Joe Fraguela

Last night I watched the following double bill, first was The Winslow Boy from 1948 starring Robert Donat, Margaret Leighton, Cedric Hardwicke, Kathleen Harrison, Marie Lohr, Basil Radford, Francis L Sullivan, Neil North, Jack Watling, Frank Lawton and Walter Fitzgerald. Set against the strict codes of conduct and manners of the age, The Winslow Boy is based on a father's fight to clear his son's name. The boy Ronnie, a cadet, played by Neil North is expelled from The Osborne Naval College for supposedly stealing a five shilling postal order, without receiving a fair trial. His father Arthur played by Cedric Hardwicke and sister Catherine played by Margaret Leighton lead a long running legal battle, that takes them as far as the House of Commons.

The case is taken up by the barrister Sir Robert Morton played superbly by Robert Donat who makes great sacrifices in order that right be done. The government is unwilling to allow the case to proceed, but after heated debates in the House of Commons the government yields, and the case does come to court. Sir Robert Morton is able to discredit much of the supposed evidence and the government finally withdraws the charges against Ronnie. Although the family win the case, each of them has lost something along the way, Dickie Winslow played by Jack Watling has been forced to leave Oxford due to the lack of money, Catherine loses her marriage settlement and subsequently her fiancé, John Watherstone played by Frank Lawton, and Arthur Winslow loses his health. A highly enjoyable film with superb performances from Robert Donat, Margaret Leighton and Cedric Hardwicke and an amusing performance as always from Kathleen Harrison, who plays Violet, the Winslow’s maid.

The last film was Valley of Eagles from 1951 starring John McCallum, Jack Warner, Nadia Gray, Anthony Dawson, Mary Laura Wood, Christopher Lee, Martin Boddey, Norman Macowan, and Alfred Maurstad. The film starts off in Sweden., Dr Nils Ahlen a successful scientist builds a device that can convert sound waves into electrical energy and quite a few countries are interested in this device, however, the device is stolen by his wife Helga, played by Mary Laura Wood and his assistant Sven played by Anthony Dawson, who are secretly having an affair. Inspector Peterson played by Jack Warner is on the case and along with John McCallum help to recover the device by means of tracking them down. Knowing that the police will be after them, Helga and Sven steal a car and plan their getaway out of the country, they take a ferry and then sabotage the ferry’s equipment so that Nils and the Inspector cannot come after them. When Nils and the Inpsector arrive at the ferry’s crossing they are told by the Ferrymaster played by Norman Macowan, that they cannot cross the waters, since the equipment has been sabotaged and that their only chance is taking the long route across the frozen tundra. They arrange with some laplanders, including Kara played by Nadia Gray, who are herding reindeers to help them cross the tundra.

Drama ensues as bad weather, avalanches and wolves follow them, there are some horrifying scenes, most of the reindeer herd is killed when they escape and topple down the mountain side, as a result of this catastrophe, one of the herdsman, Trerik played by Alfred Maurstad, commits suicide by hanging himself, Kara was aware of his intention but did not stop him, Nils is appalled by this. After shooting some of the wolves, they find that new packs of wolves are following them, they enter what is called the Valley of Eagles, and find that they are surrounded from afar by 2 packs of wolves, suddenly they hear a sound of eagles and they run for cover. It turns out that another group of Laplanders are there and with their eagles they attack the pack of wolves. The group are then lead to the Chief of the Lost Valley, played by Martin Boddey who reveals that Helga and Sven are also here. Nils goes to see Helga and he regains the stolen device. Nils appeals to the inspector that now they have recovered the stolen device, why can’t he let both Helga and Sven free. Helga and Sven decide to escape but they have chosen the dangerous route of escaping, the lost valley is surrounded by a huge mountain with a potential of starting a huge avalanche. Nils and the inspector realise that they have taken this route and go after them, Sven starts firing shots from his rifle and this triggers off the avalanche which is heading towards the lost valley. Sven and Helga perish in the avalanche, however, the miraculous thing is that the avalanche has stopped short of the lost valley.

I found this film quite interesting and enjoyed the performances very much. Mary Laura Wood especially, she reminds me of that excellent powerful actress Sonia Dresdel.

Joe Fraguela

Last night in memory of the lovely Canadian actress Lois Maxwell who passed away at the weekend I watched one of her films, Mantrap, made in 1953 by Hammer Films, under their Exclusive Films name, directed by Terence Fisher and starring Paul Henreid, Lois Maxwell, Hugh Sinclair, Kieron Moore, Kay Kendall, Anthony Forwood, Lloyd Lamble, Liam Gaffney, Mary Laura Wood, John Penrose & Bill Travers. Thelma Tasman played by Lois Maxwell works as a fashion magazine editor she arrives into work where her secretary tells her that she’s taken a call from a man asking for Thelma Speight, Thelma having picked up the newspaper spots the article about Mervyn Speight, played by Kieron Moore, he has escaped from prison where he is serving a sentence for murder.

He had been found guilty of murdering a woman called Joanna Martin at a bombed out building near St Paul’s Cathedral, it turns out that when the police arrived Mervyn was unconscious and suffering from temporary amnesia. It turns out that Thelma was married and still is to Mervyn, although, her surname is Tasman, she changed it to that of her boyfriend’s name Victor Casman played by Bill Travers. Naturally, she is quite alarmed at reading this news. An artist friend of Mervyn’s Henry Douval played by Liam Gaffney visits his friend Hugo Bishop played by Paul Henreid and his fiancée Vera played by Kay Kendall. Hugo is a lawyer and during the war was also in intelligence. Henry asks him to look into the case as he believes that his friend Mervyn is innocent. Hugo agrees and goes round to Thelma’s flat and leaves a note under her door to call him if she ever needs his help. Hugo has a theory that Mervyn will find his way back to the scene of the crime, he’s right Hugo waits for Mervyn to show up at the bombed out building. Hugo tells Mervyn that he wants to help him on behalf of his friend Henry Douval. Mervyn has drawn a sketch of a man’s face, the man who he saw murder Joanna Martin 2 years ago. He doesn’t know his name, but he is certain that he would recognise him. Back at Thelma’s flat she is very nervous and decides to call Hugo, he goes to talk to Thelma and tells her that he has seen and spoken with Mervyn. Thelma thinks Mervyn wants to kill her because he’s found out about Victor. Hugo agrees to spend the night at Thelma’s flat, in the morning he continues his investigations, he visits Joanna Martin’s sister law, Susie Martin played by Mary Laura Wood. Susie tells him that Joanna had many boyfriends, although, one boyfriend in particular, she tells Hugo that she would recognise him if she saw him. Hugo attends a fashion drinks reception where he meets Thelma’s boss Maurice Jerrard played by Hugh Sinclair, a mutual friend called Du Vancet, played by John Penrose. Thelma’s colleague Rex, played by Anthony Forwood, who is a fashion photographer who happened to be the photographer at the scene of the murder crime 2 years before. Police Inspector Freddie Frisnay, played by Lloyd Lamble, is a friend of Hugo and asks the Inspector about the sketches of the murderer, the Inspector is aware of Hugo’s investigation and agrees to go along for a while with his theory. Hugo rings Thelma and they arrange to meet in the park, he asks her to bring a photograph of Victor Casman. Whilst in the park Hugo notices that

Thelma has a gun in a handbag for protection. Hugo still continues with his theory that the real murderer is within Thelma’s circle of friends. Mervyn rings Hugo again and agree to meet up at the bombed out building, Mervyn starts to remember certain things about that night 2 years ago he recalls that the mystery man was chasing Joanna and he says that he would definitely recognise the killer’s face. Hugo offers to hide Mervyn back at his place. Thelma after returning home from a night out with Rex, rings the hotel where Victor is staying only to be told that he has checked out, she starts getting paranoiac and suddenly she hears someone coming up her stairs towards her, she thinks it’s Mervyn she fires a gun and faints. Later she wakes up and finds that it was Rex who was coming up the stairs, she’d left her compact in his car. In the morning all is well as Victor arrives back home. A party has been organised by Du Vancet, and everyone who may be connected with the murder turns up. Hugo has brought Mervyn along to the party so that he could identify the killer, Hugo gets Vera to dance with Mervyn, Thelma & Maurice are also dancing, they spot Mervyn. The music stops and he sees the murderer, its Maurice,

Mervyn goes for him, but the police step in and arrest Mervyn instead. They obviously still haven’t got sufficient proof, then Hugo invites Maurice to have a drink, Hugo has quietly invited Suzy Martin she walks in as Maurice is leaving, she recognises him and tells Hugo that’s the man. The police and Hugo run after Maurice but he has escaped, a car chase ensues, ironically Maurice finds himself back at the bombed out building, he falls and dies. The final scene is where Hugo is talking to the Inspector and says “The murderer returning to the scene of the crime, maybe to kill again or to die”. I enjoyed the film very much, OK it’s nothing special but it’s a good whodunit mystery and it boasts a very good cast.

Rob Compton

Watched "Those People Next Door" (1953) a kind of poor man's Huggett film, filmed at Blakeleys studios in Manchester. Don't know what attracted Jack Warner to do it. The money I suppose, but there can't of been much of that on offer from John E Blakeley. Interesting (well, fairly interesting) that Gladys Henson, so often Jack's screen "wife", played the wife of the family next door.

A very young Anthony Newley played the son, and was completely wasted (not, not drunk, I mean as a actor..)

The film had the distinction of being worth 1 out of 5 in my bible copy of Quinlan's British Sound Films.

Not terribly good.

rgds
Rob

Tonight, it'll be Gert and Daisy's Weekend...much better (and Jack's sisters)

bloodworm

Just watched Ahead of the Class...Brilliant performance from Julie Walters portraying Marie Stubbs the headmistress. Based on a true story of St Georges school in Maida Vale, north west london, where the stabbing of head master Philip Lawrence by pupils took place in 1995....Well recommended,

Followed up the viewing with a visit to the latest inspector report and the school is still doing well given its pupil base.

The one that gets away is always the biggest but not always the best !!

batman

I watched a couple of episodes of Captain David Grief featuring Max as the sea faring hero. Not great art but very enjoyable, especially as it features lots of location filming in Mexico.

Bats.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Joe Fraguela

Following on from last night’s tribute to Lois Maxwell I watched another one of her films, this time the drama film Women of Twilight from 1952, starring Freda Jackson, Rene Ray, Lois Maxwell, Vida Hope, Dora Bryan, Joan Dowling, Dorothy Gordon, Mary Germaine & Laurence Harvey. Helen Alistair, also known as Nellie, played by Freda Jackson owns a boarding house for unmarried mothers, her other line of work is Baby Farming. It starts off with Rene Ray who plays Vivienne who is involved with a night club singer called Jerry Nolan played by Laurence Harvey, the police are after him for murdering a woman. The police finally catch up with him and arrest him. The case is all over the papers, Vivienne’s landlord asks her to move out so she has to find digs, she comes across a room to let advert in a newsagents shop windows. It’s the house which Nellie Alistair owns. It also turns out that Vivienne is expecting a baby too.

Christine, played by Lois Maxwell also arrives at the house with her 6 week old baby boy Christopher, she makes out that she is a married, but later reveals privately to Vivienne who both share the same room that she is also unmarried, although her fiancée works over in the USA and is due to move out to the UK in the not too distant future. Other boarders are Rosie played by Joan Dowling, Jess played by Vida Hope who is hand in glove with Nellie, Olga played by Dora Bryan and Sally played by Dorothy Gordon. It turns out that Nellie doesn’t exactly like doctors and welfare officers visiting her place, her house isn’t always clean. One day Rosie comes home from taking her youngest child to the clinic where she is told her child is suffering from malnutrition and that the marks around his face are caused by bed bugs. Nellie takes most of their money and rations. She threatens to take Nellie to court. Meanwhile Vivienne tells Christine that Jerry is due to be hanged, feeling all faint, she drops her expensive bracelet. Rosie comes into the basement room where Vivienne and Christine share the same room and tells them that she’s taking Nellie to court. Jess walks in and overhears what Rosie has been saying. An argument breaks out amongst Vivienne, Rosie and Jess, Vivienne and Christine leave the room, whilst Rosie and Jess talk, whilst Jess’s back is turned, Rosie spots Vivienne’s bracelet and pockets it. Vivienne comes back into the room as she notices that she can’t find her bracelet. Jess tells Vivienne and Christine that Rosie picked up something and put it in her pocket. Nellie has walked in and seizes her chance to frighten Rosie with calling the police and arresting her, on hearing this Rosie decides not to take Nellie to court and to tell the welfare courts that everything is OK in the house. Nellie has a private word with Vivienne about when she is due to have her baby, she tells Vivienne that she knows of some friends who have a quiet house in the country where Vivienne can stay and have her baby in privacy. Nellie also mentions about childless couples who would be willing to barter for Vivienne’s child, this idea appals Vivienne and she accuses Nellie of baby farming.

As Vivienne is worried that Nellie might evict her she gives Nellie her expensive bracelet, which Nellie views as a down payment. Christine receives a letter from her fiancée Ron to say that he is coming over to the UK, on the day that Christine goes to meet Ron, Vivienne is left looking after baby Christopher, but all is not well Vivienne senses that Baby Christopher is not well and she goes to Nellie about ringing for the Doctor, however, Nellie doesn’t like Doctors in her house so she ignores Vivienne’s plea for calling the doctor. Vivienne asks another boarder played by Mary Germaine to see about getting a doctor but is unsuccessful, Nellie goes to see the baby and tells Vivienne and Olga that the baby is unconscious and blames it on Vivienne. Nellie and Vivienne argue, whilst Christine who has returned goes to fetch another doctor and leaves the baby with Vivienne, but it turns out that baby Christopher is much worse, Nellie then confirms that the baby is dead. Vivienne feels so responsible but Olga turns on Nellie and says that it’s all her fault and that Christine will not hold Vivienne responsible. One night when most of the girls are out, Vivienne and Sally, played by Dorothy Gordon start talking and Sally reveals that she once had a baby which died and how her baby is buried out in Nellie’s back garden. Sally also tells Vivienne about how the baby was born in the country and how other babies started turning up at the house and nice ladies then turning up to take them away. Vivienne’s fears are definetley confirmed Nellie is dealing in Baby Farming. Sally also tells her how Nellie hit her baby and he fell which resulted in the baby dying. Vivienne decides it time the police were called and gets up to call the police, Nellie appears at the top of the basement stairs where she has been overhearing everything, Vivienne confronts Nellie who then pushes Vivienne down the stairs she reminds Vivienne that all the other girls are out and most of them away for the night, so no one will hear Vivienne’s cries for help.

Nellie then goes back upstairs to speak with Sally and scares her from telling anyone what’s happened. Later that evening, Olga arrives back home and goes down to the basement and finds Vivienne and calls the doctor. A nurse is brought in to look after Vivienne who has given birth to a baby girl, the nurse refuses to let Nellie see Vivienne, this makes Nellie start to panic as she fears that Vivienne has told the nurse everything about the things that have gone on in the house. On hearing the news of Vivienne’s birth Christine visits and the nurse allows Christine to see Vivienne, she tells Christine about Sally’s dead baby and the baby farming activities, as well as Nellie wanting to get rid of Vivienne. Vivienne has told the nurse everything and the police are called, Nellie and Jess argue as Jess intends on doing a runner, Jess scarpers out of the house, where she avoids the arriving police car, although Nellie isn’t so lucky the police arrest her. The film ends with Christine offering to adopt Vivienne’s baby girl, as Christine’s own baby boy died, Vivienne is more than happy to agree as she knows that her baby will be looked after and loved by Christine and her future husband. An interesting film of it’s time as it was Britain’s first X certificate film, also dealing with the taboo subject of Baby Farming. Very good performances all round especially from Lois Maxwell, Freda Jackson and Rene Ray.

Lord Brett

Joe, a couple of tips for furure postings. If you are going to give away significant plot points or endings, please mention at the beginning of the post that your posting contains spoilers .

Also, some paragraph breaks wouldn't hurt - that's sure a lot of text to get through in one lump!

dremble wedge

Waterfront 1944

A cheapie from Hollywood's 'Poverty Row' starring John Carradine and J Carrol Naish as Nazi agents in foggy San Francisco before the US entered the war.

Always nice to see such prime villainy from two of the best exponents of the art.

Joe Fraguela

Please accept my apologies, I'm a novice at this sort of thing. Have noted your comments and will do my utmost in the future.

Joe Fraguela

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Last night I watched a double bill of films starring Cecil Parker. The first film was Dear Mr Prohack from 1949, starring Cecil Parker, Hermione Baddeley, Glynis Johns, Sheila Sim, Dirk Boagrde, Heather Thatcher, Henry Edwards, Russell Waters and Campbell Cotts. A very amusing film, Cecil Parker plays a treasury official who comes into a fortune and is incapable of managing all that money, as does his family. They buy a huge big house and is wife played by Hermione Baddeley fills the house with different animals. His son played by Dirk Bogarde gets into some shady dealings, his daughter played by Sheila Sim, is the only level headed one amongst them. Amusing performances throughout the film from the vast majority of the cast.

The final film was the Ealing classic from 1951 The Man In The White Suit starring Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Joan Greenwood, Vida Hope, Michael Gough, Ernest Thesiger, Howard Marion-Crawford, Henry Mollison. Patric Doonan & Duncan Lamont. Cecil Parker plays Birnley, a textile mill owner, where Sidney Stratton, played by Alec Guinness having been fired from Michael Gough's textile mill, goes to work at Birnleys, especially, as they have a bigger laboratory. He starts off working in the warehouse, but it doesn't take him long to land himself a job in the Laboratory. He invents a fabric that doesn't get dirty or wear out. When he finally succeeds, Birnley's textile rivals want manufacturing to cease and ultimately to stop Sidney Stratton and his invention. Soon everyone is after Stratton including his old co-workers played by Vida Hope, Duncan Lamont and Patric Doonan. A highly amusing film, one of the best british classic comedy films of it's era.

dremble wedge

I gave The Night of the Generals 1967 a go on ITV 4 last night and very glad that I did too.

It looks superb and has a fine cast of stalwarts: Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif and Tom Courtenay are the leads but Donald Pleasence, Charles Gray, Gordon Jackson, Harry Andrews, John Gregson, Nigel Stock, Phillipe Noiret, Coral Browne and the lovely Joanna Pettet add excellent support.

It's a curious murder mystery set in WW2 in which a German intelligence officer (Sharif) investigates the murder of prostitutes in Warsaw and Paris, his only suspects being three generals (O'Toole, Pleasence and Gray).

Despite some bizarre casting (Sharif and Courtenay mainly) it's an enjoyable yarn with a fascinating sub-plot concerning the attempt to kill Hitler with Stauffenberg's bomb.

I only hope that the forthcoming Valkyrie is as thoroughly entertaining...

Aaryk Noctivagus

I have it on DVD. A fine movie.

Torquemada

Lord Brett

But in typical Scott style he's called his DVD something that doesn't sit easily with logical pronounced English i.e. you call it '30th Century Man' which of course is what we think it should be, when it's actually '30 Century Man' - just like 'Climate of Hunter' with no 'the'.

Torquemada

Me too. When I first saw it I thought it was one of the strangest and most intriguing films I have ever saw, not least because of the all-star cast and the fact that I had never heard of it at the time (mid-80s).

Harbottle

Me three I agree I thought it a bit odd, quirky even but I rather enjoyed it.