Sally Gray Movies
A bewitching blonde with a deliciously throaty speaking voice, Sally Gray was a London stage actress from childhood. After a false start in 1930, Gray established herself as a welcome screen presence in 1935, specializing in musicals and light comedies. She was introduced to American film fans in the 1938 RKO production The Saint in London. In 1942, Sally Gray temporarily retired from the screen, returning to the fore in tense, dramatic roles in such memorable films as Green for Danger (1946), They Made Me a Fugitive (1948) and The Hidden Room (1950). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
This macabre horror satire from Canada features an arch performance from Christopher Lee as the sinister overseer of the Underwood Asylum, whose charges come from extremely wealthy families. When relatives of these patients begin to turn up dead in alarming numbers -- with their incarcerated heirs' fortunes subsequently signed over to the asylum -- hulking twin patients the Biggs Brothers (Jack Leavy and Leo Leavy) hire intrepid detective Dick Driver (Tell Schreiber) to uncover Lee's connection to the crimes. It turns out The Keeper maintains complete control over the inmates by means of a powerful and sinister-looking hypnosis device, directing them to do his murderous bidding and doling out remote-controlled punishments to those who step out of line. A bit too jokey to be suspenseful, this film still has its inventive moments, and plays like a slight parody of Norbert Jacques's Dr. Mabuse series. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1953
Released in the U.S. by Lippert Studios, I'll Get You was filmed in Britain as Escape Route. George Raft stars as Steve Rossi, an FBI man, sent to London on the trail of an international kidnapping ring. The villains specialize in abducting nuclear scientists, then smuggling them behind the Iron Curtain. Rossi's British contact is military intelligence agent Joan Miller (Sally Gray). Several false leads and red herrings later, the two agents close in on the kidnappers on the docks of the Thames. But the terrorists aren't about to give up peaceably, a fact that leads to an explosive finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Raft, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1949
Roland Pertwee and his son Michael Pertwee penned the stage play The Paragon, and then Michael adapted the play for film. Curiously, the central characters in the story are father and son: a baronet, and his deceased war-hero offspring. The grief-stricken baronet builds a memorial to his son's honor--whereupon sonny boy turns up very much alive, and very much of a jerk. The drama (or rather, melodrama), arises from the father's efforts to preserve the honor of the family name. This is another of director Lance Comfort's compact, compelling film noir-ish programmers of the 1940s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Gray, Stephen Murray, (more)
- 1949
Blacklisted in Hollywood, director Edward Dmytryk managed to find work in England. Dmytryk's Obsession is based on Alec Coppel's suspense play A Man About a Dog. Robert Newton stars as Dr. Clive Riordan, the insanely jealous husband of unfaithful Storm Riordan (Sally Gray). Aware that Storm is having a torrid affair with an American named Bill Kronin (Phil Brown), Riordan kidnaps the man and chains him up in a deserted building, intending to kill him with an acid bath. The wife's dog, however, turns up at the last minute and spoils his plot. Obsession was released in the U.S. as The Hidden Room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Newton, Sally Gray, (more)
At a World War II emergency hospital, a postman dues under anesthetic during a relatively minor operation. One of the nurses who was present announces that the man's death was no accident, but a murder -- and then she, too, is murdered. The police are called in, led by Inspector Cockrill (Alastair Sim) of Scotland Yard, and he soon determines that any one of the five surviving members of the surgical team might have had a motive for the murders. In the course of his investigation, he also uncovers an array of both eccentric and ugly personal information about most of those present, but no killer that he can ascertain for certain. He must finally draw the murderer out by putting one of the suspects at risk. In the midst of the suspense are moments of droll comedy, of the sort that one would expect from a movie made by the authors of The Lady Vanishes, along with a palpably rich late wartime atmosphere which, surprisingly, did not repel war-weary audiences on either side of the Altantic. Indeed, Sim is so beguilingly witty and charismatic in his eccentric way as Inspector Cockrill, that the wonder is that there was never a follow-up movie or even a series built around his character. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alastair Sim, Leo Genn, (more)
Clem Morgan (Trevor Howard), an embittered ex-RAF pilot, mistakenly believes the life of crime is for him in this exceptionally dark British film noir, directed by Alberto Cavalcanti. He joins a gang of black marketeers led by the aptly named Narcey (short for Narcissus) (Griffith Jones), an egotistical and sadistic thug. The two develop an almost immediate mutual dislike, leading Narcey to frame Morgan for killing a policeman. While serving the resulting 15-year sentence, Morgan is visited by Narcey's sometime girlfriend Sally (Sally Gray), who tells him that the thug has taken up with the prisoner's fiancée, and that a witness to the frame might come forward. This triggers an even more bitter Morgan to escape and return to London to try to clear and avenge himself. Many postwar American films noirs dealt with alienated but law-abiding veterans, some of them framed for crimes they did not commit, e.g. Alan Ladd's Johnny Morrison in The Blue Dahlia. This British effort goes a noteworthy step further by placing the protagonist in the criminal underworld. Its downbeat ending is consistent with its unrelenting cynicism. ~ Steve Press, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Gray, Trevor Howard, (more)
- 1947
In this costume drama, a woman finds herself the prize in a battle between two jealous brothers. Eventually she marries the suave one, but finds that he is most displeased by her inability to behave in a matter he deems appropriate for a woman of her station. The sad wife takes her troubles to the other brother who suggests she divorce her husband and take up with him. She ignores the advice and reconciles with her man. The angered brother then poisons the husband and tries to get the wife blamed for the death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Gray, Eric Portman, (more)
- 1946
Of the many films (English and American) bearing the title Carnival, only one was based on the Compton MacKenzie novel of the same name. This 1946 melodrama stars Sally Gray as a 19th century ballet dancer who makes an unfortunate career move by marrying a taciturn Cornish farmer (Bernard Miles). Sally soon longs for the bright lights of the big city, and for the arms of her artist lover (Michael Wilding). Her husband is all too aware of this; and when the lover comes calling to renew the affair, the husband shoots Gray to death. The first film version of Compton MacKenzie's Carnival was filmed in 1931 as Dance Pretty Lady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Arundell, Marie Ault, (more)
- 1941
- NR
Dangerous Moonlight was the original British title for the wartime drama Suicide Squadron. Anton Walbrook plays a famed Polish composer who refuses to leave his homeland when the Nazis march in. His friends literally have to hoodwink him into leaving so that he will avoid extermination. Still anxious to avenge his countrymen, Walbrook joins a Polish air squadron headquartered in England. The film's romantic angle is personified by Sally Gray, an American newswoman whom Walbrook marries after a whirlwind courtship. The film itself is no better or worse than most others of its kind, but has remained etched in the collective memory of wartime filmgoers thanks to its omnipresent utilization of The Warsaw Concerto on the soundtrack. Financed by RKO Radio pictures, Dangerous Moonlight was distributed by Republic Pictures during the war years, though rights reverted to RKO in 1947. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anton Walbrook, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1941
In this mystery, a detective trying to crack a forgery ring gets one of its members to go to prison to help him. When he gets out three years later, he finds that his girlfriend is now with the ringleader, and the detective must save him from being hanged by the gang. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1941
The Saint's Vacation was filmed in London by RKO Radio's British division. This time Hugh Sinclair is cast as Leslie Charteris' suave soldier of fortune Simon Templar, aka The Saint. Most of the story takes place in Switzerland (or a reasonable facsimile), with Templar interrupting his holiday to retrieve a missing secret code. The key to the mystery is a Swiss music box with a most unusual tune, diligently sought after by enemy agent Rudolph (Cecil Parker) and British secret service operative Valerie (Leueen McGrath). Aiding Templar in his investigation are intrepid gal reporter Mary Langdon (Sally Gray) and droll sidekick Monty Hayward (Arthur Macrae), while Inspector Teal (Gordon MacLeod) of Scotland Yard can only fuss and fume on the sidelines. Tossed off as a mere quota quickie, The Saint's Vacation nonetheless earned good bookings in England and the US. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Sinclair, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1940
Lambeth Walk is the film version of the evergreen West End musical Me and My Girl, which was still being successfully revived into the 1980s. The enormously popular music-hall entertainer Lupino Lane repeats his stage characterization as Bill, a diffident working-class cockney who finds himself heir to a title and a vast estate. Though he now has his pick of England's most gorgeous debutantes, Bill remains faithful to his blue-collar girlfriend Sally (Sally Gray). The film's new title was designed to cash in on a then-popular dance craze, which is performed by the high-kicking Lupino Lane in the course of events. In America, Lambeth Walk was distributed by MGM, whose British Elstree Studios facilities had put the film together in the first place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lupino Lane, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1939
In an unusual move for a mere program picture, RKO Radio filmed A Saint in London on location in England, using a largely British cast and crew. George Sanders makes his second appearance as suave soldier of fortune Simon Templer, aka The Saint. This time, Templar gets mixed up with a gang of counterfeiters who've murdered and robbed a European count of 1,000,000 pounds. He is aided reluctantly by Scotland Yard inspector Teal (Gordon McLeod), who's convinced that Templar himself pulled off the heist, and less reluctantly by light-fingered Dugan (David Burns) and dizzy socialite Penny Parker (Sally Gray). The Saint in London was directed by John Paddy Carstairs, who later worked on some of the episodes of the Saint TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Sanders, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1939
Filmed in 1939 but not put into general release until 1942, Lady in Distress stars Michael Redgrave as an innocent bystander who thinks he's witnessed a murder. In fact, what he's seen is the rehearsal of an illusion conjured up by stage magician Paul Lukas. Sally Gray, Lukas' wife and assistant, eventually finds herself the victim of her husband's jealousy. This time around, Lukas is certain that Redgrave's suspicions will be laughed off by the police in light of the young man's earlier misapprehensions. Incredibly enough, the central situation of the British Lady in Distress served as the basis for a Columbia 2-reel comedy, Hiss and Yell (1946). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Redgrave, Sally Gray, (more)
- 1939
In this drama, a young son follows in his father's and his grandfather's footsteps by attending military college at Sandhurst. There he ends up getting strongly disciplined for abusing a horse. This results in his dropping out to become a jockey and his riding in the Grand National. In the end, he proves himself an excellent horseman and is able to return to Sandhurst with his head held high. He then wins the coveted Sword of Honour. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
In this romantic comedy, a new marriage gets off to a rocky start when the newlyweds travel to Switzerland for a peaceful honeymoon and get in a big fight instead. The angry husband takes off in a huff. He goes skating and is mistaken for a champion hockey player on a visiting British team. His bumbling antics on the ice cause the English team to win a crucial victory. They also win the respect of his bride and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
Crimefighting Englishman Reeder is assisted by a young man in his efforts to expose a counterfeiting gang. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Gray
- 1938
This breezy British action comedy stars Gordon Harker as Albert Rughouse, cockney conductor of a passenger bus running the Victoria Station-Epping Forest route. In his spare time, Albert indulges in magic tricks, become rather proficient at sleight-of-hand. This talent serves him well when his bus is commandeerd by foreign spies bent on stealing valuable government aviation plans. Proving that the hand is quicker than the eye, Albert flummoxes the villains and makes the world safe for Democracy once more. No mere programmer, The Lightning Conductor is exceptionally well cast, with such reliables as John Lodge, Sally Gray, Ernst Thesiger and Steven Geray going through their usual expert paces. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, John Lodge, (more)
- 1938
When a woman gets money from her guardian, Lupino, to finance her newspaper she accused him of embezzling. Luckily for all involved, everything is straightened out and Lupino marries his secretary while the ward marries Lupino's friend. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this melodrama, a crooner becomes pals with a gangster and saves him from his own vindictive moll (she is also the crooner's singing partner). The singer is then blinded in an accident. To repay his favor, the gangster pays for the medical treatment he needs to regain his sight. Meanwhile the gangster tries to avoid his crack-shot ex-gal. Unfortunately she finds him, so he must don a mask and pretend to be her partner during a radio broadcast. Too bad he cannot sing like his friend. The woman recognizes him, but decides that he is too lovable to kill. The story, though not a musical, contains many songs and variety acts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1937
Like Rick's Café Americain, the Café Colette is a rendezvous for virtually every spy in Europe. Greta Nissen stars as Russian princess Vanda Muroff, whose seductive powers are so overwhelming that one otherwise intelligent secret agent after another is willing to sacrifice all their top secrets to her on a moment's notice. Only Ryan (Paul Cavanaugh), an outwardly dissolute playboy, is able to resist Vanda's charms. It turns out that Ryan is actually a spy himself -- and one of the best in the business, at that! In the true Hitchcock tradition, the "secret papers" in Café Colette aren't nearly as important as the trials and tribulations undergone by the characters to get their hands on them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Cavanagh, Greta Nissen, (more)
- 1936
Calling the Tune uses its skeletal plot to celebrate the British record industry, circa 1936. Adele Dixon plays the daughter of a powerful record company executive. She falls in love with Clifford Evans, who happens to be the man her father once cheated in order to build up his show business empire. Amidst several specialty numbers, love finds a way. Calling the Tune anticipates the 20th Century-Fox "feel good" musicals of the 1940s by spotlighting several prominent guest stars, including actor Cedric Hardwicke, music hall legend George Robey, conductor Sir Henry Wood, and the Queen's Hall Light Orchestra. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1936
British stage and screen favorite Stanley Lupino (Ida's dad) wrote and starred in this relentlessly upbeat musical comedy. Lupino portrays a struggling writer who is mistaken for a millionaire. The producers of a threadbare musical revue approach Lupino in hopes that he'll finance their show. Lupino sees an opportunity to help his own career, thus he maneuvers about to raise the necessary funding--all the while maintaining the illusion that he's a man of untold wealth. Cheer Up costars comic actor Roddy Hughes as a burlesqued matinee idol named Dirk Dirk, while popular film star Sally Grayalso shows up....playing popular film star Sally Gray. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1935
D.W. Griffith served as supervisor (but not director) for the Fine Arts production Cross Currents. Helen Ware plays Elizabeth Crane, the fiancee of handsome and wealthy Paul Beale Courtenay Foote. Upon learning that her kid sister Flavia (Teddy Sampson) is hopelessly in love with Beale, Elizabeth nobly steps aside to allow sis to marry the man. After the marriage, Beale and Flavia go on a yachting voyage, accompanied by Elizabeth and several other wedding guests. The yacht catches fire, stranding Elizabeth and Beale together on a desert island. By an amazing coincidence, the island is inhabited by one of Elizabeth's former suitors, Silas Randolph (Sam DeGrasse). The two men fight over Elizabeth's attentions, and for a moment it looks as though the physically stronger Silas will win. But Elizabeth takes a hand in matters by killing Silas, allowing her and Beale to live as common-law husband and wife until their rescue. Returning to civilization, the couple discovers that Flavia is pregnant with Beale's child. With the same nobility she exhibited in reel one, Elizabeth once again removes herself from Beale's life, insisting that he "belongs" to Flavia and swearing him to silence regarding their idyllic island romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
