Lionel Tomlinson Movies
- 1953
Julien Vedey wrote, directed and starred in the British quickie Take a Powder. Vedey plays a medicine show con man who is mistaken for a brilliant atomic scientist. In Prisoner of Zenda fashion, the phony takes the place of the genuine article and is put in charge of a hospital (an atomic scientist running a hospital? Sure, why not?) A few laughs are scattered throughout the film's 58 minutes...very few. The sole distinguishing factor of Take a Powder is the above-average cinematography by Ernest Palmer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1948
Filmed in Ireland, My Hands are Clay is a low-budget but fascinating domestic drama with religious overtones. The story deals with a young man (Richard Aherne) who exhibits a talent for sculpting from a very early age. His success in this endeavor is hampered by the protagonist's emotional problems, chief of which is a long-standing grudge against his childhood rival. He is only able to purge his demons when he begins work on a statue of the Virgin Mary. The amateurishness of the performances and the banality of the dialogue are forgivable in the light of the film's superb cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Aherne, Robert Dawson, (more)
- 1947
In this WW II crime drama, Johann Schmidt secretly frees a Dutch diamond cutter from a Nazi prison camp. He does it so he can uses the man's special talents for his own evil schemes. Before freeing him, wicked Schmidt killed the cutter's ex-partner and stole his raw diamonds. Now he threatens to kill the craftsman's daughter unless he cuts the stones. Fortunately, a persistent detective is on the case and brings Schmidt to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1941
An embarrassed headwaiter provides the basis for this classical tale set in pre-war Russia. He conceals his lowly profession from his daughter who eventually discovers the truth. Soon after, the father discovers that his daughter has been having sex with a wealthy businessman in one of the restaurant's private salons in exchange for the money she needs to buy the restaurant. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1940
Hollywood's Otto Kruger and Gertrude Michael head the cast of the British The Hidden Menace. The story takes place in a Vienna variety theatre, where a mad magician named Garvin (Kruger) periodically disposes of his romantic rivals by means of one of his deadlier hypnotic devices. His current target his high-wire artist Paul (John Clements), who is paying an inordinate amount of attention to Garvin's sweetheart, a dnacer named Yester (Gertrude Michael). The villain gets his comeuppance when one of his previous victims seemingly returns from the dead to mete out justice. Saving the film from wallowing in its melodramatic excesses are the comic interludes by pantomimist Gene Sheldon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Otto Kruger, Gertrude Michael, (more)
- 1940
This lightweight but elaborately produced musical melodrama was originally released in Great Britain as Premiere. While watching the opening night of a Parisian stage extravanganza, the show's principal backer is murdered. Inspector Bonnard (John Lodge) deduces that the fatal shot was fired from the stage-meaning that everyone involved in the production is a suspect. Bonnard demands that the cast and crew restage the play so that he can witness the proceedings and ascertain the killer's identity. One thing is certain: heroine Carmen (Judy Kelly) is not the guilty party, though she should have shot whoever designed her unflattering costumes and makeup. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Lodge, Judy Kelly, (more)
Previously filmed in 1928, the old Edgar Wallace novel The Terror was dusted off for another cinematic go-round ten years later. A spectacular crime spree, instigated by a mysterious miscreant known only as "The Terror", has galvanized Scotland Yard into action. The trail of clues leads to a ramshackle old castle, owned by retired Army doctor Col. Redmayne (Arthur Wontner). The detective on the scene is one Mr. Goodman (Wilfred Lawson), who has devoted 10 years of his life to bringing The Terror to justice. Among the suspects are such low-lifes as Ferdie Fane (Bernard Lee) and Soapy Marks (Alastair Sim), but the identity of The Terror comes as quite a surprise to all concerned (except for those dyed-in-the-wool mystery fans who pegged the villain's identity as the credits unreeled!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wilfred Lawson, Bernard Lee, (more)
- 1939
An embarrassed headwaiter provides the basis for this classical tale set in pre-war Russia. He conceals his lowly profession from his daughter who eventually discovers the truth. Soon after, the father discovers that his daughter has been having sex with a wealthy businessman in one of the restaurant's private salons in exchange for the money she needs to buy the restaurant. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mary Maguire, Otto Kruger, (more)
