Murder In Reverse

[Earlesmere]

I'm an exiled Brit living in Connecticut, so my access to old Brit movies is limited. I subscribe to those that get onto the Netflix list, and occasionally AMC, TCM, FMC run an old Ealing classic.

I return to the UK at least once a year, and three or four years ago was intrigued by an old movie channel call Carlton, I think, but that collapsed when ITV Digital went bust. I was back home last week and was delighted to find the new Movie Matinee and Bad Movie channels on Sky. I watched two films in utter fascination -- The Gay Dog (1954) with Wilfred Pickles and Petula Clark, and Be My Guest (1965) with David Hemmings.

I subsequently arranged for friends to tape movies from this channel. However, I cannot find a scheduling list on the Sky site, or anywhere on the net. Can anyone help?

Also, I've been looking for a film for many, many years that I watched on a Sunday afternoon about 1960. It's one of those films that just sticks with you, but it disappeared from view. It is called Murder in Reverse (1945) with William Hartnell, John Slater and Petula Clark.

Does anyone know if it is available on video or dvd?

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Earlesmere@Jul 21 2005, 01:58 PM I subsequently arranged for friends to tape movies from this channel. However, I cannot find a scheduling list on the Sky site, or anywhere on the net. Can anyone help?

I haven't seen any. I use DigiGuide to check what's on and they haven't been able to include the new channels yet. How long will they last? Will they keep up the standard?

Steve

[aphra]

I, too, have desperately tried to find any site on the internet that carries programme details of the new Matinee Movies, Bad Movies and so on. But there is none. The channels emanate from a company called Sit-up Limited, 179-181 The Vale, Acton, London W3 7RW. TEL. 020 8600 9700. The company's real interest seems to be the BidTV auction that fills all the other hours when the films are not being shown. I get the feeling that the company only has a staff of about two people.

The man I spoke to at Sit-up told me that they did not publish schedules anywhere, so the only place you may get to see what is showing is on the Sky daily menu. Not a lot of help if you want to plan ahead. I asked him why most of the films were screen anamorphically - that is a 4 x 3 picture stretched to fit 16 x 9 - but he said he didn't know any technical details. Mr Sukonik - who was out of the office at the time - was the person to speak to. My reading of this is that because BidTV shows everything at 16 x 9, the films have to take their chance. They would not seem to have the resources to make the change from one format to another. Certainly THE GAY DOG was unwatchable after being recorded in the wrong ratio.

I hope this sheds a bit of light on the subject. My prediction is that they will go under fairly soon in the way that Classic Movies did. They seem to show quite a few films that Carlton had. The demise of Carlton Cinema is much lamented by me - and thousands of other film buffs.

Best, Aphra

PS I doubt you will find MURDER IN REVERSE anywhere. It is a lost film.

[Earlesmere]

Thanks Steve and Aphra. I noted the distorted picture too on the "Gay Dog". I'll just check the daily listing, and hope to catch some classics. All this is indeed frustrating when one considers how successful the old move channels are here in the US.

I also read elsewhere on this forum about the scarcity of the Edgar Wallace shorts. I fondly recall those from my early cinema visits. However, several years ago I caught some of them being played on a Canadian satellite channel. These Canadian channels occasionally show old Brit movies, and one of them, Showcase, has recently been screening the late 50s and early 60s Carry On films.

[Beaubarque]

I first saw this film in about 1980..
My Dad told me that he had doubled for John Slater for the fight scene, and the one where he climbs the dockyard crane and dives into the river..
I believe that William Hartnell's fight double was the boxer, Dave Crowley..
I have been unable to trace any video of this film...

[LordGuinness]

Hi everyone,

I was worried about this aspect ratio thing - but I have now been offered a new copy of The Gay Dog on commercial VHS. So if my recording fails, I will buy it and copy it for anyone who wants it (or if the recording works I'll copy that).

I am a big Petula Clark fan and I am trying to collect all her films. I am getting most on video and transferring them to DVD.

Is Murder in Reverse really lost? If it has been shown on TV as recently as the 80s, I am in doubt. Surely some TV company must have kept a copy? I would love to see it. There are other 'missing' Pet films, but I will post about them later.

[JamesM]

There was a member on here who was talking about releasing some of Petula Clark's films on DVD, the first was to be Dance hall (1950).

[JamesM]

Murder in Reverse is not lost as it happens.

It was screened by the Gothique Film society this weekend.

[the bishops wife]

(LordGuinness @ Dec 31 2005, 08:14 PM) Hi everyone, I was worried about this aspect ratio thing - but I have now been offered a new copy of The Gay Dog on commercial VHS. So if my recording fails, I will buy it and copy it for anyone who wants it (or if the recording works I'll copy that). I am a big Petula Clark fan and I am trying to collect all her films. I am getting most on video and transferring them to DVD. Is Murder in Reverse really lost? If it has been shown on TV as recently as the 80s, I am in doubt. Surely some TV company must have kept a copy? I would love to see it. There are other 'missing' Pet films, but I will post about them later.

Hi i saw your post do you still have a copy of the gay dog for sale , if so how much is it .I tried 2 copy it from sky tv for several weeks but kept missing bits of it . when i got to the last showing i stayed up until 4 in the morning to tape it .Started tape and went to bed .when i got up in the morning it had taped the wrong channel . thanx

[Rob Compton]

(the bishops wife @ May 9 2006, 03:22 PM) Started tape and went to bed .when i got up in the morning it had taped the wrong channel . thanx

"It" had taped the wrong channel? It wasn't operator error then?

[CALF28]

Hello All,
Does anyone have a copy of this film? Stars William (Billy) Hartnell and John Slater. Directed by Montgomery Tully. Loads to swap or happy to pay.
Cheers John.

[johnn3712]

Hello I have just joined Britmovie, and my name is John.

I am looking for 'Murder in Reverse' starring William Hartnell, 1945.

If any one can help it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Malcolm Barrow]

Does anyone know if this film is available anywhere? Made in 1946, directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell (who still called himself "Billy" then) I've been looking for it seriously since I got my 1st VCR in 1986 but it's not appeared anywhere. As a lad of about 8 I was mesmerised by it when I saw it on TV in about 1953. The brilliant plot (man commits murder after he's been falsely accused and served time for it) has never been re-used to my knowledge.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Barrow Does anyone know if this film is available anywhere? Made in 1946, directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell (who still called himself "Billy" then) I've been looking for it seriously since I got my 1st VCR in 1986 but it's not appeared anywhere. As a lad of about 8 I was mesmerised by it when I saw it on TV in about 1953. The brilliant plot (man commits murder after he's been falsely accused and served time for it) has never been re-used to my knowledge.

I have tried asking for this in the past, but at that time no one had a copy. I have looked via other sources but no luck.

[scenesixty]

Has any member a copy of this W.Hartnell crime thriller they can help with?
Thanks for looking.