Marjorie Hume Movies
Curse of Frankenstein was the "breakthrough" picture for the fabled Hammer Studios. Told in flashback, the story centers around Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), a dangerously arrogant scientist who takes it upon himself to play God. Using portions of dead bodies, Victor fashions a synthetic monster (Christopher Lee) with a bad attitude. In a radical departure from the Frankenstein canon, it is the imperious Victor who orchestrates the film's two murders by "borrowing" the brain of a learned professor, then leaving his next victim at the mercy of the monster. In 1958, the film spwaned the sequel Revenge of Frankenstein. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1954
In this heartwarming film, a village squire generously offers a large cottage to a poor villager who has a lot of grandchildren. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
His Hollywood career temporarily in the doldrums in 1953, Lloyd Bridges headed to Britain to star in The Limping Man. Bridges plays an ex-GI who arrives in London to visit his wartime amour (Moira Lister). Before anyone knows what's happened, our hero is mixed up in a murder case. The victim was killed by a mysterious "limping man," who is also an expert sharpshooter. Just when it seems that events have overwhelmed the GI and his lady love, the story suddenly. . .well, that would be tattling, wouldn't it? The Limping Man was released Stateside by Lippert Productions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Moira Lister, (more)
- 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
- 1935
In this British mystery, a man is killed in a rural village. There are plenty of suspects, as he was hated by almost everyone. Unfortunately for the investigator, all of the suspects seem to have airtight alibis. This doesn't stop the detective from solving the mystery though. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
In this comedy, a quiet bank clerk inherits a fortune, quits his job, and tries to become a major theatrical producer. He then falls in love with a chorine and spends most of his money on a lavish production designed to make her a star. Unfortunately, the show is a bomb. To save the performance of the overly dramatic drama, the would-be producer hops up onstage and begins earnestly trying to play the lead. The audience goes into paroxysms of laughter for he is too awful to be taken seriously and soon he is heralded as a comic genius. The next time the show is listed as a comedy and becomes a hit. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Lynn, Winifred Shotter, (more)
- 1930
Financially embarrassed, twittish Lord Richard Sandridge (Richard Cooper) is forced to put his Mayfair house up for rent. The lucky tenant turns out to be Sylvia Garland (Doris Secombe), an attractive widow. Later on, Lord Richard is framed on a theft charge and forced to go into hiding. With Sylvia's help, he poses as a butler in his own house. If a romance didn't arise from all this, the audience might have started a riot. Based on a play by Sidney Blow and Douglas Hoare, Lord Richard in the Pantry is put briskly through its familiar paces by veteran comedy director Walter Forde (who probably could have played the leading role as well). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorothy Seacombe, Marjorie Hume, (more)
- 1928
The title of this British melodrama could just as well have been Long, Long Afterwards, since many of the plot twists have already occurred before the opening fade-in. J. R. Tozer plays a highly respected doctor with a highly checkered past. Years earlier, while stationed in colonial India, Tozer had killed a beautiful young Englishwoman rather than allow her to fall into the hands of marauding savages. Now Tozer is in love with Marjorie Hume, and his rival for Marjorie's affections is Cecil Barry. Ah, cruel fate! Barry was once the fiance of the girl Tozer killed. Afterwards was adapted from the suffering-in-dinner-clothes novel by Kathlyn Rhodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1928
Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel was the source for this economical period melodrama. Matheson Lang stars as Sir Percy Blakeney, who adopts the guise of an insufferable fop to cover his nocturnal activities as the Scarlet Pimpernel, fearless rescuer of the aristocratic victims of the French Revolution. The scriptwriters have bypassed the Pimpernel's traditional opponent, fiery revolutionary leader Chauvelin, in favor of real-life revolutionist Robespierre, here played with relish (and not a little mustard) by Nelson Keyes. Further departing from the Orczy original, Robespierre contrives to kidnap Sir Percy's beautiful wife (Marjorie Hume), forcing the Pimpernel out in the open. Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel boasted an expensive veneer which effectively obscured its tiny budget. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matheson Lang, Marjorie Hume, (more)
- 1927
Prince of Lovers purports to be the filmed biography of hedonistic poet Lord Byron, here played by Howard Gaye. Little more than a pageant of Byron's many amours, the film looks more like a wax museum, with dozens of stuffy actors posing in elegant costumes. Surprisingly, the actresses playing the women in Lord Byron's life are not all that attractive, making one wonder what all the fuss was about. The most interesting characterization is delivered by Marjorie Day as Lady Caroline Lamb, the politician's wife who scandalized all of London via her unabashed illicit romance with His Lordship. This fascinating woman was later spotlighted in a 1973 biopic, which like Prince of Lovers was an exercise in boredom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Howard Gaye, Marjorie Hume, (more)
- 1924
Marjorie Hume and Carlyle Blackwell co-star with Louis Kerly, Jean Forest, and Yvette Guilbert in this melodrama directed by Louis Mercanton. A concerned sister is mistakenly blamed for an indiscretion that results in the loss of her only child. The only hope to prove her innocence is to obtain the letters she wrote years ago that are now in the hands of a notorious blackmailer. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvette Guilbert, Marjorie Hume, (more)
- 1921
Former D. W. Griffith associate Donald Crisp handles the direction of the British Appearances. David Powell plays an architect of modest means who tries to keep up with the Joneses by affecting a lavish lifestyle. Alas, Powell loses what little money he has in the stock market, whereupon his loving wife Mary Glynne takes a job. Her employer, titled nobleman Langhorne Burton, has always loved her. Out of jealous pique, Powell attempts to embezzle enough money to allow his wife to quit her job. Burton knows all, but out of affection for Glynne he refuses to turn Powell over to the authorities. Brought to his senses by his experience, Powell moves to Canada with his wife, there to start life anew-living within his means this time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dave Powell, Mary Glynne, (more)
- 1920
Famous Players-Lasky brought American director Hugh Ford and cinematographer Hal Young to Great Britain to make this drama. Betty Overton (Mary Glynne) is in love with Hubert Richmond (Jack Hobbs), but fate intervenes when her uncle is ruined during a panic. The middle-aged James Agar (Malcolm Cherry), who has always loved Betty from afar, offers to help the uncle out if Betty agrees to marry him. Although she gives her assent, it becomes clear to Agar that Richmond loves Betty, too. To get him out of the way, Agar offers him a position in Africa. Because he is broke, he accepts. On the eve of her wedding, Betty is repelled by Agar's passionate kisses. He realizes that he will never win her, and that she belongs to Richmond. He goes to Africa to bring him back just in time -- he has nearly died of fever. Back in England, the young couple are happily reunited. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
