Philip Morant Movies

This rollicking political satire stars Ian Carmichael as an impressionable British TV personality. His vanity is stroked by a group of political managers who talk him into running on the Conservative ticket during a political campaign. The managers hope that Carmichael's name value will draw voters, but don't intend to permit him anything like actual legislative power. Carmichael suddenly develops an abiding interest in politics when he meets his Labour Party opponent--lovely Patricia Breden. Left, Right and Center is blessed with an abundance of supporting character comedians, headed by Alistair Sim as Carmichael's avaricious uncle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Produced for an economical (even in 1932) £4000, Hotel Splendide stars comedian Jerry Verno as Jerry Mason, an impecunious nobody who inherits the seaside resort of the title. He immediately quits his dead end job, tells his boss off, and travels to Speymouth -- where he finds that his vision of his inheritance does not quite match reality. Although initially disappointed, he decides he will try to make a go of it and sets about making plans on how to bolster the hotel's (and his) fortunes. Along the way he discovers a small package that, unbeknownst to him, contains the famous Dysart Pearls, stolen and buried there before the hotel was built. Eventually the packet falls into the possession of Gentleman Charlie, a former convict who is posing as a new guest at the Splendide. Several complications ensue involving a rival gangster, a detective, a series of mistaken identities and a safe (the combination of which Mason has forgotten) before all ends well and Mason finds himself richer by £10,000. The first of director Michael Powell's features for Gaumont-British, Splendide marked the first time Powell appeared as an actor in a movie which he also directed. In addition, it features one of the earliest cinematic uses of "Funeral March of the Marionettes," better known as the theme music for Alfred Hitchcock Presents. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Coming in at an economical 44 minutes (and costing an economical 3700 pounds), Star Reporter was one of several collaborations between director Michael Powell and acclaimed mystery writer Philip MacDonald. A sly character named Mandel (Garry Marsh) persuades Lord Longbourne (Spencer Trevor) to participate in an insurance scam: Mandel will abscond with a precious diamond belonging to Longbourne's daughter, Lady Susan Loman )Isla Bevan), and Longbourne can cash in on the insurance money. Things go awry when Lady Loman's chauffeur, Major Starr (Harold French), foils their efforts and Mandel is killed in a fall from a rooftop. Starr, who it turns out is the star reporter of the title, then proposes to Lady Loman, who accepts. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi