Gus McNaughton Movies
On stage from 1899, Gus McNaughton began as a juvenile comedian with the Fred Karno company, the legendary British pantomime troupe which also spawned such comic talents as Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. In films from 1930 to 1947, McNaughton's forte was the "fast-talking sidekick." In this capacity, he was memorably cast in several popular George Formby film farces of the 1930s and 1940s. His talents were also put to good use by Alfred Hitchcock in Murder (1930) and The 39 Steps (1935). One of Gus McNaughton's finest screen hours was as P. C. Hargreaves in the wartime comedy A Place of One's Own (1944). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1947
In this comedy drama, a taxi driver finds an abandoned greyhound puppy and takes it home to his daughter who raises it and trains it to race. While at the track, a corrupt dog owner sees the dog as a threat to his champion and tries to buy it from her. She refuses, and so he tries to frame the taxi-driver on fake drunk-driving charges. Fortunately, the dog wins the Big Race and the cabby's good name is eventually cleared. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew Blackett, Jeanne de Casalis, (more)
- 1946
Based on the novel by Pamela Hansford Johnson, Trojan Brothers offers the unlikely screen team of music hall funster Bobby Howes and up-and-coming leading man David Farrar. The stars are cast as Benny and Sid, two-bit vaudevillians who tour the provinces with a "horse" act. Sid plays the front end of the horse, while Benny brings up the rear (type-casting, as it turns out). The harmony between the two troupers is disrupted when Sid falls in love with fickle socialite Betty Todd (Patricia Burke). Meanwhile, Benny finds happiness -- or at least security -- with plain-looking Maggie (Barbara Mullen). In case all this sounds like a lighthearted comedy, it isn't, especially when the maddened Sid exacts revenge upon the faithless Betty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Burke, David Farrar, (more)
- 1945
In this musical comedy, two idealistic bit players decide to rewrite a movie script in order to make it suit their values. At the same time, another a conniving pressman, sneakily re-writes his late partner's will so he can get part of the deceased's newspaper company. To cover himself, he frames one of the movie extras and gets him sent to jail. Things for the new publisher go well until the innocent actor escapes and is able to prove his innocence and bring the real crook to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1945
Adapted from a novel by Osbert Sitwell, A Place of One's Own has a double-edged title: It refers to a physical place as well as a spiritual one. An elderly couple (played with a surplus of age makeup by Barbara Mullen and James Mason) purchase an old house. They've been warned that it's haunted by the spirit of a murdered girl, but decide to set up housekeeping anyway. The restless ghost responds to this intrusion by possessing the soul of Annette (Margaret Lockwood), the old couple's young live-in companion. Leading man Dennis Price is on hand as Dr. Selbie to attempt an emergency exorcism on the vulnerable Annette. A Place of One's Own is a serviceable "spook show" which might have even been better with a little more emotional involvement on the part of the principals. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, (more)
- 1943
The Shipbuilders is a rare film of true merit from prolific British "quota quickie" director John Baxter. Clive Brook heads the cast as the owner of a shipbuilding firm, presently dedicated to the War effort. Though naturally concerned that his business will flag once the war is over, it is shown that Brook has nothing to worry about, so long as diligent, patriotic men like riveter Morland Graham are on his payroll. The film's message is clear: While it's important to think of one's service to the present National Crisis, it is equally important to take the Future into consideration. Actual footage shipbuilders at work give this hastily assembled patriotic exercise a veneer of reality. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clive Brook
- 1942
Let the People Sing is an offshoot of J. B. Priestly's earlier show business-based fable The Good Companions. In Companions, a trio of mismatched dogooders save a musical troupe from ruin. In Let the People Sing, Alastair Sim is a besotted nobleman who comes to the aid of indigent comedian Fred Emney. Through Sim's intervention, the planned closing of a local music hall is prevented. Even if Sim hadn't let the people sing, as the title implores, they probably would have done so anyway. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alastair Sim, Fred Emney, (more)
- 1942
In this drama, an Irish singer heads for the US to make it big. He leaves his wife and child in Britain. In the States he earns plenty of money, but upon his return home, he finds that his family has disappeared because of the newly erupted WWII. The singer then joins the Royal Air Force; eventually he and his family are reunited. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1942
Also known as The Avengers, the British The Day Will Dawn is set in Norway at the outbreak of WW2. British foreign correspondent Lockwood (Ralph Richardson), forced out of Norway by the Nazi invasion, returns to the occupied Scandanavian country at the request of the War Office. Lockwood's assignment is to guide the RAF to a heavily camouflaged German U-boat base for sabotage purposes. With the help of patriotic Norwegian seaman Alstad (Finlay Currie), Lockwood completes his mission, only to be arrested as a spy and sentenced to be shot. The final portions of the film detail our hero's attempt to escape back to England with Alstad's daughter Kari (Deborah Kerr), with whom he has fallen in love. The intricately crafted screenplay is attributed to three of Britain's finest scriveners, Terence Rattigan, Anatole de Grunewald and Patrick Kirwen-and one suspects that there were even more talented hands involved in this thrill-packed wartime adevnture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, (more)
- 1942
A bashful artist finds all kinds of trouble in this comedy. A handyman by profession, the shy fellow loves to paint, but can only paint the heads of his models as he is too embarrassed to render the rest of their nude forms. The portraits are very good, and later, in a commercial art class, other students add bodies to his heads. This gets the handyman in all sorts of hot water with the models when the painting is used as an advertisement for soap. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1941
In this comedy of mistaken identity, an amiable fellow decides to help out his singing South American look-a-like who must fulfill a few obligations for his opera company. Mayhem ensues when the bogus singer finds himself pursued by paid assassins. Fortunately, the whole mess is straightened out in the end and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1941
Penn of Pennsylvania was the original British title of the economical biopic The Courageous Mr. Penn. Clifford Evans stars as Quaker leader William Penn, who leaves the comfort of his family estate to fight for the rights of his religious brethren. Penn's crusade for spiritual freedom leads him to the New World and the ultimate founding of the colony of Pennsylvania. The film's highlight is Penn's courtroom trial, an admittedly overlong sequence redeemed by the give-and-take between actors Evans and Joss Ambler (as the judge). Deborah Kerr is merely decorative in the thankless role of Penn's wife Gulielma. Honorable in its intentions, Penn of Pennsylvania is compromised somewhat by its minimal production values, including some of the most unconvincing miniature work ever seen on film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clifford Evans, Deborah Kerr, (more)
- 1941
Barbara Mullen stars as Jeannie, a spirited Scots girl who comes into an inheritance. She heads for her family castle after encountering numerous adventures on a Continental holiday. Jeannie also finds romance in the form of handsome washing machine salesman Stewart Granger, who wins out over the romantic overtures of gigolo Albert Lieven. Based on a play by Aimee Stewart, Jeannie overcame its attenuated budget with a plethora of good cheer, enabling the film to garner good reviews on both sides of the Atlantic (in America, the film was retitled Girl in Distress). The story was musicalized for its 1957 remake, Let's Be Happy, in which the heroine (Vera-Ellen) was changed into an American girl who comes to Scotland, rather than using the Highlands as a starting point. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Mullen, Wilfred Lawson, (more)
- 1941
Never mind that first name; Bunny Doyle is the male protagonist of the British Facing the Music. Doyle plays a clumsy munitions worker, who is incredibly put in charge of a major war plant. Well, maybe it's not so incredible at that; Doyle's plant is actually a decoy, set up to confuse potential enemy saboteurs. Though obviously regarded as expendable by his employers, Doyle emerges as a hero when the Nazis come calling. Future Hollywood starlet Chili Bouchier, billed under her real name of Dorothy, appears as an alluring secret agent in Facing the Music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1940
Cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfeather's woebegone WW1 British soldier Old Bill was revived for WW2 in Old Bill and Son. When his son Young Bill (John Mills) signs up for military duty against the Nazis, Old Bill (Morland Graham) tries to re-enlist as well. Turned down for the obvious reasons, Old Bill has trouble convincing anyone that he's of any use in the present conflict. The plot is, surprisingly, never resolved, suggesting that the producers couldn't come up with a logical ending and just gave up after 96 minutes. On the plus side, the film features the comic talents of Renee Houston, Nicholas Phipps and Gus McNaughton, who like stars John Mills and Morland Graham are heaps better than their material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morland Graham, John Mills, (more)
- 1940
In this British murder mystery, Scotland Yard investigates a puzzling killing of an Italian count. The Yard assigns a detective, who is to retire the next day, to solve the puzzle. Three people confess the crime. The late count's wife is the daughter of one of them. Apparently the count had abused her. Another of the confessors was in love with the girl. The third confessor's reason is unclear. Eventually the wife, who had been in hiding, steps forward and offers her own confession. Interestingly, none of the four are guilty. Fortunately, by the story's end, the real killer steps forward and justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1940
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
- Starring:
- Marie Lohr, Judy Kelly, (more)
- 1940
Although London Town is usually listed as the film debut of British music-hall favorite Sid Field, he actually made his screen bow in the 1939 "quota quickie" That's the Ticket. Field and his longtime stage foil Hal Walters play Ben and Nosey, a pair of inept hat-check boys in a posh nightclub. Somehow or other, our heroes come into possession of a set of blueprints for a new submarine, much coveted by a gang of foreign spies. The prints are hidden in a top hat, which Ben manages to pass off to the wrong owner?and then the fun begins. Virtually the entire film takes place in the nightclub, allowing for a steady stream of song numbers and specialty acts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sid Field, Hal Walters, (more)
- 1940
The Two For Danger in this British comedy-mystery are lawyer Tony Grigson (Barry K. Barnes) and art museum curator Diana (Greta Gynt). The son of a police commissioner, Grigson decides to play detective himself to find out who's been pilfering valuable paintings from the collection under Diana's care. The principal suspects include an American (Tony Shaw), a German (Gordon MacLeod) and an Australian (Ian McLean). Intrigued by the prospect of a bit of excitement in her humdrum life, Diana enthusiastically joins Grigson on his hunt, resulting in all sorts of hair's-breadth escapes for them both. Two for Danger was produced through the Teddington Studios facilities of Warner Bros., who distributed the film in the US. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Barnes, Greta Gynt, (more)
- 1939
In this three-hanky crime drama, a junkman offers a little sage advice for a young woman who has fallen in love with a cowardly crook. The woman tries to convince her lover to reform. He does try, but then he is later arrested while robbing a bank. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
This British spy thriller concerns the theft of valuable aircraft secrets by enemy agents. Laurence Olivier plays a firebrand test pilot who falls under suspicion when several planes disappear. Costar Ralph Richardson steals the film as a seemingly befuddled secret service operative assigned to the case. Despite its topicality (the film was made in 1939, when Europe was bracing itself against the possibility of war), Q Planes is played with the tongue-in-cheek bravado of a "Boy's Own Paper" tale. Q Planes was released in the US as Clouds over Europe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, (more)
- 1939
When a factory worker is sent off to deliver a message, he inadvertently gets enrolled in the navy. His bumblings take him far and wide in the service of the Royal Crown. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1939
Most of British regional comedian George Formby's vehicles were released in the US through Columbia Pictures; somehow Trouble Brewing slipped through the cracks. Bucktoothed Formby plays a newspaper printer who wins big at the racetrack. Unfortunately he is paid off in counterfeit bills. To avoid the long arm of the law, Formby sets about collaring the crooks himself. The trail leads inexorably (and hilariously) to Formby's own boss. George Formby's leading lady in Trouble Brewing was the gloriously named Googie Withers, later a major British film actress specializing in murder melodramas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1939
There's no folly like a Blind Folly, as scripters H.F. Maltby and John Hunter strive to prove in this British comedy. Gus McNaughton plays the head of a criminal gang who heads to the spot where they had long before hidden their stolen loot. Alas, the cache of cash is now sequestered somewhere in a roadhouse that has been built on the site of the hiding place. Now the criminals are forced to steal what they've already stolen--and to keep Clifford Mollison, the inn's current owner, in the dark. Lilli Palmer provides decoration as Mollison's girlfriend. Blind Folly was distributed in the United Kingdom by RKO British. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1939
There Ain't No Justice turned out to be the "breakthrough" picture for youthful British actor Jimmy Hanley. The star plays a garage mechanic who has an inborn talent for boxing. Needing a lot of money in a hurry, he falls in with a crooked fight promoter (Edward Chapman), who advertises Hanley as the next champ with a series of fixed bouts. By the time he realizes he's being set up as the patsy for a gambling ring, our hero has figure out a way to flummox the crooks and arrange a financial windfall for his long-neglected father (Edward Rigby). Based on a novel by James Curtis, There Ain't No Justice was a fixture of American "Late Late Shows" in the early 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Hanley, Edward Rigby, (more)
