The Winslow Boy

The Winslow Boy is an English play by Terence Rattigan based on an actual incident in the Edwardian era, which took place at the Royal Naval College, Osborne House. The play was later made into a famous film in 1948 which was directed by Anthony Asquith, starring Robert Donat as Sir Robert Morton, Cedric Hardwicke as Arthur Winslow, and Margaret Leighton as Catherine Winslow. The film was remade in 1999, this time directed by David Mamet, starring Nigel Hawthorne and Jeremy Northam as Arthur Winslow and Sir Robert Morton KC, respectively.

Related Topics:
The Winslow Boy - English - Play - Terence Rattigan - Actual incident - Edwardian - Royal Naval College - Osborne House - Film - 1948 - Anthony Asquith - Robert Donat - Cedric Hardwicke - Margaret Leighton - 1999 - David Mamet - Nigel Hawthorne - Jeremy Northam - Arthur Winslow - Sir Robert Morton KC

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Set against the strict codes of conduct and manners of the age The Winslow Boy is based on a father's fight to clear his son's name after the boy is expelled from Osborne Naval College for stealing a postal order. To clear the boy's name was imperative for the family's honour; had they not done so, they would have been shunned by their peers and society. The boy's life would have been wrecked by the stain on his character.

Related Topics:
The Winslow Boy - Osborne Naval College - Postal order

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The play was inspired by an actual event, which set a legal precedent; the case of George Archer-Shee, a cadet at Osborne in 1908, who was accused of stealing a postal order from a fellow cadet. His elder brother Major Martin Archer-Shee, was convinced of his innocence, and persuaded his father (also called Martin) to engage lawyers. The most respected barrister of the day, Sir Edward Carson was also persuaded of his innocence, and insisted on the case coming to court. On the fourth day of the trial, the Solicitor General accepted that Archer-Shee was innocent, and ultimately the family was paid compensation.

Related Topics:
Precedent - George Archer-Shee - Major - Edward Carson - Solicitor General

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