Major Barbara (1941)

One of the giants of the British theater, George Bernard Shaw was also fairly active in films, writing the screen adaptations for four of his best known plays himself. Major Barbara reunited Shaw with Wendy Hiller, star of the earlier Pygmalion, to marvelous effect. Rarely has the legendary Shavian wit been in finer form; the screenplay is filled with epigrams, clever turns of phrases and a healthy sense of the ridiculous, which helps to disguise the seriousness of the film's core issue (e.g., the role of wealth and spirituality in man's life). Although it takes a few minutes for the film to get started and the pacing lags slightly in spots, overall this is a sprightly and engaging film that amply rewards viewers that meet its challenges. Gabriel Pascal (with assistance) has directed unobtrusively, giving his expert cast plenty of room to work out their characters. Wendy Hiller is a luminous Barbara, infectiously high-spirited, sincerely concerned, forward-thinking, and occasionally a tad self-righteous. She makes it clear that this Barbara's commitment is much more than skin deep. Robert Morley is a delight as her father, navigating some of the trickier patches of the writing with skill, and Rex Harrison is nearly flawless, exuding a charm that keeps the viewer guessing as to his true intentions. Harrison would later achieve his greatest acclaim with another Shaw-related venture, a musical version of Pygmalion called My Fair Lady. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide