afford the license fee. The woman, Mrs Heggaty, goes to the provostu0026#39;s house to beg for her dogu0026#39;s life. Even when Provost Gowu0026#39;s daughter offers to pay the fee and fines, he says no because itu0026#39;s a matter of principle and throws Mrs. Heggaty out of the house. A reporter who has newly arrived to the town ( and who also has fallen for the provostu0026#39;s daughter) observes this and later writes a scathing news article about this resulting in the townu0026#39;s people getting in an uproar. The article also gets national attention which puts a halt to the provostu0026#39;s higher political ambitions. The provost is livid and has the reporter arrested for slander. Memorable scenes include the provost, calmly and with great dignity walking a gauntlet of angry and derisive townspeople and the scene when seemingly hundreds of dogs run rampant through the provostu0026#39;s house. One of the funniest scenes occurs at the reporteru0026#39;s trial. An Irish maid, who is prone to using American slang, is testifying and at one point says to the prosecuting attorney u0026quot;Sez you.u0026quot; The judge asks for an explanation of the term and the attorney give a lengthy, pedantic, and accurate definition of the term. The judge responds with an u0026quot;Oh, yeah.u0026quot; Rex Harrison and Vivien Leigh were very good but itu0026#39;s Cecil Parker as the provost who gives the most notable performance (well, he did have the meatiest role). Sara Allgood also does a nice job as the distraught Mrs. Heggaty who so loves her dog, Patsy. This is a heart warming and delightful film.”