Barbara Everest Movies

It's a good thing that the British The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol is a silent film; we'd hate to watch some poor actor stumble over the pronunciation of the title character's name. That character, a silly-but-lovable chap who poses as a baron, is played by Kenelm Foss, who also produced the film. In the course of 5 reels, Foss--or Pujol--markets a remedy for corns, takes a lovable little orphan under his wing, patches up a lover's quarrel, and marries into money. With the exception of leading lady Barbara Everest, few of the cast members of Aristide Pujol were able to achieve any sort of screen fame. The film was based on a novel by W.J. Locke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

British farmer James Falconer (Guy Newall) worships Ivy Duke (Ann Wetherall) from afar. When Falconer is blinded in an accident, Ivy goes to work for him. This does not sit well with Falconer's nagging spouse Kate (Barbara Everest). Even so, Falconer remains faithful to Kate, until her own infidelities permit him to pledge his troth with Ivy. Star Guy Newall also directed and adapted this film version of the Warwick Deeping novel Fox Farm. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In Belloc-Lowndes' original novel The Lodger, the reclusive young man suspected of being Jack the Ripper turns out to be exactly who he's assumed to be. When Alfred Hitchcock directed the 1926 film version of The Lodger, he was advised that the public would never accept the popular star Ivor Novello as a serial killer, thus the film was given a happy ending. Novello himself wrote the screenplay for the 1932 non-Hitchcock talkie version of The Lodger, which, though updated from the novel's 19th century setting, retains its original shocker climax. Well received at the time of its release but rarely seen in recent years, the 1932 Lodger can be regarded as a serviceable bridge between the 1926 Hitchcock silent and the definitive 1944 20th Century-Fox remake starring Laird Cregar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Corinne Griffith, the stunningly attractive "orchid lady" of the silent screen, originally intended to retire when talkies came in. The wisdom of this decision was demonstrated in her handful of sound-picture appearances, of which Lily Christine is among the least memorable. While driving along in her touring car, Lily Christine (Griffith) breaks her glasses. Since her travelling companion Rupert Harvey (Colin Clive) can't drive at all, he and Lily are forced to spend the evening at Harvey's home. It's all quite innocent, but Harvey's wife Muriel (Anne Grey) suspects that her husband and Lily have been canoodling around, an opinion also held by Lily's own husband Ivor (Jack Trevor), an inveterate philanderer who has been looking for an excuse to divorce his wife. Disgraced in the eyes of the world, Lily attempts to kill herself, but there's a happy ending in the offing for herself and Harvey -- who, as it turns out, has loved her all along. Lily Christine was based on a considerably racier novel by Michael Arlen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama, a mining engineer is preparing to leave his recent South American job and return to England when he receives a depressing letter from his wife telling him that she has found a new lover with whom she wants to run away with. While her husband makes the long voyage home, the wife changes her mind. She decides to break it off with her lover, but en route to his hotel has a car wreck and is taken to the hotel by someone else. Suddenly the jealous husband arrives. Knowing only that she has been having an affair, the husband kills the lover. During the trial, his wife testifies on his behalf and admits her wrong doing. He is given a shorter sentence. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, two crooks are finally freed from prison. As they prepare to leave, they receive the possessions they came in with. Among the articles is an umbrella. A cache of stolen jewels are hidden in the handle. The trouble begins when the umbrella accidentally ends up with a woman. In the end, the one who loaned it to her tells the cops and during a large masquerade ball, they capture the crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this murder mystery, a detective investigates the death of a prominent millionaire and finds that the dead man's family jewels are missing. Later the detective proves that the purloiner of the precious stones is none other than the millionaire's own lawyer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a young man defends himself after he is attacked by a mugger. He shoots the thief, and believes that he has killed him. Though his parents talk him into keeping mum about it all, the man is consumed with guilt until he discovers that the crook only feigned death to escape a murder rap. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

An uncharacteristically light-hearted Edgar Wallace yarn was the basis of this mild British comedy-drama. Gordon Harker stars as The Lad, a cheeky ex-convict who is mistaken for a private detective. Paid a huge sum of money not to dig up dirt on the Fandon family, our hero is all for taking the money and running. But upon being reunited with old flame Pauline (Jane Carr), now the Fandon's maid, he decides to leave the money behind and turn over a new leaf. A cute surprise ending allows The Lad to come out on top without resorting to dishonesty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Passing of the Third Floor Back, Jerome K. Jerome's mystical 1908 stage play, was given perfunctory treatment in this 1935 film version. Conrad Veidt assumes the old J. Forbes Robertson role as the Mysterious Stranger who moves into a cheap boarding house run by despicable landlord Wright (Frank Cellier). The other tenants are selfish, lecherous, mercenary, envious and overall not very good company. One by one, the tenants are rechanneled into more positive pursuits by the Stranger -- but being mere mortals, they soon forget the lessons learned and revert to their old ways. That the Stranger is meant to be Jesus Christ is rather obvious from the outset, but such were the censorial restrictions of the era that the character's true identity is effectively clouded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this anti-war drama, set in England during its Depression, a demobilized major from WW I, tries to a veteran's reunion that is to include soldiers from all sides of the conflict. To do this, the major loses everything to no avail. Just as the despairing pacifist is about to end his life, an old army orderly, now a noncommissioned officer appears, cheers him up, and helps make his dream become reality. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This drama chronicles the love affair between a composer and the concert singer who jilts him for the love of a count. In anger, the composer kills the count in a duel, but loses the use of his right arm. Later the singer dies, and the composer stops writing music. Twenty years pass and he ends up falling in love with the singer's daughter who inspires him to write an operetta. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide