Richard M. Grey Movies
Actor Walter Matthau directed his first and only feature film with the black-and-white crime drama Gangster Story. In an unusual noncomedic role, Matthau plays Jack Martin, a local gangster who wants to run his own crime syndicate in the neighborhood run by Earl Dawson (Bruce McFarlan). They eventually team up and plan a heist. Carol Grace plays the reform-minded girlfriend. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Carol Grace, (more)
- 1958
This WWII espionage drama is based on the true tale of a British spy, as told in the story by J. Alvin Kugelmass. Alex Schottland (Jack Hawkins) is a career agent for England, having served during WWI. He is assigned to Nazi Germany and rises to the rank of general as WWII breaks out. His contact is Cornaz (Felix Alymer), who pretends to be a clock seller. But Cornaz's identity is discovered, and he is brutally murdered. Schottland overcomes suspicions and makes contacts with a new British agent, Lili Geyr (Gia Scala), who is a nightclub singer. His love for her is first feigned as part of the spy game -- then becomes real. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hawkins, Gia Scala, (more)
- 1958
Charles Brent (Grant Withers), owner of the building where Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) keeps his offices, is being blackmailed by Arthur Binney (Richard Erdman), who threatens to expose the sordid past of Brent's young wife Anne (Mari Aldon). When Binney turns up dead, Brent takes the rap, believing that Anne is the guilty party. Complicating the situation for Brent's attorney Perry is the fact that Brent's secretary Enid (Barbara Baxley) had earlier attempted suicide when Anne married her boss. This episode is based on a 1956 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Accused of murdering her Uncle Martin (Alexander Price), Nadine Marshall (Christine White) makes a detailed confession of the crime while under drugged hypnosis. The doctor handling the case informs Perry Mason (Raymond Burr), who despite this damning evidence is convinced that Nadine is innocent. The key to the solution would seem to be Nadine's engagement to one John Locke (Sherwood Price)--which under normal circumstances would be a happy occasion, but which for reasons unknown prompted Nadine to attempt suicide! This episode is based on a 1954 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Harriet Bain (Virginia Vincent) is accused of murdering J.J. Stanley (James Bell), the man who had embezzled a huge sum of money from the Texas National Bank in collaboration with Harriet's father Ned (Carl Benton Reid). It seems that, just before his death, Stanley had approached Ned and threatened to expose him unless he was paid off. In preparing his defense of Harriet, Perry (Raymond Burr) surreptitiously erases a taped recording of the meeting between Stanley and Bain--one of the series' few overt examples of Perry actually destroying evidence! This episode is based on a 1953 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
While on a fishing trip, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and Paul Drake (William Hopper) reel in a most unusual "catch": a beautiful girl named Sally Fenner (Peggy Castle), who had jumped into the ocean while fleeing a pack of guard dogs on the island estate of George Alder (David Lewis). Naturally, Alder turns up murdered, and Sally is charged with the crime. Assuming Sally's defense in court, Perry finds that there is no shortage of people who would liked to have seen Alder dead--including someone who was very, very close to him. This episode is based on a 1950 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner, and would be refilmed in 1965 as "he Case of the Impetuous Imp". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
A mysterious veiled woman hands Perry (Raymond Burr) $2000 in cash, and one-half of a $10,000 bill, as a retainer to defend a woman on a murder charge. Shortly therafter, Perry pays a visit ot embezzling businessman Albert Tydings (George Neise), only to find the man's body stuffed in his closet. Now Perry must earn his money by proving that Carol Stanley (Judith Braun), whose trust account Tydings was handling, is innocent of his murder. Counterpointing the drama is a humorous subplot wherein faithful secetary Della (Barbara Hale) nurses Perry through a vicious cold. This episode is based on a 1940 novel by Perry Mason creator Erle Stanley Gardner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1948
In this crime drama, a trio of gem thieves must get out of London after they kill a man. Friction between the men increases as they hide out on a farm and then get back on the road. One of the three begins suspecting the others of treachery and so kills them. In the end, he ends up killing himself too. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1947
The story in this war drama is totally fictional. It is the tale of the secretary for the Nazi Party who escapes from Hitler's bunker just before it is destroyed in the Battle of Berlin. He goes to England. There he sets up "The Eyes That Kill," an organization devoted to building up a Fourth Reich. He is, of course, defeated. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Raoul Walsh, best remembered for his rough-and-tumble action pictures, made this film on a rare loan-out to a British studio. Jim Tracey (Wallace Ford) is an American gangster who, while on the run from the law, flees to England, where he joins the British army by posing as a Canadian. Jim and his new friend Bert Dawson (John Mills) go through training together, and they both get to know Sally Briggs (Anna Lee), the daughter of their commanding officer. While Jim and Bert vie for Sally's attentions, Jim discovers that his girlfriend Jean Burdett (Grace Bradley) has followed him to England and is threatening to reveal his true identity. Jim ships out to China with his regiment before Jean's word can get too far; it turns out that Sally is also on board the ship, but that bit of good news turns sour when band of Chinese bandits attempt to seize the ship and take Sally with them. O.H.M.S. was also released under the more American-sounding title You're in the Army Now. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Ford, John Mills, (more)
- 1935
Based on the book by Edgar Wallace and produced by London Film Productions, the adventure drama Sanders of the River is an Imperialist propaganda film about British Colonial rule in Africa. Leslie Banks plays Commissioner "Lord Sandy" Sanders, who maintains British rule over the N'Gombi district of Nigeria. The fugitive Bosambo (Paul Robeson) helps out Sanders by humiliating the evil Chief Mofolaba (Tony Wane). Sanders then recognizes Bosambo as chief of the Ochuri people and peace is maintained for five years. When Sanders leaves for London, word gets out that he is dead and white men come in to sell guns and liquor to the natives. Chief Mofolaba kills Sanders' replacement, Ferguson (Martin Walker), and captures Bosambo's wife Lilongo (Nina Mae McKinney). Father O'Leary (Allan Jeayes) gets Sanders to come back and stop Mofolaba, and eventually Bosambo is crowned king. Robeson and McKinney sing several songs in this film. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks, (more)
- 1935
This musical features the BBC bandleader trying to deal with his musicians in the recording studio. Meanwhile, outside the studio, his music helps save a band in the jungle from cannibals, helps a group of mountain climbers get out of a foggy area, and starts and ends relationships. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this British comedy, a plucky Lancashire millworker is out of a job when her mill is forced to close for the summer. She decides to make the best of it by taking a series of summer jobs in Blackpool that eventually lead her to meet a business magnate. With all her charm, the girl convinces him to invest in the financially strapped mill and the jobs of her colleagues are saved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
In this mystery, a sculptor is convicted of murder after the body of his guardian is discovered. The artist's fiancee doesn't believe he is guilty and begins investigating. She goes to the deceased's nephew for help. He says he will, but only if she will marry him. Later she learns that he has been insanely obsessed with her and killed his uncle and framed the sculptor so he could have her for himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
