Franklyn Kelsey Movies
- 1940
In this heartwarming drama, an orphaned 5-year old is sent to live with her cold-hearted aunt who keeps her around because the girl is the only one who knows the secret of her father's will. The little girl will not even tell her big sister who is in love with an American writer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
Filmed in 1938, My Irish Molly was released in US in 1940 to capitalize on the popularity of Maureen O'Hara. The actress enjoys top billing in the American prints, but the film's real star is juvenile music-hall star Binkie Stuart as the titular Molly. An orphan girl, poor but plucky Molly is continually persecuted by her harridan of an aunt (Maureen Moore), who withholds the fact that the girl is an heiress. The return of emigrant Bob (Philip Reed) from New York to the Auld Sod-the better to be reunited with his sweetheart Eileen (O'Hara)--leads to Molly's rescue from her tormentor. In other words, My Irish Molly is a Shirley Temple flick without Shirley Temple. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen O'Hara, Binkie Stuart, (more)
- 1937
Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat star in this gripping melodrama about the Russian revolution, based on the novel by James Hilton. Donat plays A.J. Fothergill, a British interpreter in St. Petersburg who is ordered to leave Russia after writing an article that criticized the czar. Fothergill meets a British secret agent who can arrange for him to stay in Russia if he will agree to spy for England and monitor revolutionary groups trying to depose the czar. Fothergill infiltrates a group planning to kill Russian nobleman Vladinoff (Herbert Lomas); the radicals bomb Vladinoff's coach, but he and his daughter, Alexandra (Marlene Dietrich) escape unharmed. Fothergill is arrested and sent to Siberia. When the monarchy is deposed during the Russian Revolution in 1917, Alexandra is arrested by Communist forces and put on trial. Fothergill is freed from prison with his friend Axelstein (Basil Gill), and they are now revolutionary heroes. Alexandra must go to Petrograd to face trial and Fothergill is chosen to escort her. When they reach the train station, Fothergill discovers the White Army (fighting to restore the czar) is coming. He leads Alexandra to safety behind the White Army lines, but the Red Army has surrounded the city and Fothergill, smitten with Alexandra, rescues her again before the city is shelled. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marlene Dietrich, Robert Donat, (more)
- 1935
In this politically oriented sci-fi film, a star's collision with the moon causes a British village to be shot into space. The village scientist is then elected the new head of state, though this upsets the conservatives who dislike his socialist tendencies. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
Farm worker Ernie Lotinga confronts a greedy entrepreneur who wants the farm leading to his election as a magistrate and finally his marriage to his dream girl. ~ All Movie Guide
