The Great Garrick (1937) in Color — Starring Brian Aherne & Olivia de Havilland

The Great Garrick (1937) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the delightful romantic comedy of The Great Garrick (1937) in color for just €15.00. Directed by James Whale, this charming tale of theatrical rivalry and romance stars Brian Aherne as the legendary eighteenth-century actor David Garrick alongside the luminous Olivia de Havilland. Available now as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for instant viewing on any device.

Plot Summary

In 1750, David Garrick (Brian Aherne), acclaimed as England’s greatest living actor, announces that he will leave London’s Drury Lane Theatre to perform at the Comédie-Française in Paris. The announcement is taken as an insult by the proud French actors, who consider their theatrical tradition superior to anything the English can produce. They devise an elaborate scheme to humiliate Garrick upon his arrival.

The French troupe takes over an entire roadside inn where Garrick will stop on his journey, replacing the staff with their own actors and staging a series of comedic scenarios designed to terrify and embarrass the English star. They plant a fake countess to seduce him, arrange mock duels, stage farcical arguments, and create artificial crises — all orchestrated to make Garrick lose his famous composure and prove that his acting genius is mere fiction.

But Garrick quickly realizes the deception. Rather than reveal his awareness, he decides to out-act his would-be tormentors, playing along with their scenarios while subtly turning each one to his advantage. The inn becomes a stage within a stage, with everyone performing but only Garrick fully in control. Into this theatrical chaos stumbles Germaine de la Corbe (Olivia de Havilland), a beautiful young woman who is not part of the French scheme and genuinely falls for Garrick, not knowing whether anything she is witnessing is real or performance.

The romantic comedy builds to a brilliant conclusion where the boundaries between acting and sincerity dissolve completely, and Garrick must prove that his love for Germaine is the one authentic thing in a world of performances.

Cast & Crew

Director: James Whale

Stars: Brian Aherne, Olivia de Havilland, Edward Everett Horton, Melville Cooper, Lionel Atwill, Luis Alberni, Lana Turner, Fritz Leiber

Brian Aherne is superb as Garrick, bringing dashing charisma and sharp comic intelligence to the role of a man who is both the best actor in the world and genuinely vulnerable in love. Olivia de Havilland is radiant as Germaine, her natural sincerity providing the perfect foil to the universal deception. Edward Everett Horton provides his signature befuddled comedy, and a teenage Lana Turner appears in one of her earliest screen roles.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition of The Great Garrick brings the sumptuous eighteenth-century settings to glorious life. The ornate Parisian theaters, the candlelit inn, and the elaborate period costumes gain stunning visual richness, while the contrast between theatrical artifice and genuine romance becomes beautifully apparent in color. De Havilland’s beauty and the elaborate set designs shine with new elegance. Now also available in colour.

Buy your DRM-free MP4 copy today for just €15.00 and enjoy instant download access on any device.

Historical Significance

Released in 1937, The Great Garrick is a sparkling Hollywood tribute to the real David Garrick, widely considered the greatest English actor of the eighteenth century. The film is directed by James Whale, famous for Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, here demonstrating his versatility with light romantic comedy. It features a very young Lana Turner in one of her earliest appearances. Through colorization, this elegant comedy is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, from original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono
• Runtime: 89 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play on any device
• Instant download: Delivered immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was David Garrick a real person?
A: Yes, David Garrick (1717-1779) was a real English actor, playwright, and theater manager who revolutionized acting by introducing a more naturalistic style. He was the most influential theatrical figure of his era, and the film’s premise of his rivalry with French actors, while fictionalized, captures the real artistic competition between English and French theater.

Q: Who directed this film, and why is that significant?
A: James Whale, best known for directing Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, directed this romantic comedy. It demonstrates his remarkable versatility — moving from gothic horror to sophisticated drawing-room comedy with equal mastery.

Q: Is there a young Lana Turner in this film?
A: Yes, a teenage Lana Turner appears in a small role in one of her earliest screen appearances, before her legendary career took off. Sharp-eyed viewers can spot the future star among the French actors.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is this download DRM-free?
A: Yes, the file has no digital rights management restrictions, so you can watch it on any device without limitations.

Q: How quickly will I receive my download?
A: Instantly — a download link appears on screen and is also sent to your email immediately after purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Cavern (1964)
• Captain Blood (1935)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934)
• Titanic (1953)
• Romeo and Juliet (1936)