The Way Ahead (1944) [War] [Drama]



“The Way Ahead” is a British Second World War drama released in 1944. It stars David Niven and Stanley Holloway and follows a group of civilians who are conscripted into the British Army to fight in North Africa. In the U.S., an edited version was released as “The Immortal Battalion”. The film was written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov and directed by Carol Reed. The three had originally produced the 1943 training film “The New Lot”, which was produced for the Army Kinematograph Service. “The Way Ahead” was an expanded remake of their earlier film, this time intended for a commercial audience. The two films featured some of the same actors, including John Laurie, Raymond Huntley and Peter Ustinov.

In the days after the Dunkirk evacuation in Second World War, Lieutenant Jim Perry (David Niven), a veteran of the British Expeditionary Force, is posted to the Duke of Glendon’s Light Infantry to train replacements to fill its depleted ranks. A patient, mild-mannered officer, he does his strenuous best to turn the bunch of grumbling ex-civilians into soldiers, earning himself their intense dislike. Eventually however, the men come to respect their officer.

After their training is completed, their battalion is shipped out to North Africa to face Rommel’s Afrika Korps. However, their ship is torpedoed en route, and they miss the fighting. They are assigned to guard a small town. Perry appropriates a cafe as his headquarters, much to the disgust of the pacifist owner, Rispoli (Peter Ustinov). When the Germans attack, Perry and his men fiercely defend their positions, aided by Rispoli. The last scene shows them advancing in a counter-attack. Instead of the film ending with the words “The End”, it concludes with the more uplifting “The Beginning”, an attempt to galvanize support for the final push in the war effort. The final scene of the advancing soldiers was also copied for the closing credits of the long-running sitcom Dad’s Army; John Laurie appeared in both and his performance in the sitcom credits mirrors this film.

Directed by Carol Reed, produced by John Sutro and Norman Walker, written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov, starring David Niven, Stanley Holloway and William Hartnell.

Source: “The Way Ahead” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 21 June 2012. Web. 3 August 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_Ahead.

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Q Planes (1939) [Comedy] [Thriller]



“Q Planes” (1939) released in the United States by Columbia Pictures as “Clouds Over Europe”, is a British spy film directed by Tim Whelan and Arthur B. Woods, starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson. The film was produced by Irving Asher with Alexander Korda as executive producer. The name “Q Planes” may have been derived from the British “Q-ships” that were used as spy and armed merchant vessels in the First World War. The film was helmed by American director Tim Whelan (Sidewalks of London (1938) and later, in 1940, co-director of The Thief of Bagdad) who was then in Britain working for Korda at Denham Studios.

“Q Planes” (or in its American guise, “Clouds Over Europe”) mixes the genres of spy thriller and comedy romance, and was intended to be a star vehicle for Olivier, but Richardson dominates much of the screen with a sardonic take on a spy, either working for Scotland Yard or British Military Intelligence. Released just months before the United Kingdom declared war on Germany in 1939, the film is a precursor to the “strongly nationalistic, anti-German films that would reach their zenith in Britain during the war years”.

Advanced British aircraft prototypes carrying experimental and highly secret equipment being developed under government contract, are regularly vanishing with their crews on their test flights. No one can deduce the problem, not even spymaster Major Hammond (Ralph Richardson) or his sister Kay (Valerie Hobson), a newspaper reporter who is working undercover in the works canteen used by the crews at the Barrett & Ward Aircraft Company.

At first, Major Hammond is seen as an outsider at the aircraft factory, even by Mr. Barrett, the owner (George Merritt), but he soon finds a friend in a star pilot, Tony McVane (Laurence Olivier) who helps him try to unravel the case. Hammond becomes convinced that the company secretary at the factory, Jenkins (George Curzon) is a foreign agent and “mole”, but Jenkins is killed by unseen gunmen before he can give up the names of his contacts.

The mystery remains unsolved when McVane returns to the aircraft factory, determined to make the next test flight. His aircraft, like the others, is brought down by a powerful ray beamed from the S.S. Viking, a mysterious salvage ship manned by a foreign crew. Along with his aircraft, McVane and his flight crew are taken hostage on the ship, where he discovers many other missing airmen have suffered the same fate. Gathering up weapons, McVane leads the British survivors in an attempt to take control of the ship. Major Hammond learns the truth and directs a Royal Navy ship (HMS Echo) to come to their rescue. In a short coda, Kay and McVane get together and Hammond learns, to his chagrin, that his longtime lady friend has married.

Directed by Tim Whelan and Arthur B. Woods, produced by Irving Asher (producer) and Alexander Korda (executive producer), written by Brock Williams, Jack Whittingham and Ian Dalrymple, starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson.

Source: “Q Planes” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 7 May 2012. Web. 3 August 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_Planes.

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Tangled Destinies (1932) [Adventure] [Comedy]



“Tangled Destinies” is a 1932 American film directed by Frank R. Strayer. The film is also known as “Who Killed Harvey Forbes?” in the United Kingdom.

Directed by Frank R. Strayer, produced by Ralph M. Like, written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. (story and adaptaion), starring Gene Morgan as Capt. Randall “Randy” Gordon, Doris Hill as Doris, Glenn Tryon as Tommy Preston, the Co-pilot, Vera Reynolds as Ruth (the Airline Stewardess), Ethel Wales as Prudence Daggott, Monaei Lindley as Monica van Buren, Syd Saylor as Buchanan (the Prizefighter), Sidney Bracey as McGinnis (posing as Professor Marmont), Lloyd Whitlock as Floyd Martin, James B. Leong as Ling, William P. Burt as Harvey Forbes, Henry Hall as Dr. Wingate (the Parson) and William Humphrey as Professor Hartley.

Source: “Tangled Destinies” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 13 January 2012. Web. 3 August 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangled_Destinies.

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Oliver Twist (1933) [Drama]



“Oliver Twist” is a 1933 American film directed by William J. Cowen. It is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s popular novel with the same name and was the first sound version of the classic. It stars Irving Pichel as Fagin, Dickie Moore as Oliver, Doris Lloyd as Nancy, and William “Stage” Boyd as Bill Sikes. Pichel played Fagin without resorting to any mannerisms which could be construed as offensive.

An orphan boy in 1830’s London is abused in a workhouse, then falls into the clutches of a gang of thieves.

Despite the fact that the Sowerberrys and Noah Claypole appear in the cast list, the entire Sowerberry sequence is omitted from this film, as is Monks, Oliver’s half-brother. Rose Maylie becomes Brownlow’s daughter in this version, and it is Brownlow’s house that Skes attempts to rob. It is possible that early releases of this film did include Noah Claypole and the Sowerberrys.

Directed by William J. Cowen, produced by I.E. Chadwick, written by Charles Dickens (novel Oliver Twist) and Elizabeth Meehan (writer), starring Irving Pichel, Dickie Moore, Doris Lloyd and William “Stage” Boyd.

Source: “Oliver Twist (1933 film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 16 March 2012. Web. 2 August 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist_(1933_film).

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Scrooge (1935) [Drama] [Fantasy] [Christmas]



“Scrooge” is a 1935 British film directed by Henry Edwards featuring Seymour Hicks as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser who hates Christmas. It was the first sound version of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, not counting a 1928 short subject that now appears to be lost.

Hicks had played the role of Scrooge on the stage many times beginning in 1901, and again in a 1913 British silent film version. The 1935 film differs from all other versions of the story in one significant way – most of the ghosts, including that of Jacob Marley, are not actually shown onscreen, although their voices are heard. Only the Ghost of Christmas Present (Oscar Asche) is actually seen in full figure – the Ghost of Christmas Past is a mere shape with no discernible facial features, Marley’s Ghost is seen only briefly as a face on the door knocker, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is just an outstretched pointing finger.

Why the film was made this way remains unclear; it is obviously not because British filmmakers could not achieve special effects, since we do see Marley’s face superimposed on Scrooge’s door knocker. Another aspect making this film different from other versions of the story is that Seymour Hicks plays both the old and young Scrooge, rather straining the credulity of the audience, since by this time, the sixty-four year old actor was visibly too aged to convincingly play a young man.

Maurice Evans appears briefly as a man harassed by Scrooge to pay his debts. Donald Calthrop portrays a Bob Cratchit who bears an uncanny physical resemblance to John Leech’s illustrations of the character in the original 1843 edition of the novel.

Directed by Henry Edwards, produced by Julius Hagen, written by H. Fowler Mear
Charles Dickens (novel), starring Sir Seymour Hicks, Donald Calthrop, Robert Cochran, Mary Glynne, Garry Marsh, Oscar Asche, Marie Ney and C.V. France.

Source: “Scrooge (1935 film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 26 June 2012. Web. 30 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooge_(1935_film).

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The Animal Kingdom (1932) [Drama] [Comedy]



“The Animal Kingdom” (also known as The Woman in His House in the UK) is a 1932 American comedy-drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith based upon a comedy of manners of the same name by Philip Barry. The film starred Leslie Howard, Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, William Gargan, Ilka Chase, and Neil Hamilton. Howard, Gargan, and Chase also starred in the play when it opened on Broadway on 12 January 1932.

The film is based on a play, of the same name, set in 1930’s New York and Connecticut. Tom Collier, Leslie Howard, is a book publisher, who has been living in the city with his best friend, Daisy Sage, Ann Harding, without being married. His wealthy Father, Rufus Collier, Henry Stephenson, wants him to live a respectable life. While Daisy is away, with her work, Cecilia, Myrna Loy, convinces Tom to marry her. Although, their lawyer and friend, Owen, Neil Hamilton, is in love with her; he doesn’t have enough financial resources to maintain her interest. Cecilia tries to get Tom to “sell out”, without his realizing it. She talks him into publishing books that will make money, get rid of his old friends, including “Red”, his prize-fighter friend and butler. She wants Tom to sell his publishing company, live in the city, with his Father, as a “proper gentleman”, and take their place in society, which Tom has been fighting all his life; but, is all “Cee” cares about.

Daisy tries to stay away; but, she and Tom’s Bohemian friends can’t believe he’s happy. She loves him deeply, and wants to have children with him; but, cares most about his well-being. Tom complains that he’s losing his soul and integrity. Finally, when Cee offers Tom champagne, to toast selling his publishing company and moving in with his Father, Tom realizes that Cee’s bedroom suite reminds him of a brothel he used to go, as he says, “in vino veritas”. When Red tells Tom he is going back to the city, that he can’t stomach anymore, Tom agrees, saying, he’s “going back to his wife,” Daisy.
As he leaves, he put a little something on the mantle for Cee, just as he used to, with the girls, in the bordello.

Directed by Edward H. Griffith and George Cukor, produced by David O. Selznick, written by Philip Barry (play), Horace Jackson (screenplay), Edward H. Griffith, Adela Rogers St. Johns, starring Leslie Howard, Ann Harding and Myrna Loy.

Source: “The Animal Kingdom” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 26 July 2012. Web. 30 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Animal_Kingdom.

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As You Like It (1936) [Drama] [Comedy]



“As You Like It” is a 1936 film, directed by Paul Czinner and starring Laurence Olivier as Orlando and Elisabeth Bergner as Rosalind. It is based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. It was Laurence Olivier’s first performance of Shakespeare on screen.

It was the final film of stage actors Leon Quartermaine and Henry Ainley, and featured an early screen role for Ainley’s son Richard as Sylvius, as well as for John Laurie, who played Orlando’s brother Oliver. (Laurie would go on to co-star with Olivier in the three Shakespeare films that Olivier directed.) Bergner had previously played the role of Rosalind in her native Germany and her German accent is apparent in most of her scenes.

Duke Frederick (Felix Aylmer) has usurped and deposed his older brother, Duke Senior (Henry Ainley). Frederick allows the exiled Duke’s daughter, Rosalind (Elisabeth Bergner), however, to stay, as she is the closest friend of his daughter, Celia (Sophie Stewart). Orlando (Laurence Olivier), who has been forced to flee his home due to the oppression from his brother, Oliver (John Laurie), comes to the Frederick’s Duchy, and enters a wrestling tournament. On leaving the Duchy, Orlando encounters Rosalind, and it is love at first sight. Frederick then becomes angry, and banishes Rosalind. Celia decides to accompany her, along with a jester, Touchstone (Mackenzie Ward).

Rosalind and Celia disguise themselves as “Ganymede”, a boy, and “Aliena”, respectively, and venture into the Forest of Arden, where they eventually encounter the exiled Duke. Orlando, who discovers that Rosalind is now living with the Duke, posts love poems on the trees for her. Orlando manages to come across Ganymede, who proceeds to teach Orlando how to cure love. At the same time, Phoebe (Joan White), a shepherdess, falls in love with Ganymede, though he (she) continually rejects her. Sylvius (Richard Ainley), a shepherd, is in love with Phoebe, which complicates the matter. Meanwhile, Touchstone attempts to marry the simple farmgirl, Audrey (Dorice Fordred), before he can be stopped by Jaques (Leon Quartermaine), a Lord who lives with the exiled Duke.

Eventually, Ganymede, Orlando, Phoebe, and Silvius are brought together to sort out who marries whom. Ganymede proposes that Orlando promise to marry Rosalind, and Phoebe promise to marry Silvius if she cannot marry Ganymede. The next day, Rosalind reveals herself, and Phoebe is married to Silvius. Orlando then rescues Oliver from a lioness in the forest, causing Oliver to repent and re-embrace his brother. Orlando and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia, Silvius and Phoebe, and Touchstone and Audrey are all then married, and they learn that Frederick has also repented and decided to reinstate his brother as the Duke.

Directed and produced by Paul Czinner, written by William Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie (treatment) and R. J. Cullen (scenario), starring Laurence Olivier, Elisabeth Bergner, Felix Aylmer, Henry Ainley and Sophie Stewart.

Source: “As You Like It (1936 film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 24 July 2012. Web. 30 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_You_Like_It_(1936_film).

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Indiscreet (1931) [Comedy]



“Indiscreet” is an American comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Gloria Swanson and Ben Lyon. The screenplay by Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson, based on their story Obey That Impulse, originally was written as a full-fledged musical, but only two songs – “If You Haven’t Got Love” and “Come to Me” – remained when the film was released.

The plot of the United Artists release centers on fashion designer Geraldine Trent (Swanson), who takes up with novelist Tony Blake (Lyon) after leaving her former beau Jim Woodward because of his many indiscretions with other women. Tony has indicated he has no interest in dating a woman with a past, so Geraldine remains mum about her affair with Jim, until her younger sister Joan arrives and announces she’s engaged—to Jim. Madcap complications ensue as Geraldine tries to keep her secret from Tony while convincing her sister to rid herself of her womanizing fiancĂ© in favor of simple country boy Buster Collins.

Directed by Leo McCarey, produced by Lew Brown, Buddy G. DeSylva and Ray Henderson, written by Buddy G. DeSylva (story & scenario), Lew Brown (story & scenario), Ray Henderson (story & scenario) and Leo McCarey, starring Gloria Swanson
and Ben Lyon.

Source: “Indiscreet (1931 film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 21 June 2012. Web. 29 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiscreet_(1931_film).

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The Red House (1947) [Thriller]

“The Red House” is a 1947 psychological thriller starring Edward G. Robinson. It is adapted from the novel “The Red House” by George Agnew Chamberlain, published in 1943 by Popular Library. The novel was serialized in five consecutive issues of Saturday Evening Post, 10 March 1945 through 7 April 1945.

Handicapped farmer Pete (Robinson) and sister Ellen (Anderson) have raised ward Meg as their own on a reclusive farm. Now a teen, Meg (Roberts) convinces her friend Nath to come help with chores on the farm. When Nath insists on using a shortcut home through the woods, Pete warns the young man of screams in the night and the terrors associated with the abandoned red house. Curious, Meg and Nath ignore his warnings and begin exploring and troubling secrets are revealed.

Directed by Delmer Daves, produced by Sol Lesser, written by George Agnew, Chamberlain (novel) and Delmer Daves, starring Edward G. Robinson, Lon McCallister, Judith Anderson and Rory Calhoun.

Source: “The Red House (film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 6 July 2012. Web. 29 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_House_(film).

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