John Batten Movies

In this war drama, an aspiring pilot who didn't make the grade, joins the air-sea rescue service instead. He is on a recovery mission off the French coast when his boat meets up with German ships, mines, and shore batteries. The rescuers successfully save the downed air crew they were sent out for, but are suddenly bombarded by a German plane. Their commander is killed and the heroic young man must safely take the boat back to Britain. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this comedy a young man is on the verge of inheriting a title, but finds his plans thwarted by the return of his mother the barfly. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Also known as Trapped in a Submarine, the British Men Like These was inspired by the real-life Poseidon submarine disaster. A British sub, chugging its way through Chinese waters, is broadsided by a cargo boat. As water fills the doomed vessel, director Walter Summers concentrates on the behavior of the engine crew. Under the cool-headed leadership of the chief petty officer, the nervous crewmen allow the water to rise to neck level, then don safety jackets to make their escape through the turret (exactly what happened in the "Poseidon" incident). Men Like These runs a tight 60 minutes, with 50 of those minutes devoted to the accident, the aftermath, and the escape. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The "Great Game" is football -- not the American brand, but the British version. The hero, Dicky Brown (John Batten), is the reserve forward on a championship team. Thanks to the urgings of Dicky's sweetheart Peggy Jackson (Renee Clama), whose father happens to be the team's manager, the young lad is groomed to compete in the English Cup Final. Unfortunately, the manager is accused of "personal bias" by the judges and disqualified from coaching during the crucial match. The loss of the manager throws the rest of the team into a deep depression, and by the time they get to Wembley, the outlook is pretty bleak -- but never fear, salvation is close at hand! Featured in the cast of The Great Game is real-life football pro Jack Cock, a fact that certainly didn't hurt the film's box-office performance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this drama set in the English countryside, a town squire causes quite a ruckus when he decides to buck tradition and replace the ancient church organ so he can cozy up to the lovely young newcomer (who just happens to play the organ) in town. As soon as the woman figures out his plan, she quickly sets things to right and normalcy returns. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A remake of a 1914 D.W. Griffith potboiler, The Battle of the Sexes is a highly entertaining, if cautionary, tale of a middle-aged family man, J.C. Judson (Jean Hersholt), who despite his devotion to wife and offspring falls for what is obviously a gold digger, Marie Skinner (Phyllis Haver). When Mrs. Judson (Belle Bennett) and her grown children, Ruth (Sally O'Neil) and Billy (William Bakewell), confront him with the awful truth, Judson refuses to give up his inamorata and instead moves out of the home. A desperate Ruth, gun in hand, seeks a showdown with Marie, but their confrontation is interrupted by the latter's handsome but feckless boyfriend, Babe Winsor (Don Alvarado), who in drunkenness begins to court the pretty Ruth. Judson walks in on this tender scene and immediately employs a double standard, condemning his daughter for bringing shame upon his house. A violent argument between a jealous Marie and Babe forces him to face the truth, however, and a chagrined Judson returns to home and hearth, begging for forgiveness. Beautifully restored and released on DVD in 2000, The Battle of the Sexes benefits from a wonderful new score performed by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi