Fanny by Gaslight( 1944)

TV-MADramaRomance

57%

User
Score

Overview

Returning to 1870s London after finishing at boarding school, Fanny winesses the death of her father in a fight with Lord Manderstoke. She then finds that her family has for many years been running a bordello next door to their home. When her mother dies shortly after, she next discovers that her real father is in fact a well-respected politician. Meeting him and then falling in love with his young advisor Harry Somerford leads to a life of ups and downs and conflict between the classes. Periodically the scoundrel of a Lord crosses her path, always to tragic effect.

Top Billed Cast

James Mason
Lord Manderstoke
Phyllis Calvert
Fanny
Stewart Granger
Harry Somerford
Jean Kent
Lucy Beckett
Wilfrid Lawson
Chunks
Margaretta Scott
Alicia
John Laurie
William Hopwood
Cathleen Nesbitt
Kate Somerford
Helen Haye
Mrs. Somerford
Nora Swinburne
Mary Hopwood
Stuart Lindsell
Clive Seymore
Amy Veness
Mrs. Heaviside
Ann Wilton
Carver
Guy Le Feuvre
Doctor Lowenthal
Ann Stephens
Fanny as Child
Esma Cannon
Maid (uncredited)
Beresford Egan
(uncredited)
Helen Goss
Polly (uncredited)
Peter Jones
Young Client at 'The Shades' (uncredited)
Vi Kaley
Mrs. Joe (uncredited)
Virginia Keiley
(uncredited)
Beryl Laverick
(uncredited)
Joan Rees
(uncredited)
Johnnie Schofield
Joe (uncredited)
Jack Sharp
Carriage Driver (uncredited)
Cyril Smith
Publican (uncredited)
John Turnbull
Magistrate (uncredited)
Gloria Sydney
Lucy as Child

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Thu Jun 30 2022

An entertaining look at Victorian morals and double-standards as told through the eyes of "Fanny" (Phyllis Calvert) who is the daughter of a seemingly well-to-do family. When her father dies, she discovers that he secretly ran an house of ill repute from the basement and her sheltered, ordered, life is turned upside down. She goes to live in the home of successful politician Stuart Lindsell ("Seymore") who confides news that offers her new hope before, again, disaster strikes and she must again fend for herself - though this time with some assistance from his former secretary Stewart Granger ("...