Brenda Hogan Movies

The British town of Warlock is scandalized by Hazell's cottage-turned-tearoom with the local inspector found in a compromising situation and the marriage of Hazell to the mayor. ~ All Movie Guide

Paradise Lagoon is the American release title of the British The Admirable Crichton. In this Technicolor adaptation of James M. Barrie's oft-filmed stage play, Kenneth More stars as Crichton, the super-efficient butler for a family of haughty British aristocrats. Though More is true master of the household, he keeps his place, honoring the tightly regulated social structure of turn-of-the-century England. When the family, and its servants, are shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island, only Crichton has the skill and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive. Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton is the "governor", while his former employers are his willing and eager servants. Lady Mary (Sally Ann Howes), assuming that she will never be able to return to her veddy proper fiance, falls in love with Crichton. But once the castaways are rescued and returned to their London estate, the original master-servant status quo is restored. His marriage to Lady Mary now an impossibility-a fact stressed in no uncertain terms by the young lady herself-Crichton calmly packs his bags and leaves, in the company of maidservant Tweeny (Diane Cilento), who has loved him all along. Barries' satirical jabs at class consciousness (notably in the closing "interrogation scene", conducted by the imperious Lady Brocklehurst Martita Hunt) were not altogether relevant in 1957; thus, Paradise Lagoon concentrates on the property's farcical and romantic elements. Taking advantage of its tropical setting, the film also permitted the tired businessmen in the audience to gaze upon the luscious Sally Ann Howes and Diane Cilento in halter tops and short-shorts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During World War II, an injured pilot, his nurse and a Marine, all marooned on a desert island, fall into a love triangle in this film also known as Saturday's Island. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Peter Ustinov co-produced, wrote and co-directed the quietly effective Private Angelo. Set during
WW II, the film stars Ustinov as a tremulous Italian army private who does his best to avoid getting shot at. Trouble is, the more he tries to run away from danger, the more dangerous his life becomes. Private Angelo's cowardice provides an endless source of embarrassment for his nobleman father (Conway Tearle); it also offers his fiancee Lucrezia (Maria Denis) an excuse to be unfaithful. Like most of Ustinov's written works, Private Angelo aims at quiet chuckles rather than belly laughs; also, there are no real heroes and villains, just ordinary folks in extraordinary circumstances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Not a film about scientific research, The Guinea Pig (US title: The Outsider) is the story of an incipient "affirmative action" program. An impoverished young British boy wins a scholarship. As part of a sociological experiment, he becomes the first product of his "class" to be accepted in a snooty upper-crust public school. Most of the film concentrates on the effect this experiment has on the school staff. Written by actor Bernard Miles, who also plays a supporting role, The Guinea Pig stirred up controversy at the time of its release because of the presence of an alleged profanity in its dialogue. If you must know, it's the same "filthy word" Audrey Hepburn shouts at the Ascot races in My Fair Lady (64). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A gambler receives the legendarily troublesome magical monkey's paw and is told that he can have three wishes. Not knowing that the paw's wishes are often granted at a terrible cost, he hastily wishes to have enough money to pay his large gambling debts. Sure enough, he gets his wish. Unfortunately, it is at the expense of his son's life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide