Nell Gwyn (1926 film)

Cast

Production

Wilcox said he got the idea to make the film after making The Only Way. He saw a theatre bill headlined by "Dolly Elswrothy" and remembered a sketch he saw where Elsworthy played Nell Gwyn. He cabled to see if Dorothy Gish was available and she accepted.

Dorothy Gish was paid £7,000 (₤1,000 a week plus expenses). Wilcox arranged to finance the film with an accountant, everyone contributing half. Wilcox says the accountant reneged and he had to finance the film entirely himself. To save money he edited the fim himself

One report says the film was made for £20,000 and Wilcox sold it outright for £35,000. Wilcox says it was made for £14,000 and he sold it for £20,000. The company that bought it was British National Pictures.

Critical

The New York Times wrote, "Whatever may be the shortcomings of English motion picture producers. If they can put together other pictures as simply and with as much dramatic effect as this story of Nell Gwyn they should have no difficulty obtaining a showing for them anywhere. The story moves quickly and surely, with nothing to strain one's credulity, and the acting of Miss Gish and Randie Ayrton, who takes the part of Charles, is excellent. So is that of Juliette Compton as Lady Castlemaine. The immorality of the period is suggested without being offensive, and for the second time this Summer a good picture has not been spoiled by prudery. The titles are unusually good and frequently amusing, that dear old gossip Pepys being resorted to for purposes of verisimilitude."

Box office

Wilcox says the film "was a riotous success throughout the world." It was sold to the USA for £28,000.

It did so well that British National Films signed Wilcox and Gish to make three more films together, which would be financed by Paramount.