Peg of Old Drury Reviews

The relationship between Peg Woffington and David Garrick, legendary stage performers in 18th-century England, is the subject of this well-made period piece. Neagle has the title role and the film opens with her leaving her hometown, Dublin, to follow her love, Hawkins, to England, where he is trying to become an actor. Hawkins has found a new lady, however, so Neagle tries to make it in the theater herself, eventually gaining the attention of Hardwicke, portraying the popular actor Garrick. Under his guidance, Neagle becomes a highly regarded actress at the Drury Lane Theatre, and the two fall in love. Neagle has a weak heart, however, and in the finale she collapses during a performance of Shakespeare's "As You Like It," dying shortly afterwards. The film deviates somewhat from fact (Woffington actually lived for three years after her on-stage collapse), but the movie is still a very satisfying effort. Neagle and Hardwicke give impressive performances, and the excerpts from Shakespeare and Jonson are flawlessly mounted. Much of the film's power derives from the screenplay by actor Malleson in his first screenwriting assignment.