James Carney Movies

In this thriller, a husband gets into all sorts of trouble when his wife takes a lengthy vacation without him. First he gets romantically involved with the chanteuse at a local nightclub. Next she tells him that her brother has gotten in trouble over some stolen diamonds. In truth, the woman desperately wants the stones for herself. She tricks the wayward husband into believing that he killed a man after he buys them two tickets out of the country. He then decides that it is better to face the music, and opts to stay and confess. The singer, too reconsiders, and decides to stay with him until his name is cleared. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The Reluctant Widow in this muted British comedy is young 19th-century governess Elinor, played by Jean Kent. Inadvertently inheriting a vast estate, Elinor is bedeviled by both British turncoats and French espionage agents, who hide out in the mansion while preparing to steal Lord Wellington's battle plans for Waterloo. One of the British traitors is played by Julian Dallas, who as "Scott Forbes" would later star on TV's Jim Bowie. For reasons unknown, the film was heavily re-edited and restructured before its general release, making certain portions of the storyline incomprehensible. Through it all, however, Jean Kent maintains her dignity and charm as she quietly outwits the many villains. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Filmed entirely on location in Italy, Prince of Foxes is an adaptation of Samuel Shellabarger's popular novel. Set during the Renaissance, the film stars Tyrone Power as Orsini, a good-will ambassador for scheming, covetous Cesare Borgia (Orson Welles). Orsini is aware that he is being used to expand Borgia's political influence, but he does his best to serve his master. But when he visits a mountain province ruled by the kindly Duke Varano (Felix Aylmer), Orsini comes to realize that there is more to life than power and possessions. Turning against the Borgias, Orsini is subjected to torture and humiliation, but he escapes to spearhead a revolt against the despotic family. Power is quite good, but he can't help but be overshadowed by such scenery-chewers as Orson Welles, Katina Paxinou (as Orsini's mother) and Everett Sloane (as the toadying Belli). Wanda Hendrix is pretty but forgettable as Varano's young bride, who of course falls in love with the dashing Orsini. Because of contractual and budgetary restrictions, Prince of Foxes had to be filmed in black-and-white, which is a shame; if ever a film cried out for Technicolor, it is this one (20th Century-Fox soon rectified this artistic gaffe with its full-color, location-filmed The Black Rose [1950], which also starred Tyrone Power and Orson Welles). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In 1948, "The Archers" -- the writing and directing team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger -- had completed The Red Shoes, one of their greatest international successes, but it had yet to be released when the Rank Organization, doubting the commercial appeal of the picture, severed ties with the team and Powell and Pressburger signed a new deal with Alexander Korda's London Films. Their first project for Korda, The Small Back Room, was a dramatic change of pace, a thriller set in London in the midst of World War II. Sammy Rice (David Farrar) is explosives expert who works with British military intelligence as part of a ragtag munitions research team studying new ways to defuse enemy weapons and improve allied arms. While he's brilliant on the job, Rice is a troubled man with an artificial leg that causes him chronic pain and an appetite for alcohol that stands between him and those around him, especially his girlfriend and secretary Susan (Kathleen Byron). Rice's latest project is finding a way to defuse a new German bomb that's cleverly disguised as a children's toy, but Rice finds himself battling his superiors when Waring (Jack Hawkins), an unscrupulous businessman who has been pressed into service with the explosives team, and his colleague Professor Mair (Milton Rosmer) begin lobbying the Army to purchase a new weapon that Rice feels is both ineffective and dangerous. Despite excellent reviews and a fine cast that includes Cyril Cusack, Sidney James and Robert Morley in a cameo appearance, The Small Back Room was a box office disappointment on its original release, and it appeared in edited form in the United States under the title Hour of Glory, though later video releases allowed Americans to see the film in its original British cut. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Boozy doctor O'Dowd gets into deep trouble after he is accused of operating under the influence and causing the death of his daughter-in-law in this sudsy drama. Now the Irish physician must somehow redeem his good name. He gets his chance during a diphtheria outbreak. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this comedy, an American businessman gets into trouble and heads for England to stay out of jail. He and his faithful secretary end up in a Scottish mansion where the owner and the businessman try to outdo one another. In the end, the American's son ends up marrying the mansion owner's daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi