The identification game

[Steve Crook]

Can we play another round of the old identification game?



I've been sent a scan of this image







The writing on the back said that it was Michael Powell directing a scene from The Phantom Light where there was a flood and the stars were floating around on a mattress. Well it obviously isn't from The Phantom Light, not even from a deleted scene. The actress isn't Binnie Hale. Does anyone recognise her? That might help in the identification.



And is that Powell crouching under the edge of the fireplace? He has the right hairstyle and a reasonably appropriate appalling dress sense



Is he the director though? Micky did sometimes get into some unusual positions to see what was going on. There's a photo of him crouched under a table while filming Peeping Tom.



Or is that just a member of the crew that happens to look a bit like Micky but wasn't senior enough to get a chair like the man (director?) sitting next to the (continuity?) lady, or even the man in the suit (cinematographer?) standing slightly in front of him and to one side?



And did Micky smoke? He did of cancer but I don't think I ever knew what sort of cancer. And I can't recall any early photos that show him smoking



Any suggestions gratefully received



Steve

[Fellwanderer]

I'd only read the first line and immediately thought the person you later suggested as MP was him.



I've never smoked so may be talking hokum but I'd assume that a lefthanded person would hold a cigarette in his left hand virtually all the time. Was MP lefthanded?

[Steve Crook]

name='Fellwanderer']I'd only read the first line and immediately thought the person you later suggested as MP was him.



I've never smoked so may be talking hokum but I'd assume that a lefthanded person would hold a cigarette in his left hand virtually all the time. Was MP lefthanded?

There are certainly similarities, but are there enough?



A lot of artistic people are left-handed. I'm always surprised at the number of people I see in films and TV shows who are left-handed.



But a picture like this one showing him signing something would suggest that he was right-handed





A smoker could hold a cigarette in either hand, whichever is more convenient. But I think you're correct in that they'd mainly use their dominant hand



Steve

[GRAEME]

name='Fellwanderer']I'd only read the first line and immediately thought the person you later suggested as MP was him.



I've never smoked so may be talking hokum but I'd assume that a lefthanded person would hold a cigarette in his left hand virtually all the time. Was MP lefthanded?

For what it's worth, I don't think the man in the photo is left handed - it is just that in that position under the alcove and behind that lady, it would be very awkward to hold his fag in his right hand - let alone be able to access it for a drag.

[Dandelion]

It is possible that the image has been transposed. There's nothing to suggest it hasn't

[Steve Crook]

name='Dandelion']It is possible that the image has been transposed. There's nothing to suggest it hasn't

It is possible



Steve

[DB7]

The bed makes me think of Early to Bed but I've not seen it.



I did at first think it was MP under the arch but I quickly dismissed it without any sound reasoning.

[CaptainWaggett]

I'm not convinced it's MP - his chin narrows too much. Is that an actual scene they're watching? Two people on a double bed seems quite saucy for the 1930s

[Gazza]

She does have her hat on CW!

[CaptainWaggett]

name='Gazza']She does have her hat on CW!

But he's got both feet off the floor

[Steve Crook]

name='CaptainWaggett']But he's got both feet off the floor

From what I was told of the writing on the back it's meant to be a mattress that's floating after a flood. I don't think that counts as a bed as far as any censor's office is concerned



I don't recognise the scene from any synopsis or original story that I've ever read of any of the early films Powell did. That's one thing that made me wonder if it really is Micky



Steve

[Santonix]

It looks a bit like Anna Neagle.

[Steve Crook]

name='Santonix']It looks a bit like Anna Neagle.

Which bit?

I'm not usually too good on identifying actresses from stills. It's too easy for them to disguise themselves and change their appearance quite drastically.



Steve

[Moor Larkin]

A lot of the crew look to be in shorts/t-shirts, so it might be summer-time. I assume the naked guy crouching in the corner had a good reason to be there