The Winslow Boy (1948 film)

The Winslow Boy is a 1948 film adaptation of Terence Rattigans play The Winslow Boy. It was made by De Grunwald Productions and distributed by the British Lion Film Corporation. It was directed by Anthony Asquith and produced by Anatole de Grunwald with Teddy Baird as associate producer. The screenplay was written by de Grunwald and Rattigan based on Rattigans play. The music score was by William Alwyn and the cinematography by Freddie Young.

Set against the strict codes of conduct and manners of the age, The Winslow Boy is based on a fathers fight to clear his sons name. The boy Ronnie is expelled from Osborne Naval College for supposedly stealing a five shilling postal order, without receiving a fair trial. His father Arthur and sister Catherine lead a long running legal battle, that takes them as far as the House of Commons. The play focuses on a refusal to back down in the face of injustice the entire Winslow family, and the barrister who represents them Sir Robert Morton, make great sacrifices in order that right be done.The play was inspired by an actual event, which set a legal precedent the case of George ArcherShee, a cadet at Osborne in 1908, who was accused of stealing a postal order from a fellow cadet. His elder brother, Major Martin ArcherShee, 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 ArcherShee was innocent, and ultimately the family was paid compensation. George ArcherShee died in the First World War and his name is inscribed on the war memorial in the village of Woodchester in Gloucestershire where his parents lived. There is no real world counterpart to the character of Catherine, although she is central to the plot of the play and films. ........

Source: Wikipedia