Joyce Heron Movies
- 1974
- Add Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 04 to QueueAdd Upstairs, Downstairs: Series 04 to top of Queue
The fourth season of the British drama series Upstairs, Downstairs takes place during the war years of 1914 through 1918, a time of great anxiety and upheaval for England in general and the Bellamy household at 165 Eaton Place in particular. The season begins as Hazel Bellamy (Meg Wynn Owen), wife of James Bellamy (Simon Williams), agrees to take in a family of Belgian refugees. Not so politely inclined towards foreigners is the surprisingly emotional head butler Hudson (Gordon Jackson), whose anti-German hysteria all but tears the Bellamy's servant staff apart in the episode "The Beastly Hun" (for which actor Jackson won an Emmy). Maid Daisy (Jacqueline Tong) weds footman Edward (Christopher Beeny) just before he marches off to war; he will return a shellshocked shadow of his former self. Georgina (Leslie Anne-Down), the ward of James Bellamy's father Richard (David Langton), takes nursing training, while scullery maid Ruby (Jenny Tomasin), heretofore dismissed as a dimwit, demonstrates her patriotism and resilience by going to work at a munitions factory. Also, head maid Rose (Jean Marsh) is unexpectedly reunited with her erstwhile Australian sweetheart Gregory (Keith Barron), who is ultimately killed in battle. While James is serving his country in France, Hazel begins a platonic friendship with young airman Jack Dyson (Andrew Ray), and later agonizes when James is reported missing in action. The war comes home in spectacular fashion when 165 Eaton is damaged by a German bomb. And in the episode "Another Year", Hannah Gordon is introduced in the role of Virginia Hamilton, the widow of a Naval officer. The season finale is a riveting combination of happiness and heartbreak: Though seriously injured in the war, James manages to return to the arms of his wife Hazel--who, unfortunately, has become one of the victims of the deadly international influenza epidemic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Jackson, Jean Marsh, (more)
- 1973
Val Guest, veteran director of many interesting British films covering a multitude of subjects, joined the nudie-cutie bandwagon of the 1970s with The Au Pair Girls. Anyone who's taken first-year French will probably know that the title refers to young foreign girls living in England who perform domestic chores in exchange for room and board and the opportunity to learn the English language. In this film, the girls' "services" range far beyond mere light dusting. It's the 1972 equivalent to those old stag reels of the 1950s with titles like Lucky Pierre Goes Fishing. Among the au pair girls in this R-rated effort are Gabrielle Drake, Astrid Frank, and Me Me Lai. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Astrid Frank, Gabrielle Drake, (more)
- 1964
Cathy is informed that she is of royal blood -- and in fact is next in line for the British throne. Unfortunately, her only chance of assuming her proper place in life is if an impending military coup is successful. It is up to Steed to prevent that coup. . .but can he rely upon Cathy's cooperation this time out? Written by Eric Paice, "Esprit de Corps" was initially telecast in England on March 14, 1964; American viewers didn't get to see this episode until it was cablecast on April 5, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
Beyond This Place is a tame murder mystery based on a novel by A. J. Cronin. Van Johnson is cast as an American citizen whose British father has supposedly been dead for years. On a visit to London, Johnson discovers that his father is very much alive, serving a life sentence for murder. Johnson inaugurates his own investigation, retraces the trail of circumstantial evidence, and unearths the real culprit. Director Jack Cardiff was not happy with his work on Beyond This Place, possibly because he was obliged for box office purposes to use an American star in an essentially British story. The film was released in the US as Web of Evidence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Johnson, Vera Miles, (more)
- 1954
Had the women-behind-bars drama The Weak and the Wicked been made in Hollywood, the cast would probably have included the likes of Ida Lupino, Marie Windsor, Peggie Castle and Hope Emerson. Instead, the film was lensed in Britain, with Glynis Johns and Diana Dors heading the cast. Framed on a charge of fraud, "good girl" Glynis is tossed into prison. Her cellmates include hard-boiled Ms. Dors, murder suspect Jane Hylton, blackmailer-poisoner Dame Sybil Thorndyke and shoplifter Olive Sloane. Each of their stories is detailed in a series of flashbacks. Downplay the potential sensational elments of the storyline, The Weak and the Wicked takes great pains to point out the positive values of a special rehabilitation program, wherein the main characters are given the opportunity to make themselves useful members of society. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glynis Johns, John Gregson, (more)
- 1954
Death is the subject of this dramatic trilogy. In the first vignette, an agonizing woman must decide whether she should give her single dose of antidote to her poisoned son or her equally ailing husband. The second story centers on a deadly love triangle between a stage producer, his fiancee, and a jealous dancer. In the last tale, a smitten young girl, determined to be with her beloved music teacher, hides herself in one of his trunks and nearly suffocates. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1950
A mystery novel by Delano Ames was the launching pad for the British meller She Shall Have Murder. "She" is Rosamund John, a mystery writer wannabe who works in a law office. Rosamund ends up with plenty of story material when a client turns up dead. Trouble is, she may not live to tell the tale. Derrick DeMarney and Felix Aylmer are among the usual suspects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1946
Virtually plotless, the British Meet the Navy is not so much a film as a musical revue. Which is as it should be, since the film is based on the Royal Canadian Navy stage show of the same name, originally put together by radio musical arranger Louis Silvers and choreographer Larry Ceballos. Like its Hollywood predecessor This is the Army, Meet the Navy is so smooth and professional-looking that one doubts the publicity claims that the cast was comprised entirely of talented amateurs. Few of the cast members went on to illustrious careers, though most were certainly capable of doing so. The film closes with a Technicolor sequence, wherein the Meet the Navy cast participate in a Command Performance before the Royal Family-including young princess Elizabeth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lionel Murton, Margaret Hurst, (more)
- 1945
The crown jewels are at stake in this crime comedy featuring the efforts of London bobby Gray against American gangster Hunter. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1945
Future Dr. Who star William Hartnell heads the cast of the 1949 sociopolitical melodrama The Agitator. Set in a British industrial town, the film stars Hartnell as idealistic union organizer Peter Pottinger. His value as an agitator is compromised when Peter falls heir to the very factory where he works. Now that he's "Capital," Peter finds that he hasn't a friend in the world: his old co-workers despise him for what he represents, while his new colleagues can't forget his previous radicalism. Perhaps to avoid movie-industry ramifications, Capital and Labor are treated with equal fairness in The Agitator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Mary Morris, (more)
- 1944
In this drama, an amnesiac gardener, who lost his memory after he was buried alive during WW I, works for a wealthy man whose son is about to marry an actress. When he is accused of stealing, the honest gardener becomes so upset that his memory returns. He then remembers that he is a wealthy military officer. He also realizes that the actress is none other than his own daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1942
In this British WW II comedy, two music publishers are left to their own devices when their wives sign up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service. To be near them, the bored fellows dress up in women's uniforms and end up capturing a band of fifth columnists. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
