Major Barbara (1941)

A wealthy heiress (Wendy Hiller) devotes herself to a career in the Salvation Army saving souls for God but when her cynical father (Robert Morley) comes back into her life, her idealism is challenged. It’s intelligent and witty as written by George Bernard Shaw (based on his play) and superbly acted but it’s still a stodgy, talky piece with little in the way of genuine characterizations. Rather it’s talking heads espousing the author’s philosophy. It’s like Ayn Rand with jokes. Gabriel Pascal is more a traffic cop than director but the rest of the behind the camera credentials are impressive. Assistant director is David Lean, the cinematographer is Ronald Neame (PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE), Cecil Beaton (MY FAIR LADY) did the costumes and William Walton (Olivier’s HAMLET) did the score. Morley tosses off Shaw’s witticisms with expert timing and Hiller glows in the title role. With Rex Harrison, Deborah Kerr, Robert Newton, Sybil Thorndike, Emlyn Williams, Torin Thatcher, Marie Lohr and Felix Aylmer.