Major Barbara

1941

2h 1m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

0 Videos

8 Images

Comedy

Idealistic young Barbara is the daughter of rich weapons manufacturer Andrew Undershaft. She rebels against her estranged father by joining the Salvation Army. Wooed by professor-turned-preacher Adolphus Cusins, Barbara eventually grows disillusioned with her causes and begins to see things from her father's perspective.

Directors

Gabriel Pascal

Writers

George Bernard Shaw(screenplay by)

Stars

Wendy Hiller

Rex Harrison

Robert Morley

See production, box office & company info

Photos8

Top cast

Wendy Hiller

Major Barbara Undershaft

Adolphus Cusins

Andrew Undershaft

Bill Walker

The General

Snobby Prince

Lady Britomart

Sarah Undershaft

Stephen Undershaft

Charles Lomax

Jenny Hill

Peter Shirley

Rummy Mitchens

Mog Habbijam

Todger Fairmile

Morrison

James

Policeman

Directors

Gabriel Pascal

Writers

George Bernard Shaw(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

Gabriel Pascal and (George) Bernard Shaw have reunited for this enjoyably paced, quirky and characterful adaptation of his 1905 play. That creation uses chocolate, this one replaces it with arms as the eponymous, upright and virtuous character - Wendy Hiller - re-evaluates her leading light position in the Salvation Army when their General (Dame Sybil Thorndike) agrees to accept two huge donations - one from a recently ennobled brewing magnate, the other from her father "Andrew Undershaft" (Robert Morley) - the aforementioned, billionaire arms dealer. It's oft described as a comedy, this - and there are certainly comedic elements to it, especially from Morley and her academic suitor Rex Harrison ("Adolphus Cusins"), but is largely presented more of a question to us, the audience. It challenges us to assess which is (or might be) the more important influence: religion or money; prosperity or integrity. Are they mutually exclusive? Perhaps it is a rather simplistic choice, but Shaw offers us scenarios ably illustrating the opportunity and hypocrisy that we may appreciate both the emotional and practical quandaries of "Maj. Barbara" as her resistance to her father's mercenary existence is tempered with his argument justifying his wealth, and his power. Morley is super - his delivery potently justifies his position to the point where it seems irrational to doubt it! The staging is a little too fixed. Though there are a few outdoor scenes, the vast majority appears overly hemmed in. The brewery lights flashing on and off; the scenes in their shelter, and at their home - all are just a bit linear. The pretty lively scenes with an on-form Robert Newton (the down-to-earth, working-class pragmatist "Billy") come across as just a bit too stifled - the flow is almost staccato at times. With the likes of Ronald Neame, David Lean, Charles Frend and Vincent Korda helping out behind the camera, it was always going to be a well made film, and indeed it is. A social commentary that pitches avarice against principle - and one that leaves us to decide... Good stuff.

Geronimo196725 Jun, 2022