Figure 1.--Here Anthony in "Anthonyb Adverse" doiscovers girls. He is a foundling being raised in a convent. Anthony as a boy was played by Billy Mauch.

"Anthony Adverse" was a huge production spanning continents. It was an emensely costly production based on Hervey Allen interminable, but best-selling novel. (It was one of the longest novels ever to become a film.) The plot pursues the saga of Anthony Adverse accros the globe. Anthony was the illegitimate heir to the fortune of his cruel stepfather--Don Luis. It is of interest becaise it was one of the most expensive costume drama made up to that rime. In the early part of the movie has Anthony as a boy (Billy Mauch) is turned over to the church. He is raised in a convent where he wears only a cassock, rather a contarst to the elaborate period costumes used throughout the film. I would guess he was about 12 years old. He has a few brief scenes at the beginning of a rather dreadful movie. When he gets older he is taken from the convent to be apprenticed. Some of the village boys set upon him and tear off his cassock and he runs into his new home without any clothes on. Allen throws everying thing but the kitchen sink (perhaps thankfully because it was not yet invented) in his film. Even Napoleon is involved. The original book was so long that it became hard to follow. The basic problem of the film was to condense it, but still have a coherent story. It was not only a popular film, but wom some awards, inmcluding some Oscars. The competent cinematography and wonderful score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold have prevented the film from being totally forgotten.

Filmology

"Anthony Adverse" was a huge production spannuing continents. It was an emensely costly production based on Hervey Allen interminable, but best-selling novel. ("Anthony Adverse" was one of the longest novels ever to become a film--$2 million dollars which at the time was an incredible sim.) It was not only a popular film, but wom some awards, inmcluding some Oscars. The competent cinematography and wonderful score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold have prevented the film from being totally forgotten. It does not have the impact of a big budget folm to modern viewers because it was shot in black-and-white.

Plot

The plot pursues the saga of Anthony Adverse accros the globe. Anthony was the illegitimate heir to the fortune of his cruel stepfather--the Spanish nobleman Don Luis. (Anthony was the son of Don Luis' wife Maria and her lover who he kills in a duel.) It is of interest because it was one of the most expensive costume drama made up to that time. Maria dies in child birth and Don Luis turns Anthony as a boy (Billy Mauch) is turned over to the church and kindly Father Xavier. When Anthony gets older he is taken from the convent to be apprenticed, in a Dickens like turn of events, Anthony's master his his grand father--Maria's father. Some of the village boys set upon him and tear off his cassock and he runs into his new home without any clothes on. Unlike many film appratices, he finds a kindly master. When Adverse comes of age, he inherits the prosperous business run by his kindly foster father. After his heart is broken he decides to abandon it for an pointless trip around the world, other tha allowing Allen to add a a huge section to his novel and the director some exotic scenes. Anthony sinks to degeneracy in the West Indies. Anthony in Cuba helps the monk Francois stop the whipping of a slave. Allen throws everying thing but the kitchen sink (perhaps thankfully because it was not yet invented) in his film. Even Napoleon is involved, or his mistress Angela who recuses Anthony. The original book was so long that it became hard to follow. The basic problem of the film was to condense it, but still have a coherent story. Anthony unlike the book survives and takes his son to America for a new life. An ending which American audiences apprecaited. Anthony sails with his son and tells him that the Adverse name was given its mind by Father Xavier, its soul by Francois, and its heart by Angela.

Figure 2.--This costume was made for Scotty Beckett who played Anthony's son in the Warner Brothers 1936 costume drama "Anthony Adverse", but is was apparently not used in that film. The notation SHORT 63, denotes useage there. It may have been used in "Royal Rodeo" or an unknown short. We would be interested if any one knows where it may have been used.

Cast

The stars were Frederic March and Olivia de Havilland. Billy Mauch as Anthony is raised in a convent where he wears only a cassock, rather a contrast to the elaborate period costumes used throughout the film. I would guess he was about 12 years old. The Mauch twins had a brief, but notable film career. Billy got the credit, but with their films, you are not entirely sure which of the twins is on screen. Billy had only a few brief scenes at the beginning of a rather dreadful movie. Anthony's son is played by Scotty Beckett.

Costuming

The most sumptous aspects of "Anthony Adverse" was the costumes. Some of the costumes were actual master pieces. The film offers wonderful decpictions of late 18th and eraly 19th century clothing. Billy Mauch plays his part as the young , however, in a plain monk's cassock. Scotty Beckett as Anthony's son hasmore elaborate costumes. It is not real apparant to modern audiences because the film was shot in black and ehite.

Created: October 17, 2002
Last updated: 1:47 AM 11/21/2007