This chapter concludes the biography of Adrian Brunel begun in Chapter 2, from his last two films for Gainsborough through to the end of his life. As sound replaced silent films, Brunel's career became even less secure and, while the problems besetting the industry changed over the following decades, the issues facing him were depressingly similar.

A Light Woman

On 26 January 1928, The Bioscope announced that Brunel was to direct A Light Woman, based on a story written by his mother, under her pen name Dale Laurence. Brunel, no doubt sensitive to accusations of nepotism, was eager to point out that the subject had been chosen from several properties by an independent selection committee at the studio. But if he was pleased at last to bring to the screen a story he had a feel for, his sense of control was not to last long. According to Brunel, the story was set in England and on the Riviera and told of a wayward daughter and the aristocratic widowed father who struggles to control her. But C. M. Woolf apparently insisted on the setting being moved to Spain and, once again, Brunel was incensed to find his work interfered with. Brunel was to be under intense scrutiny: Balcon sent his brother Chandos to Spain to scout for locations and keep an eye on the production as assistant director. He also issued the following memorandum to Harold Boxall:

The letter goes on to state that the studio has estimated the cost of the script as written as being between £20,000 and £25,000 and Balcon demanded to see it himself, presumably insisting on rewrites to bring costs down. A week earlier, he had written directly to Brunel, reminding him of the importance of the Continental market and requesting a European star in one of the film's main roles.