Robert A'Dair Movies
Despite hailing from San Francisco, dark-haired Robert A'Dair (sometimes given as Robert Adair) spent his screen career playing English military personnel, bobbies, butlers, footmen, and so on. A'Dair played the cockroach racing Captain Hardy in the 1930 Hollywood screen version of the anti-war play Journey's End (1930), the highlight of a long screen career spent mostly in small supporting roles. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1954
Slim Callaghan, a fictional British private detective in the American "hard boiled" mode, was the central character in several popular Peter Cheyney novels, in a stage play by Gerald Verner, and in the 1948 movie programmer Uneasy Terms, which top-billed Michael Rennie. Meet Mr. Callaghan stars Derrick DeMarney, no stranger to detective films, in the title role. In this "pilot" for a proposed Callaghan movie series, Slim is required to solve the death of a much-hated rich man. Meet Mr. Callagahan made money (no surprise, since it cost practically nothing to make), but no sequels resulted. In the late 1950s, however, a French-made group of Slim Calaghan pictures went on the market, starring Eddie ("Lemmy Caution") Constantine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
The iniquities of circumstantial evidence are explored in the compact crime drama Eight O'Clock Walk. Because he was the last person to see her alive, and because his playful behavior could be misconstrued as harassment, London taxi driver Tom Manning (Richard Attenborough) is arrested for the murder of a little girl. Manning's American wife Jill (Cathy O'Donnell) has a great deal of difficulty finding a lawyer who will defend her husband in court. She finally settles upon Peter Tanner (Derek Farr), who at first is not entirely convinced that his client is innocent. Eventually he is convinced, and even manages to expose the real murderer, one of the witnesses for the prosecution. Based on a true story, Eight O'Clock Walk is one of the most oft-telecast of 1950s British films, and deservedly so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Attenborough, Cathy O'Donnell, (more)
- 1953
A tired-looking Tom Conway plays a private detective who is framed for murder. Eva Bartok, the head of a smuggling, has arranged the frameup. Eva is herself "set up" by the actual killer, unreconstructed Nazi Robert Adair. At this point, Bartok belatedly sides with Conway. Only one of the three above-mentioned actors is still alive at fadeout time: guess which one. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
In this comedy, a diamond merchant's secretary gets fired by her new boss for being too efficient. She ends up kidnapped by a ring of jewel thieves. The clever hostage soon convinces the crook that she is with them and joins the gang. She then sneaks a note to her former boss and he comes to save her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
In this bright British comedy, we meet Capt. Henry St. James (Alec Guinness) as he stands before a firing squad and then learn of the curious chain of events that brought him to his fate. Henry is a ship's captain ferrying a steamer between Gibraltar and North Africa on a regular basis, and he's taken the notion of "a girl in every port" to a whole new level; he has a wife on each side of the water. In Gibraltar, there's Maude (Celia Johnson), an even-tempered housewife who keeps the house tidy and has dinner ready when Henry likes it. In North Africa, mate number two is Nita (Yvonne DeCarlo), who is a sultry fun seeker who likes to hit the nightspots and dance 'till dawn. Between the two of them, Henry would seem to have the best of both worlds; Chief Officer Ricco (Charles Goldner) openly envies Henry's remarkable romantic situation. But things start to go sour when Maude suddenly decides she's a stick in the mud and wants to start living it up, while Nita becomes a homebody and begins learning to cook; Henry is none too happy about either development, and before long he finds he has no spouse on either shore. The Captain's Paradise was trimmed from 93 to 84 minutes for its initial United States release. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, Yvonne De Carlo, (more)
- 1953
Jack Hawkins plays a former British army officer who is surprised in his home one evening by a burglar. His surprise is compounded when the intruder turns out to be one of the men from his World War II army unit. With the straight-arrow diligence of a wartime commander, Hawkins delves into the unfortunate burglar's past, trying to discover why so promising a soldier hit the skids. The film is not so much a mystery but a genteel expose of the socioeconomic problems facing discharged servicemen in postwar England. The Intruder was adapted by Robin Maugham (son of Somerset Maugham) from his own novel Line on Ginger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hawkins, Hugh Williams, (more)
- 1952
In this murder mystery, a woman's brother is killed in a freaky accident, or so she believes. Fortunately for her, an American journalist is more suspicious and so begins roaming the London streets in search of the killer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this crime drama, an avaricious, successful gambler is not content with fabulous wealth and aspires to become a member of the British nobility after he falls in love with one of the country's more prominent blue-blooded women. Unfortunately, to have her, he must mend his ways. He then dumps his girl friend, a nightclub singer who becomes murderously jealous. He must also deal with the mobsters who try to take over his clubs. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
In this comedy, a bookie wins a boutique and decides to modernize the joint by devising, new, more effective programs for running it. Those who have worked in the shop for years are not pleased with the new changes, and when the bookies elaborate plans blow up in his face, they are only too pleased to go back to working for the shop's original owner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
Star-in-the-making Laurence Harvey receives third billing in the British There is Another Sun. Set in the rarefied world of fairground auto racing, the film stars Susan Shaw as Lillian, a stranded carny performer who attaches herself to a pair of young men. One of them, played by Maxwell Reed, is known only as "Racer," a suitable cognomen; the other is Maguire (Laurence Harvey), an aspiring boxer. Anxious to finance his racing activities, the desperate Racer pulls off a robbery, for which Maguire is held responsible. Torn between both men, Lillian finally chooses the "right" one -- at least so far as the script is concerned. There is Another Sun is better known by its American title, Wall of Death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Shaw, Maxwell Reed, (more)
- 1950
Portrait of Clare is largely offered in flashback. The title character, played by Margaret Johnston, spends 10 years in seclusion with her son (Jeremy Spenser) after the death of her young husband (Ronald Howard). For her son's sake, Clare enters into a loveless marriage with lawyer Dudley Wilburn (Robin Bailey). But she doesn't find true happiness until turning to her cousin, Robert Hart (Richard Todd). Produced by British Pathe, Portrait of Clare was released in the U.S. by Pathe's sister-firm Monogram (aka Allied Artists). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Johnston, Richard Todd, (more)
- 1949
A man recently gone AWOL from the Army (Derek Farr) is arrested in a store robbery that occurred while he was shopping. With help from a beautiful lawyer (Joan Hopkins), he must prove his innocence. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, (more)
- 1948
In postwar London, Chicago-raised fashion reporter Linda Medbury, working for a British newspaper, runs across a crime story that's too good to pass up -- all about Sugiani (Joseph Calleia), a racketeer who has quietly amassed a fortune, and near-total control of vice in London, through counterfeiting, black marketeering, and smuggling, all backed by strongarm men who've got everyone he does business with scared. Linda insists on running the story, even though one woman and two writers who previously gotten in Sugiani's way have either disappeared, been killed, or blinded. Her fiance, sportswriter Jumbo Hyde (Derek Farr), an ex-commando captain just back from the service, wants to protect her and enlists the aid of the boxers at a gymnasium where he's well known. But Linda is moving too fast for his efforts, and Sugiani is already tying up loose ends, including eliminating one talkative witness (Ruth Nixon). And when Sugiani and his right-hand man Bar Gorman (igel Patrick) discover that they can't buy or charm Linda off her crusade, they prepare to take more drastic action -- Sugiani sends out his personal enforcer, "the barber" (Hay Petrie). ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carole Landis, Joseph Calleia, (more)
- 1940
In this British murder mystery, Scotland Yard investigates a puzzling killing of an Italian count. The Yard assigns a detective, who is to retire the next day, to solve the puzzle. Three people confess the crime. The late count's wife is the daughter of one of them. Apparently the count had abused her. Another of the confessors was in love with the girl. The third confessor's reason is unclear. Eventually the wife, who had been in hiding, steps forward and offers her own confession. Interestingly, none of the four are guilty. Fortunately, by the story's end, the real killer steps forward and justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
As with any film featuring the outrageously operatic antics of early horror star Tod Slaughter, this slow, stagebound murder-mystery would be completely unwatchable without the producer-star's presence. A third adaptation of the stage play by F. Brooke Warren, this film stars Slaughter as Chevalier Lucio del Gardo, a respected Parisian aristocrat responsible for the ghastly crimes previously attributed to a notorious killer known only as "The Wolf." Del Gardo has concocted a devious plan with his deranged, brutish brother to pull off a rash of bank robberies, using The Wolf's murderous ways to throw police off their trail. Their plans are foiled in the end, though del Gardo apparently escapes the clutches of the law. One of Slaughter's better efforts, made bearable by a brief running time. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1939
In this comedy, two van drivers are tricked by a fellow who tells them that they are working with the law when in fact, they are helping him cheat an insurance company. Trouble ensues, but justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Alfred Hitchcock directed this disappointing misfire, memorable solely for the fact is that it is the final film from Hitchcock's early British period before he left for the Hollywood studio system and David O. Selznick. In the England of the 1800s, a group of ruthless smugglers, led by Sir Humphrey Pengallon (Charles Laughton), prey on ships by blacking out warning signals. When the ships crash on the rocks, the nefarious group loots the remains and kills the sailors. The plot kicks in when the beautiful orphan Mary Yelland (Maureen O'Hara) goes to visit her uncle Joss Merlyn (Leslie Banks) at a creepy hotel called the Jamaica Inn, the home of the gang of smugglers. Mary doesn't realize that Uncle Joss is one of them. Meanwhile, Lloyd's of London sends one of their ablest men, Jem Trahearne (Robert Newton), to investigate the recurring shipwrecks. Jem checks in to the Jamaica Inn, and when the coven of smugglers finds out who he is, they capture him and attempt to kill him. But Mary comes to his rescue and saves him. Through the inn, the smugglers try to recapture Jem -- along with Mary. Thrown together by dire circumstances, the two fall in love. Meanwhile, all the shenanigans occurring at the Jamaica Inn appear to be driving Pengallon insane. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
- 1937
Adapted from an 1863 melodrama, The Ticket of Leave Man stars Tod Slaughter as Tiger Dalton, a notorious criminal mastermind who is in love with May Edwards (Marjorie Taylor), fiancée of a young bank clerk named Bob Brierly (John Warwick). Tiger frames Bob by concocting a plan involving counterfeit money. Bob serves out his prison sentence, getting an early release. May still loves him, but Bob soon discovers that life is difficult for a "ticket of leave man" (i.e., an ex-con), as no employers are willing to take a chance on him. He resorts to using an alias and is able to gain employment at a bank, but Tiger threatens to expose him if he doesn't help him rob the bank. All looks black until May takes things into her own hands, telling the police about Tiger's plans. The police quickly set out in pursuit of the master villain, who gets his comeuppance in an appropriate manner. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Buck Jones both produced and starred in this offbeat Western also featuring silent screen icon Louise Brooks. Hoping to turn it into a profitable dude ranch, drifter Buck Devlin (Buck Jones) purchases the Ranch of Empty Saddles, the former site of a bloody war between cattle ranchers and sheep men. Buck cleans up the place with the help of peddler Swap Boone (Harvey Clark) and his daughter Boots (Brooks), and the ranch is soon teeming with Eastern tourists. As an added treat for the guests, the ranch hands stage a mock recreation of the old feud, which turns deadly serious when someone responds with real bullets. Future B-Western sidekick Frank Yaconelli, appearing unbilled, and a band of cowboys perform "Welcome to the Empty Saddle Ranch" and "Orchid of the Prairie". ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buck Jones, Louise Brooks, (more)
In 1882, Mark Twain published a delightful fairy tale "for young people of all ages"; 45 years later, Warner Bros., inspired by the real-life coronation of Edward VII, created a lavish screen version starring radio favorites Billy and Bobby Mauch in the title roles and Errol Flynn as their dashing savior. As Jane Seymour (Helen Valkis), consort of King Henry VIII (Montagu Love), gives birth to the heir to the throne, the later Edward VI (Bobby Mauch), Tom Canty (Billy Mauch) is born in the nearby slums. Years later, as King Henry is near death, providence brings the two together and they discover that they share a striking resemblance. Having changed clothes with Tom during play, Edward Tudor is mistaken for a pauper by the Captain of the Guard (Alan Hale) and evicted from the palace. In contrast, Tom is believed to be the Prince of Wales by all of sundry and, when protesting, is treated as mentally unsound. Only the Earl of Hertford (Claude Rains), the king's scheming advisor, realizes the truth but keeps quiet to further his own career. With a price on his head, the real Edward lives the life of a pauper among the thieves and beggars of London, befriended only by Miles Hendon (Flynn), whom he, to Miles' great amusement, creates an earl. But despite his skepticism, Miles is right there to rescue Edward from the murderous Captain of the Guard and return him to the palace just as Tom is about to be crowned king. Proving his true identity by locating the missing Seal of England, Edward is restored to the throne and Hertford is banished from the realm. Miles is recognized for his bravery and Tom is made a ward of the king for life. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Claude Rains, (more)
- 1937
In this comedy, a photographer is placed in charge of the village coffer. He takes the cash and hides it in an old dresser. The trouble begins when his wife sells the junkie chest to a junk man. A frantic search ensues. Fortunately, during the hunt, the cameraman locates an old charter that saves the village from the encroachment of developers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Call It a Day is a Warner Bros. attempt at British light comedy. Nothing much happens of any consequence in this story of a day in the life of a typical middle-class London family, headed by accountant Ian Hunter. The husband is tempted by a seductress (Marcia Ralston), the wife (Freda Inescourt) tries but fails to have a "fling" herself, the daughter (Olivia De Havilland) throws herself at a married artist (Walter Woolf King), and all is set aright before the sun goes down. The film's funniest moments belong to droll Roland Young and sharp-tongued Alice Brady. Call it a Day was adapted from Dodie Smith's gossamer-thin stage play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia de Havilland, Ian Hunter, (more)
- 1936
In this musical comedy, a pacifistic song-and-dance man is compelled to don a military uniform for one of his acts. Before he can blink, he finds himself fighting in Germany. Later he is tossed into jail after being accused of being an enemy spy. He escapes and somehow manages to capture a strategic hill; he is then awarded the prestigious Croix de Guerre for his heroism. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe E. Brown, Joan Blondell, (more)
- 1936
Suzy is the film in which Cary Grant, overcome by the beauty and vivacity of Jean Harlow, sings her a love ballad! This lighthearted moment aside, Suzy, adapted from a novel by Herbert Gorman is a standard-issue love triangle, set against the tapestry of World War I. Harlow plays a London showgirl, married to Irish engineer Franchot Tone. When foreign spy Benita Hume shoots Tone, mistaking him as a threat against her mission, the terrified Harlow flees into the night, certain that she will be accused of her husband's murder. After the war breaks out, Harlow, believing herself a widow, falls in love with handsome aviator Cary Grant. She marries the well-bred but irresponsible young ace, only to discover that Tone has not been killed after all! This being an idealized World War I film, somebody is going to end up sacrificing his/her life on behalf of somebody else, but we're not about to reveal any more. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone, (more)
- 1936
Novelist Ursula Parrott's biggest best-seller was 1928's Ex-Wife; less successful was her subsequent book Brilliant Marriage, which may be why poverty-row Invincible Pictures was able to afford the movie rights. Ray Walker plays a slimy reporter who dredges up a scandal in the past of a well-to-do family. In pursuit of his story, Walker romances the family's pretty and vulnerable daughter Joan Marsh. Soured on all men, Marsh refuses to believe that her rich sweetheart John Marlowe is sincere. He is, but she's doesn't tumble to this for nearly an hour. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Marsh, Ray Walker, (more)
