Bromley Davenport Movies
- 1942
Released worldwide by 20th Century Fox, Carol Reed's The Young Mr. Pitt is a static but sincere filmed biography of 19th century British prime minister William Pitt Jr., here played by Robert Donat. Appointed to his office at the tender age of 24, Mr. Pitt spends most of his time in Parliament alerting his countrymen of the dangers posed by France's Emperor Napoleon (Herbert Lom, in his first English-speaking role). The Frank Launder-Sidney Gilliat screenplay works overtime drawing parallels between the Pitt-Napoleon conflict and the present crisis involving Great Britain and Nazi Germany. Various historical personages are impersonated by the likes of Phyllis Calvert, John Mills, and Robert Morley, with Morley stealing the show hands down. Like its thematic "twin" Penn of Pennsylvania, Young Mr. Pitt is lavishly produced, but suffers from pedantic speechifying and substandard special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Donat, Robert Morley, (more)
- 1941
Eden Philpotts' "provincial" comic novel and play The Farmer's Wife was first filmed in the silent era by Alfred Hitchcock. The 1940 talkie version was directed by Leslie Arliss, son of stage star George Arliss. The story remained the same: A middle-aged widower attempts to select a wife from his rural district's eligible females (Basil Sydney). Three unsuccessful dalliances later, the farmer settles for his housekeeper, whom the audience has been rooting for all along. The Farmer's Wife is a prime example of the sort of fare that struck a proper chord with British filmgoers, but whose appeal would be lost to any other nationality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Basil Sydney, Wilfred Lawson, (more)
- 1941
In this entry in the long-running British comedy series, boisterous Irish washerwoman Mother Riley takes on a spy ring while living in a creepy castle purported to be haunted. The spies, of course are the "ghosts," and they are trying to scare the dickens out of her so they can continue their plot to steal an inventor's plans. Spooky fun begins when she starts scaring them in return. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1940
In this rather theatrical comedy, a millionaire and a starving author exchange places. The beleaguered millionaire does this so he can find a little peace and quiet. The ersatz millionaire goes to a boarding house where he finds moochers at every turn. Meanwhile the real millionaire's wife throws a monkey wrench in the scheme when she surprises her "husband" at the house. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Evennett, Evelyn Roberts, (more)
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)
- 1933
When a young Norwegian girl is obsessed with becoming a star, her benefactor organizes a crazy publicity stunt to get her a studio contract. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1932
In this melodrama, a delicately beautiful ghetto girl works her fingers to the bone in hopes of escaping the oppressive poverty of her home. Her hard work pays off and she becomes a prosperous fashion designer. Her success is threatened when a former acquaintance reappears and demands that she hand over a lot of money lest her dark, impoverished past be revealed to the wealthy men who woo her. Fortunately, a brave boxer, who has secretly loved her all along, takes care of the extortionist and the woman is free to marry her true love--a doctor's son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1927
Roses of Picardy was based on Spanish Farm and Sixty-Four, Ninety-Four, a novel by R. H. Mottram. The story is set during WWI, when Lt. Skene (John Stuart) of the British army falls in love with Flemish lass Madeleine Vanderlynden (Lillian Hall-Davis). Trouble is, French soldier Georges d'Archeville (Jameson Thomas) is also enamored of the girl -- and Georges has the advantage of being from a wealthy, aristocratic family. Madeleine is unable to decide between the two men, but the fortunes of war determine the story's outcome. Despite the input of two top directors, Roses of Picardy was surprisingly pedestrian and plodding -- especially at an attenuated length of nine reels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Stuart, Humberston Wright, (more)
