Barbara Everest Movies
- 1941
Produced by Britain's Teddington Studios on behalf of Hollywood's Warner Bros., the morale-boosting The Prime Minister details the career of 19th century political wizard Benjamin Disraeli, here played by John Gielgud. Filmed in the early months of WW2, the screenplay parallels the diplomatic cunning of Disraeli with the more recent maneuvers of Sir Winston Churchill. This is especially obvious when Disraeli takes on the Prussian Empire during the 1878 Berlin conference, emerging triumphant over a flock of stock-company crypto-fascists. In the role of Queen Victoria, Fay Compton proves a worthy sparring partner for "Dizzy", while Stephen Murray is equally effective as the Prime Minister's principal parliamentary antagonist Gladstone. Other minor roles are vividly realized by actors ranging from venerable Will Fyffe to teenager Glynis Johns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Gielgud, Diana Wynyard, (more)
- 1941
Based on Monica Ewer's novel Ring O'Roses, the British musiccomedy He Found a Star is dominated by the thousand-watt personality of music hall favorite Vic Oliver. He's cast as Lucky Lyndon, a seedy but enthusiastic talent agent specializing in small-time variety acts. Lyndon spends the entire picture searching for the next "big star", never realizing that his secretary Ruth Cavour (played by Sarah Churchill, Winston's daughter) is madly in love with him. By the time he's figured out what's what, Lyndon has nearly come to grief trying to promote ungrateful nightclub songstress Suzanne (Evelyn Dall). An average subject at best, He Found a Star is distinguished by the creative cinematography of Oscar-winning lensman Ernest Palmer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vic Oliver, Sarah Churchill, (more)
- 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)
- 1940
In this suspense film, a tormented young man plots his revenge against his abuser. He decides that he will murder the fellow student. First he will drug the cruel lad. Then he will dump the body in a trunk and drive into the countryside where he will dump it in a deep hole. Things go as planned until the victim wakes up. The disturbed student is subsequently captured. He confesses. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Manning Whiley, Barbara Everest, (more)
- 1939
Maxwell Archer, Detective was adapted from Hugh Clevely's novel Meet Maxwell Archer. John Loder plays the famed ficitional private detective whose greatest pleasure in life is to second guess Scotland Yard. Superintendent Gordon (Athole Stewart) calls Archer in to solve an apparently unsolveable case. Ingredients in the stew include a sinister father-and-son duo who may know more than they let on. Loder's leading lady in Leueen McGrath, later famous as the second wife of American playwright George S. Kaufman. Filmed in 1939, Maxwell Archer, Detective was released in the US in 1942, to capitalize on star John Loder's Hollywood popularity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Loder, Leucen MacGrath, (more)
- 1939
In this courtroom drama, a remake of a 1931 film, a woman is suspected of killing her husband after a revolver is found in her attic. A coroner is determined to prove that she did it, but thanks to the assistance of a quick-witted lawyer she is eventually found innocent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
1930s British radio show hits with its music acts are the focus of a rivalry between manufacturers who would like to sponsor the show. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
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
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Allan, John Stuart, (more)
- 1937
This is the first entry in what became a long-running British comedy series. It is the story of a wealthy match maker who leaves his vast fortune to his family when he dies. But to get the money, they must follow one condition: they must take in the first person they see selling matches. Soon the family find themselves housing a rambunctious, opinionated Irish washerwoman, Old Mother Riley and her daughter. Mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Directed by Raoul Walsh, When Thief Meets Thief chronicles the story of two ex-partners in crime who have fallen in love with the same woman. When cat-burglar Ricky Morgan (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) gets emotionally involved with one of his victims, Glory Fane (Valerie Hobson), he doesn't realize that she's engaged to his adversary, Jim Dial (Alan Hale). Claiming to have reformed, Dial (Hale) masquerades as a successful businessman. When Jim winds up dead, however, Glory (Hobson) is blamed for his murder. Though innocent himself, Ricky (Fairbanks) tries to take the rap for her. Once the police figure out that Jim committed suicide after his stocks crashed, Glory and Ricky are both set free and allowed to continue their newfound romance. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Valerie Hobson, (more)
- 1937
The murder of a songstress promotes the investigation by reporter Jim Martin (Hugh Wakefield) to clear the name of Lady Constance Gaye's (Antoinette Cellier) missing brother. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1936
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
- Starring:
- Conrad Veidt, Renee Ray, (more)
- 1936
When a king suddenly abdicates, his subjects are lead to believe that it is for the love of a foreigner in this romance. In reality, he is stepping down so avaricious businessmen can crown their own man king. The deposed monarch spends his exile on the Riviera, while the woman, filled with guilt because he stepped down for her, lives in Holland. Interestingly enough, Edward VIII the King of England abdicated for the love of American woman Wallis Simpson a few weeks after this British film was released. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clive Brook, Helen Vinson, (more)
- 1936
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
- 1936
Based upon The Chase of the Golden Plate by Jacques Futrelle, The Man Behind the Mask was the last film Michael Powell made before The Edge of the World established him as a major director. As the film begins, loving couple Nick Barclay (Hugh Williams) and June Slade $Jane Baxter) are attending a fancy masked ball, from which they plan to elope. Nick, however, is assaulted, and his assailant takes his place at the party. Thus disguised, he steals away with both June and a famous artifact, the Shield of Kahm, that belongs to her father, Lord Slade. Nick, whose story of being assaulted is not given full credence, begins a search for June, enlisting the aid of a Dr. Walpole and his secretary along the way. They rescue June and the Shield from an inn, although they do not capture the thief. June and Nick proceed with their plans to marry; but with the burglar still loose and upset that his plans were foiled, neither they nor the Shield are safe. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- 1935
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
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, Betty Stockfeld, (more)
Starring Seymour Hicks as the title character, Scrooge is a faithful adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol about a heartless miser who discovers the true meaning of Christmas when three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve. Hicks co-wrote the screenplay to this film, which is a thoroughly entertaining and effective retelling of a familiar story ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seymour Hicks, Donald Calthrop, (more)
- 1934
One doesn't expect much from British programmers of the 1930s, so it comes as a relief that River Wolves has a great deal of entertainment value. Michael Hogan plays a sea captain who aspires to become a novelist. Hogan decides to soak up "local flavor" in a small waterfront community. He and fellow writer John Mills (in one of his earliest movie appearances) find themselves rivals for the affections of innkeeper's daughter Helga Moray. Both Hogan and Moray come to the rescue when Mills is threatened by crooks. River Wolves was based on the Edward Dignon - Geoffrey Swaffer stage play The Lion and the Lamb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
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
- 1934
In this strange, tuneful melodrama, the career of a cabaret singer is interrupted by an extortionist. To save her daughter from the ensuing scandal, the woman pretends to kill herself. She then joins a convent and becomes a nun. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
In this melodrama, a troubled singer is protected by the manager who really loves her. He has always loved her even after she marries his rotten half-brother and gets pregnant. When her philandering hubby's mistress is found dead, her devoted manage takes the rap and goes to prison. Later the husband abandons his wife and child. He is then killed during a shoot out. At that point the singer discovers the truth and decides to await the release of the manager. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
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
- Starring:
- John Stuart, Marie Ney, (more)
- 1933
In this romantic comedy, a 30-year-old spinster dreams of finding a man, but finds it difficult living with her older sister. Another of her big sisters passes on and leaves her a generous inheritance which she can only collect if she leaves her other sister's home for six months. The girl does this, and when others learn of her financial worth, she finds herself surrounded by suitors. Unsettled by all this attention, the girl decides to protect herself by claiming that she is engaged to a handsome lawyer. In the end the two actually do get married and prosperous happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
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
- Starring:
- Kay Hammond, Victor Stanley, (more)
- 1933
In this comedy, a young woman rebels against her betrothal and runs away to Paris. While on the train she meets and falls for a handsome man. It is a tumultuous courtship, but in the end, romantic bliss ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessie Matthews, Owen Nares, (more)
