Big Fella
Synopsis
Singing Marseilles docker Joe is hired by wealthy English couple, the Oliphants, to find their missing son Gerald. When Joe finds him, he learns Gerald escaped of his own will and takes him to stay with a local singer, who offers a refuge from his repressed white parents.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Preview Clip: Big Fella (1937, Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch, Roy Emerton, Eldon Gorst)
Type: Clip • Published 2022-09-04
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
London
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- J. Elder Wills
- Screenplay & Story
- Fenn Sherie, Ingram D'Abbes, Claude McKay
- Original Score
- Eric Ansell
- Original Title
- Big Fella
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 14m
- Production Studios
- Beaconsfield Productions, British Lion Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
J. Elder Wills
Fenn Sherie, Ingram D'Abbes, Claude McKay
Eric Ansell
Douglas Robertson, Brereton Porter
J. Elder Wills, Henry Passmore
Department Leadership Roster
J. Elder Wills
Director
Fenn Sherie
Writer
J. Elder Wills
Producer
Eric Ansell
Original Music Composer
Douglas Robertson
Editor
Ingram D'Abbes
Writer
Brereton Porter
Editor
Henry Passmore
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Big Fella.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Musicals
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Black and White Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Fella
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Big Fella about?
Singing Marseilles docker Joe is hired by wealthy English couple, the Oliphants, to find their missing son Gerald. When Joe finds him, he learns Gerald escaped of his own will and takes him to stay with a local singer, who offers a refuge from his repressed white parents.
Who directed Big Fella?
Big Fella was directed by J. Elder Wills.
Who stars in Big Fella?
The principal cast of Big Fella includes Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch, Roy Emerton, James Hayter, Lawrence Brown.
When was Big Fella released and how long is it?
Big Fella was released in 1938 with a total runtime of 1h 14m.
Who composed the musical score for Big Fella?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Big Fella was composed by Eric Ansell.
Is Big Fella based on a book or true story?
Big Fella is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Claude McKay".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Big Fella?
Big Fella holds official age classifications: GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.).