Hugh Brooke Movies
- 1954
Independently produced by Allan Dowling Pictures, This is My Love was distributed in the U.S. by RKO Radio. The film stars Linda Darnell as Vida, a would-be writer, whose vivid imagination contrasts with the harsh realities of her middle-class household. Her sister Evelyn (Faith Domergue), married to the crippled and embittered Murray (Dan Duryea), is unable to escape into Vida's dream world, though she'd certainly like to do so. When Vida introduces her sweetheart Glenn (Rick Jason) to Evelyn, the latter immediate begins drawing up plans to steal the handsome hunk away from her sister. Not unexpectedly, things degenerate into deception, heartbreak and murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Rick Jason, (more)
Felix E. Feist directed this second adaptation of the novel by Curt Siodmak (filmed previously in 1944 as The Lady and the Monster and later in 1963 as The Brain), which tells the story of a brilliant brain specialist (Lew Ayres) whose attempts to save the life of an accident victim result in the extraction of the dying patient's brain, kept alive via electrodes and a special solution. Before long, the disembodied gray-matter -- which previously belonged to sinister, wealthy industrialist Donovan -- begins to exert a supernatural influence over the doctor, until the once-kindly scientist begins taking on Donovan's aggressive, paranoid personality traits and is compelled to carry out the brain's nefarious commands. This is by far the most effective and intelligent treatment of its source material, building a creepy, suspenseful mood while avoiding lapses into pulp-novel camp. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lew Ayres, Gene Evans, (more)
- 1952
During World War II, an injured pilot, his nurse and a Marine, all marooned on a desert island, fall into a love triangle in this film also known as Saturday's Island. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Tab Hunter, (more)
- 1937
The popular Ivor Novello musical play Glamorous Night was given a conservative film treatment in 1937--minus much of the Novello score that had made it famous. Opera singer Mary Ellis plays an opera singer (why not?) who falls in with a band of roguish but likeable gypsies. Mary manages to convince her Bohemian cohorts to rescue the King from the machinations of his ambitious prime minister. As "cast insurance" to make certain that Glamorous Night would get American bookings, Hollywood character actors Otto Kruger and Victor Jory are given leading roles. The US distributors also sliced the film down from 81 to 65 minutes, through the simple expedient of removing several songs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Ellis, Otto Kruger, (more)
- 1937
Silent-film leading man (and third husband of Mary Pickford) Charles "Buddy" Rogers was a popular band leader at the time he appeared in the British Let's Make a Night of It. Here's the deal: Buddy owns a nightclub; his wife June Clyde runs a rival night spot. That's about it for the plot. The main attraction of Let's Make a Night of It is its cornucopia of guest stars, including impressionist Afrique, legendary Yiddish stage star Molly Picon, and band leaders Jack Jackson, Jack Harris, Sydney Lipton, Joe Loss, Eddie Carroll, Harry Acres and Rudy Starita (all major names on the British entertainment scene of 1937). Let's Make a Night of It was inspired by Henrik N. Ege's radio play The Silver Spoon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles "Buddy" Rogers, June Clyde, (more)
- 1937
Stanley Lupino, a member in good standing of the ancient British performing family which also produced comedian Lupino Lane and actress Ida Lupino (Stanley's daughter), is the author and one of the stars of Over She Goes. John Wood portrays an ex-musical hall performer who becomes a British lord. He finds it difficult to properly enter society, especially when threatened with blackmail by a woman from his past. Wood calls upon his old vaudeville cronies to get him out of his jam. Over She Goes is enlivened by comic turns from such veteran British stage clowns as Laddie Cliff, Syd Walker and (of course) Stanley Lupino. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Wood, Claire Luce, (more)
- 1936
In this mid-19th century costume romance, a Scottish minister's daughter falls in love with an army officer. Their love is destroyed by the woman's jealous sister. During the Crimean War, the woman joins Florence Nightingale on the front and serves as an army nurse. There she again sees her beloved. This time she saves his life and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this British crime drama, a jealous man seeks to murder his brother. He plans on electrocuting him, but slips up and fries the wrong fellow. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
