Warwick Ward Movies

No relation to the 1924 D. W. Griffith film of the same name, Isn't Life Wonderful! is a bucolic British comedy which goes for quiet chuckles rather than bellylaughs. Set in a sleepy rural village in the early 1900s, the film centers around the efforts to transform sorry old sot Uncle Willie (Donald Wolfit) into a gentleman of prestige and property. It is all for the benefit of young Virginia (Dianne Foster), the American fiancee of Willie's prim-and-proper nephew Frank (Robert Urquardt). Set up by friends and relatives in the bicycle business, Uncle Willie continues his wastrelly ways, but somehow manages to make a success of his little shop. Somehow all this leads to a hectic finale at a health spa, replete with an amusing car chase. As a novelty, Isn't Life Wonderful! is told from the point of view of the film's youngest character, played by 6-year-old Peter Asher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a young Englishman wants to become a surgeon, but after medical school, his father dies, leaving him the responsibility of supporting his mother and paying for his brother's education. He becomes a partner in a small practice and watches the woman he wanted to marry go off with his brother. The brother is killed in WWI, after which his illegitimate son is born. The doctor marries the woman, but she dies in childbirth, leaving him to raise his brother's child. Eventually, he finds a new wife. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide

The week-end in question is anything but quiet for the protagonists in this witty British comedy. Derek Farr stars as Denys Royd, who joins a group of relatives for a weekend hunting party. Upon arriving at their cottage, Royd and company discover that the shelter has literally none of the necessary comforts: doorways are too low to be entered without causing damage to the forehead, the plumbing is virtually nonexistent, etc. Even worse, the Jacobean hunting restrictions in the region forces the family to resort to poaching. And as if this isn't enough, the recently married Royd can't seem to shake irksome distant cousin Miranda Rute (Barbara White), who harbors a crush on him. Quiet Week-End was based on a play by Esther McCracken, who'd penned the earlier Derek Farr vehicle A Quiet Wedding. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Suspected Person was one of several Associated British Pathe productions released in the U.S. by PRC pictures. Clifford Evans stars as Jim Raynor, one of a trio of American bank robbers. When Raynor flees to England with the loot, he leaves his two accomplices at the mercy of the Law. Winning unexpected acquittals, the two crooks chase after Raynor -- while Scotland Yard, hoping to recover the money, chases after all three. A very young Patricia Roc essays one of her first major roles as Raynor's sister, while future "Dr. Who" William Hartnell plays a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Another cheeky entry from the Aldwych Theatre farceurs, Banana Ridge is based on a play by Aldwych perennial Ben Travers. Alfred Drayton plays a wealthy, respected gentleman suddenly confronted with old flame Isabel Jeans. She shows up out of nowhere, claiming that her illegitimate son is his. The possibility of scandal creates a brouhaha with Drayton's wife Adela Dixon, and daughter Nova Pilbeam. Old chum Robertson Hare offers to help Drayton out--and nearly wrecks his own marriage in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Dead Men are Dangerous stars Robert Newton as a shabby, unsuccessful writer. Newton is of the opinion that he might improve his chances of selling his work if only he could acquire a better wardrobe. As luck would have it, he stumbles across the immaculately attired corpse of a wealthy man. Newton swiftly switches clothes with the dead man--only to be accused of murder. Released in the US by Monogram, the British Dead Men are Dangerous was based on the H.C. Armstrong novel Hidden. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this farce, a loving husband spending his first night apart from his wife in seven years goes out with a friend to get drunk. He wakes up in the apartment of a strange woman and is arrested for possessing forged bank notes. The only way he can prove his innocence is to reveal information which will let his wife know what has been going on. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide

In this war drama, set during WW I in France, a wife and her husband, an army lieutenant attempt to stay together. To do so, the wife begins pretending to be her husband's buddy. Trouble ensues when her husband's colonel falls in love with her. She is eventually accused of being an enemy agent until her husband finally tells the truth. Unfortunately this gets him into trouble. Fortunately, like a summer storm, the trouble passes and the couple gets a furlough in Paris. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This drama is set upon a floating platform, used for oil drilling, located in the Atlantic. The owners of a rival platform are desperate to destroy it. The film was originally made in German and titled F.P.1 Antwortet Nicht. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Blind Spot stars the gentlemanly Percy Marmont as a stylish thief and Muriel Angelus as Marmont's pretty daughter. Suffering from amnesia, Angelus falls in love with attorney Hugh Conway. You guessed it: Conway has made it his life's work to bring Marmont to justice. Once Marmont reviews the situation, he does the "right thing" without ever letting his daughter know what's what. Scripters Roland Pertwee and John Hastings Turner worked wonders, brightening up each potentially dull cliché in Blind Spot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this British murder mystery, a host is murdered just before a gala dinner party at his country estate. The killers are revealed immediately though it seems they have committed the perfect crime by making it appears as if the host killed himself. This is discovered by a suspicious young couple. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide