Richard Norris Movies
- 1942
The phrase "Loose Lips Sink Ships" takes on a new and special meaning in the cautionary British war drama Next of Kin. In grade-school-primer fashion, the film shows how careless talk can have a devastating and tragic effect in times of war, sometimes boomeranging on the "talker" in the form of lost loved ones. Extra attention is paid the gossipy "Ma" Webster (Mary Clare), whose casual revelation of troop movements, culled from a recent visit by her son, has long-ranging, fatal consequences. American critics, unmoved by the melodramatic breast-beating of Next of Kin, suggested that the film might cause viewers to swear off moviemaking rather than talking. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Basil Sydney, Frederick Leister, (more)
- 1939
In this musical revue, a woman inherits a small music hall after her father dies, and she must put on a big show to save it. A publicity man helps her find some of the best acts in the nation, and the show is a smashing success. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1939
The game of football figures prominently in The Arsenal Stadium Mystery -- not the American gridiron version, but the soccer-style competition played in England. The focus is on Anthony Bushell, playing a champion British football player. Bushell is poisoned to death during a game, in full view of a capacity crowd. Police inspector Leslie Banks enters the scene to determine who, why, and how. Like many British programmers of the 1930s, Arsenal Stadium Mystery was an early arrival on American television. ~ 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)
- 1938
Theatre folks used to call pieces like Bad Boy "ten-twent-thirt melodrama", referring to the cost of the seats (ten cents, twenty cents, thirty cents) in the undemanding houses where such dramas were presented. John Warwick plays the title character, a young crook with chips on both shoulders. Fresh out of prison, Warwick can't find honest work because of his bad reputation. He goes back to his old gang, then decides to tip the law when the gang boss falls in love with Warwick's innocent sister (Gabrielle Brune). As a result, sis is kidnaped, sparking the anticipated last-minute rescue. Filmed in England, Bad Boy was released in the US by RKO Radio Pictures as Branded. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1938
In this action film, a truck driver must carry a load of dynamite. Meanwhile, his girlfriend gets mixed up with a gang that sells stolen furs. Eventually, the truck driver must rescue his girlfriend from the bad guys and blows them and their loot to Kingdom Come. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this British comedy a man discovers 1,000 pounds in a taxi. The kindly man gives it to an impoverished Irish girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this mystery, a dance-hall girl smuggles herself aboard an English cargo ship and ends up embroiled in a Caribbean revolution and suspected of murder. Fortunately, the captain's son is able to prove that she is innocent. Together the son and the dancer also keep mercenaries from delivering ammunition to the war torn island. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
In this drama, a naval hero finds himself framed by his CO's son for the theft of classified documents. He not only proves his innocence, he also manages to save his girl from the Chinese pirates who kidnapped her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
