Irene Handl Movies

Released in the US as The Randolph Family, Dear Octopus was based on the internationally popular play by Dodie Smith. The story is motivated by the Golden Wedding anniversary of Charles and Dora Randolph (Frederick Leister, Helen Haye). As the relatives gather, each reveals his or her personal quirks and shortcomings. Caught in the middle is family secretary Penny Fenton (Margaret Lockwood), who has the unenviable task of sorting and smoothing out the family's many deep-set hostilities and jealousies so that a good time will be had by all. The basic premise of Dear Octopus is established early on; the rest of the film is variations on a single theme, albeit consistently amusing ones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this supernatural drama, a college student finds himself fixated upon thoughts of his late lover. Unable to forget her, he attempts to contact her spirit by holding a seance. The experience so frightens him and afterward he suffers a breakdown. Eventually he heals with the assistance of a childhood friend who has secretly loved him all along. He finally awakens to her love and returns it. Soon he has forgotten his unhealthy obsession on the other girl. The story is also known as Spell of Amy Nugent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this family comedy, the life of a suburban clan is disrupted when they learn that two old friends are coming to call. The house is thrown into a tizzy as they struggle to prepare. One of the three brothers then chooses an inopportune moment to announce that he is planning to marry the maid. The cook then organizes a kitchen strike. Finally things settle down, and the household is ready to entertain the esteemed guests -- they never show up. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Also known as Girl in the Case, this early Carol Reed effort tended to be dismissed or ignored by its director in later interviews. Even so, the film is a worthwhile effort, with an intricate and sometimes amusing script by Sydney Gilliat. Young lawyer Stephen Garringdon (Barry K. Barnes) manages to clear his first client, nurse Anne Graham (Margaret Lockwood), of charges that she has been systematically murdering his patients. At first exultant, Garringdon begins suffering pangs of guilt because he never completely believed in his client's innocence. When another murder occurs during Anne's shift, the lawyer begins to wonder if he is actually an accessory after the fact. Admittedly, things look bad for Anne, but unexpected salvation is at hand in form of affable Mr. Tracy (Emlyn Williams), who knows a lot more about the killings than anyone else-except, of course, the victims. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this British drawing room mystery, a detective begins looking into the strange deaths of two members of a psychic club. The detective really enjoys her work, and soon exposes a phony medium for a killer thereby saving an heiress from her doom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide