A brash young American aristocrat attending Oxford University gets a chance to prove himself and win the heart of his antagonist's sister.A brash young American aristocrat attending Oxford University gets a chance to prove himself and win the heart of his antagonist's sister.A brash young American aristocrat attending Oxford University gets a chance to prove himself and win the heart of his antagonist's sister.
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
- Racetrack Timekeeper
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe OUAC on the shirts of the track team stands for Oxford University Athletic Club.
- Quotes
Elsa Craddock: [In the Dean's office, confessing] Oh Marmaduke, how can you? We were foolish, but it was only a flirtation.
Wavertree: [confused] I'm awfully sorry sir, but I'm afraid this is all rather beyond me...
Dean of Cardinal: [impatiently] Now don't lie to me sir, Mrs. Craddock has freely confessed everything!
Wavertree: Everything?
Dean of Cardinal: Everything!
Elsa Craddock: Everything!
Wavertree: [catching on] Oh... oh, she has! Oh... heh heh... oh, whoo! What a relief, sir! Now I need lie no more!
Dean of Cardinal: Ah, then you admit it!
Wavertree: Yes, rah-ther sir! Every time! I'd have told you in the first place sir, but we Wavertrees always protect the lady in the case!
Elsa Craddock: [somewhat sarcastic] He has a natural power over women. Try to use it for good, Marmaduke.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond (1990)
- SoundtracksAcademic Festival Overture Op. 80
(1880) (uncredited)
Written by Johannes Brahms
Played as background for the first scene showing the college sign
This film surely had the women drooling in 1938 as Taylor uses his muscular arms to row, his strong legs to run, and his beautiful smile to charm. He glistens with youth and vitality, and there are plenty of shots of "the world's most perfect profile" to please his fans. Normally Taylor exhibits a very likable personality in films, but in this one, he comes off as too aggressive, finally becoming aggravating to this viewer. He was probably directed that way so that he would appear as a bull in a china shop among all the Oxford gents.
Taylor has fallen into disregard since declaring himself a good American and ratting out Howard da Silva and others during the '50s Communist witch hunts. No one came out a winner who was involved, not the victims nor the blabbermouths. The sad thing about Taylor is, he truly believed every word he said. If you can separate his politics from his career, he was a very good actor, a gorgeous man, and a very big star back in the day.
Maureen O'Sullivan is perky and pretty as Taylor's love interest - that same year, she and Taylor worked together in "The Crowd Roars." British actor Griffith Jones plays her brother and is not only excellent but very handsome. According to IMDb, he worked into the 1980s and is apparently still alive at 95.
The supporting cast is marvelous, including Edmund Gwenn as a professor and Lionel Barrymore as Lee's proud father. Vivien Leigh plays a flaky, flirty bookshop owner married to a much older man and not adverse to a little hanky-panky on the side. It's not much of a role, and though she was a natural beauty, no one would have considered her for Scarlett just watching this film. Her last line, however, given the character she portrays, is hilarious. She and Taylor would meet again for the classic "Waterloo Bridge."
"A Yank at Oxford" shows an England untouched by war and young men who worked at being superior athletes and gentlemen as they roamed the hallowed halls of Oxford. That would all end soon. It was a nice fairytale while it lasted.
- How long is A Yank at Oxford?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1