Lloyds Of London - 1936

Lloyds of London concerns two boyhood chums, Jonathan Blake and Horatio Nelson who come upon a plot to scuttle a ship, steal a cargo, and collect the insurance. Jonathan goes off to London to Lloyd's coffee house where the insurance underwriters gather to warn them of the scheme. But Horatio can't make it. His uncle on his mother's side is going to take him on as a midshipman in the Navy. Well we all know what happened to him.As for the fictional Jonathan Blake, he goes to work for Lloyd's of London and grows with the company. He also falls in love with a married woman, but she's married to a Regency cad.And when the Napoleonic wars resume, British shipping is in peril of the French Fleet. It's a crisis that Lloyd's of London and particularly Jonathan Blake have a hand in seeing the nation through. For how that's done, you have to watch this very enjoyable period piece.

This also marked the debut of the combination of Director Henry King and player Tyrone Power in the first of nine films they collaborated on. Some of the best work done by both men.In one of his last films Sir Guy Standing is the wise and honest Mr. Angerstein who serves as Power's mentor/father figure. It is probably the best thing he ever did on screen.

Tyrone Power was only 21 (assuming this film was made in 1935 and released in 1936) with a few films and Broadway credits when he was given his first major role in "Lloyds of London." This film was originally assigned to Don Ameche, but Henry King insisted on testing Power and, on viewing the test, told Zanuck he wanted the young man for the role. "In two years," King told Zanuck, "he will be one of the biggest stars ever."

Cast of Lloyds Of London

Freddie Bartholomew - Young Jonathan Blake
Madeleine Carroll - Lady Elizabeth Stacy
Guy Standing - John Julius Angerstein (as Sir Guy Standing)
Tyrone Power - Jonathan Blake
C. Aubrey Smith - Old 'Q'
Virginia Field - Polly
Douglas Scott - Young Horatio Nelson
George Sanders - Lord Everett Stacy
J. M. Kerrigan - Brook Watson
Una O'Connor - Widow Blake
Forrester Harvey - Percival Potts
Gavin Muir - Sir Gavin Gore
E. E. Clive - Magistrate
Miles Mander - Jukes
Montagu Love - Hawkins