D.A. Clarke-Smith Movies
- 1956
British sailors John Mills and Richard Attenborough would like to take Neopolitan lass Lisa Gastoni out on a date. But Gastoni can't leave the house unless her baby brother tags along. During a rowdy evening on the town, Mills is forced to sneak the infant on board his ship. When Gastoni and Attenborough arrive to claim the kid, they find that the ship has already sailed. Essentially a British Abbott & Costello picture, Baby and the Battleship manages to deliver a sufficient supply of hearty chuckles. The film was based on a somewhat subtler novel by Anthony Thorne. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Mills, Richard Attenborough, (more)
The Man Who Never Was is the true story of how the Allies threw the Nazis off track in planning the invasion of Sicily. The British Royal Navy exhumes the corpse of a man who died of natural causes, arranging to make it appear as though the dead man was a special services operative carrying the secret invasion plans. The elaborate ruse includes creating a fictional identity for the "spy," then faking a drowning for the corpse and having the body wash up on shore with false information. The plan is complicated by Lucy Sherwood (Gloria Grahame), the girl friend of the dead man, and Patrick O'Reilly (Stephen Boyd), a German espionage agent. The Man Who Never Was moves too slowly to maintain excitement, but it works well on a pure storytelling level. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifton Webb, Gloria Grahame, (more)
- 1953
- PG
The second of Disney's British-produced "historicals" (the first was Robin Hood, the last was Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue), The Sword and the Rose eschews historical accuracy in favor of wall-to-wall adventure and eye-filling pageantry. The film takes place in the court of King Henry VIII (James Robertson Justice), whose sister Mary Tudor (Glynis Johns) has fallen in love with soldier of fortune Charles Brandon (Richard Todd). Mary appoints Brandon Captain of the Guards, which rests not at all well with her erstwhile suitor, the Duke of Buckingham (Michael Gough). Rather than foment court intrigue, Brandon decides to move on to America, only to end up in the Tower of London when Mary tags along with him, disguised as a boy. Mary is ordered by Henry to wed the aging King of France (Jean Mercure), who promptly dies, leaving the girl at the mercy of the evil Dauphin (Gerard Oury). When rescued by the Duke of Buckhingham, Mary is informed that Charles is dead, but in fact her true love still lives, as he proves beyond doubt in a climactic battle with the duplicitous Duke. Sword and the Rose was based on Charles Major's novel When Knighthood Was in Flower, previously filmed in 1923 with Marion Davies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Todd, Glynis Johns, (more)
- 1952
John Hayter is Samuel Pickwick is this delightful filmization of Dickens' seriocomic novel. Mr. Pickwick is chairman of the Pickwick club, a scholarly league operating in mid-19th century London. The club's avowed purpose is to scrupulously study everyday life in England-not to improve or remonstrate, but simply examine, as a scientist would examine life under the microscope. The episodic storyline transports the Pickwicks all over town, from the fashionable digs of ever-in-debt roue Mr. Jingle (Nigel Patrick) to debtor's prison. The Candide-like Mr. Pickwick survives his many experiences (including a duel and breach of promise suit) with the invulnerability of innocence. The Pickwick Papers was produced, directed and adapted by Noel Langley, a brilliant, hard-drinking wit who once upon a time had labored on the screenplay of Hollywood's The Wizard of Oz. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Hayter, James Donald, (more)
- 1952
The British Something Money Can't Buy offers a few smaller-scale variations on themes previously explored in the 1946 Hollywood Oscar-winner The Best Years of Our Lives. Harry Wilding (Anthony Steel), a high-ranking wartime military officer, has trouble adjusting to his go-nowhere civilian job and the monotony of his home life. Harry's wife Anne (Patricia Roc) tries to make things easier for her husband, but there are no easy answers to his plight. The inherent drama of the situation is leavened by moments of gentle humor, not to mention the warm rapport between stars. The supporting cast includes hirsute comic actor (and longtime David Niven crony) Michael Trubshawe and the venerable A. E. Mathews, at the time billed as England's oldest working actor. Director Pat Jackson co-authored the perceptive screenplay of Something Money Can't Buy with James Lonsdale Hudson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel, (more)
Originally advertised as "Colossal Quo Vadis," this opulent MGM production is far and away the most elaborate of the many versions of Henryk Sienkiewicz' novel. The plot, as always, concerns the romance between a beautiful early Christian woman (Deborah Kerr) and the initially agnostic Roman soldier Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor). This love story is laid against the larger intrigues of the debauched emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov), who hopes to gain immortality by destroying Rome with a fire and remaking it in his own image. Part of Nero's master plan is the elimination of the Christian "threat," leading to the climactic lion picnics in the arena. In spite of the many more celebrated highlights (the burning of Rome, the rescue of Lygia [Deborah Kerr] from a rampaging bear, the upside-down crucifixion of Simon Peter), the scene that remains most vivid in the memory is the posthumous "final insult" delivered to Nero by his contemptuous former aide Petronius (Leo Genn). Sophia Loren can be briefly spotted as an extra during one of the crowd scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, (more)
- 1947
The problem of "enemy" war brides was eloquently addressed in the British drama Frieda. In her English-language film debut, Mai Zetterling plays the title character, the German wife of RAF officer Robert (David Farrar). Though an avowed anti-Nazi, Frieda faces acrimony and prejudice when introduced to Robert's friends and family. The problem is exacerbated by the arrival of her brother Ricky (Albert Levien), ostensibly a conscript in the Polish army but actually an unregenerate disciple of Hitler. A satisfactory ending is reached only when everyone-Ricky included-learns to stop hating and to bury the past. Based on a play by Ronald Miller, Frieda was released in the US by Universal, shorn of but one minute of its original running time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mai Zetterling, Gilbert Davis, (more)
- 1939
In this crime drama, a sophisticated thief is working on a caper involving precious rubies when he sees that the owner of the stones is the man who caused his ex-girl friend to kill herself. Thoughts of thieving are replaced by plans for revenge. The thief becomes obsessed and is not paying careful attention. His intended victim catches him and threatens his life. Fortunately, another thief rescues him and kills the jewel owner. Later, the protagonist's rescuer is killed by the police while the protagonist and his new lover take off and head for South America. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Stephenson, Betty Lynne, (more)
- 1938
In this comedy, a man becomes the owner of a race horse, at least he thought it was a race horse. As he watches the beast lightly prance down the homestretch the poor man realizes that he has a circus horse. Naturally the horse loses. The pragmatic fellow then decides to give up the racetrack in favor of the sawdust ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Perhaps as an answer to the 1936 Jane Withers vehicle Little Miss Nobody, this 1937 British quota quickie is titled Little Miss Somebody. Irrepressible child-star Binkie Stuart plays an orphaned girl, forced to live with wicked George Carney. All the old grouch is interested in is Stuart's inheritance, so he treats the kid as atrociously as possible. But Stuart manages to return to her beloved foster family by film's end. As treacly as it sounds, Little Miss Somebody was produced, directed and written by Penrod Tennyson, whose name just might be more entertaining than the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this British comedy, the last in the "Splinter" series, an inventor designs a helicopter. He is then mistaken for his twin brother and accidentally drafted into the RAF. It is difficult and it looks as if the hapless inventor is going to have nothing but trouble until he uses his invention to save his CO's wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Oskar Homolka plays a London movie-theatre owner who maintains a secret life as a paid terrorist. Homolka's wife Sylvia Sidney doesn't suspect Homolka of any wrongdoing, but she's picked up enough second-hand information about her husband's activities to arouse the interest of government agent (John Loder). Posing as a grocer, Loder moves next door to the Homolkas, befriending Sidney and her precocious young brother Desmond Tester. Sensing that he's being watched, Homolka sends Tester out to deliver a reel of film. The reel contains a time bomb, but Homolka is certain that the boy will deliver his package on time and will be safely away by the time the bomb explodes. Thus begins one of Hitchcock's most electrifying suspense sequences, as the unsuspecting boy is delayed en route to his destination. Sabotage was based on Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent; the film was retitled A Woman Alone in the US. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvia Sidney, Oscar Homolka, (more)
- 1936
In this musical comedy, a wandering troupe of English actors wend their way toward Spain. En route they toy with the father of one actor to prevent him from finding out that his boy has gone ahead and married the woman his father told him not to. To keep the daddy in the dark, the woman pretends to be married to her husband's best friend. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Robey, Neil Hamilton, (more)
- 1935
His Hollywood career a thing of the past, director Herbert Brenon returned to his native England in 1934, where he continued making films until his retirement in 1940. Brenon's first project upon his arrival in London was the feature-length documentary Royal Cavalcade. Covering a 25-year period, the film is an encapsulation of the comings and goings of the British empire since the 1910 coronation of King George V. The highlights, drawn from the newsreel files of several English and European archives, include Captain Scott's arrival at the South Pole (and the tragic aftermath), the First World War, the Roaring 20s, and the Depression. Of special interest to show-biz buffs is the footage of the first Royal Command Performance at the Palace in 1911, featuring such matchless performers as Anna Pavlova and George Robey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this drama, a clerk and another get involved in an easy-money scam. Unfortunately things go horribly awry and the clerk must murder a stockbroker if he is to stay out of jail. Unfortunately, he can't do that either. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this crime thriller, a renowned German crime scientist becomes the victim of a con and loses his life savings. To get his revenge, he enlists the aid of a self-serving thief. Together they plot the perfect crime and plan on stealing millions. Unfortunately, before the crime is committed, the thief reveals that he is actually a Scotland Yard Detective and keeps the German criminologist from making a tragic mistake. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edmund Gwenn, John Loder, (more)
- 1934
In this drama, investigators begin looking into a number of terrible train wrecks and learn that a schizophrenic railroad executive is to blame. In Britain the film is titled Menace. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
When jewel thieves plot to take some stolen gems from a young man's house they need an inside man and blackmail the boy's uncle Pettingell to pretend to be his nephew's butler. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1934
A man's love for his wife overcomes his hatred for the family that brought her up in this period romantic adventure. Jan Ridd (John Loder) is a farmer in 17th Century England who has sworn to take revenge upon the Doones, an outlaw family who have laid waste to much of the property in his part of the country and were responsible for the death of Ridd's father. Ridd meets a woman named Lorna (Victoria Hopper), and in time they fall in love and marry. However, Ridd learns that Lorna was kidnapped by the Doones as a child and raised among them; she is eventually taken into custody by the Court of St. James in hopes of reforming her from the influence of her delinquent "family," and Ridd must fight to free the woman he loves. This was the second screen adaptation of the novel by R.D. Blackmore, and the first in the sound era; two more films based on Lorna Doone would follow, in 1951 and 1990. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Hopper, John Loder, (more)
- 1934
In this romantic comedy two young people defy their feuding parents and marry. Accusations of fraud ensue. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
