Cecil Ramage Movies

Though it pales in comparison to the Royal Shakespeare Company's epic staging of the original novel in the early 1980s, this compact adaptation of Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby is most entertaining on its own terms. Derek Bond plays the title character, a resourceful young Britisher forced to protect his family against the demonic machinations of his wicked Uncle Ralph (Cedric Hardwicke at his most odious). Cast out into the cold cruel world, Nicholas Nickleby deals adroitly with friend and foe alike, eventually coming full circle to mete out just desserts to his unspeakable uncle. With only 108 minutes' running time at his disposal, screenwriter John Dighton (later a mainstay of the Ealing Comedies) was forced to eliminate several of the novel's 52 highly distinctive characters and intricate subplots. There is evidence that there was even more cutting after the film was completed; for example, the tatty touring theatrical troupe managed by the delightfully pompous Vincent Crummles (Stanley Holloway) appears only in a series of abrupt vignettes, while Crummles himself is confined to a mere handful of lines and gestures. Still, many of Dickens' colorful characters are vividly realized, especially the unfortunate, mentally challenged Smike (Aubrey Woods). When released in America, Nicholas Nickleby was pared down to 95 minutes, with surprisingly little damage to the continuity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this British thriller, a chemist finds himself framed for a murder. He leaves his lover and escapes to South Africa. There he quickly becomes renowned for his good work with the medical profession. Unfortunately, a terrible explosion in a lab disfigures him so badly that he believes himself unidentifiable. He now feels that it is safe to return to London. He does and learns that his lover has married. More trouble ensues when, despite his scar, he is recognized. Fortunately, the whole mess is straightened out by the film's end. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Like Rick's Café Americain, the Café Colette is a rendezvous for virtually every spy in Europe. Greta Nissen stars as Russian princess Vanda Muroff, whose seductive powers are so overwhelming that one otherwise intelligent secret agent after another is willing to sacrifice all their top secrets to her on a moment's notice. Only Ryan (Paul Cavanaugh), an outwardly dissolute playboy, is able to resist Vanda's charms. It turns out that Ryan is actually a spy himself -- and one of the best in the business, at that! In the true Hitchcock tradition, the "secret papers" in Café Colette aren't nearly as important as the trials and tribulations undergone by the characters to get their hands on them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's a tossup as to which George Eliot novel has most often been adapted to the screen, though it appears that Mill on the Floss has nosed out Silas Marner. Set in early 19th century England, the story focuses on the long-standing rivalry between two Lincolnshire families. The animosity stems from the refusal of mill owner Mr. Tulliver (Sam Livesey) to relinquish his water rights to demonic solicitor Mr. Wakem (Felix Aylmer). Caught in the legal crossfire is Tulliver's daughter Maggie (Geraldine Fitzgerald), in love with Wakem's good-hearted (albeit physically challenged) son Philip (Frank Lawton). When Maggie's good name is compromised by scandal, it is Philip who champions her cause, allowing them both a brief respite of happiness before the inevitable tragic denoument, in which the Floss River itself becomes a "character". Released in the US at 82 minutes, Mill on the Floss has since been restored to its original 94 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on the stage melodrama by John Chancellor, King of the Damned takes place on a brutal prison colony that makes Devil's Island look like Disneyland. Cruel governor Courvin believes in strict discipline, and isn't above breaking a few backs to get what he wants. Finally the convicts, led by Number 83 (Conrad Veidt), overpower the guards and assume control of the island. Rather than escape, however, Number 83 establishes a communal farming system, with everyone working together for the common good. He also falls in love with Anna (Helen Vinson), the slain governor's daughter. Captured by the navy, Number 83 is brought back to his own country, where he successfully pleads for humane treatment and the right to self-determination for his fellow inmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this actioner, two guards lose their jobs after they start a fight with a lascivious Arab prince who tries to seduce one of their girl friends. Fortunately, the girl friend's father is thankful and gives her love a job managing one of his tobacco warehouses in Turkey. Unfortunately, he meets a beautiful Russian girl there and soon falls in love. Later he learns that she is being used by the prince who is conspiring to take over the Turkish government. Later his ex-partner and his girl come to Turkey to help him stop the prince. Action ensues, but in the end the prince is defeated and Turkey is saved. In 1940, the film was reissued as The Spy in White. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Stowaway Doyle develops a friendship with Capt. Mollison who is running guns to the Arabs. They both fall for the same woman, Arab Desni, who spurns both men leading them to form a successful partnership. ~ All Movie Guide

In this mystery, a sculptor is convicted of murder after the body of his guardian is discovered. The artist's fiancee doesn't believe he is guilty and begins investigating. She goes to the deceased's nephew for help. He says he will, but only if she will marry him. Later she learns that he has been insanely obsessed with her and killed his uncle and framed the sculptor so he could have her for himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this musical, a middle-class cockney fishwife yearns to become a movie star. Her plans go swimmingly. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A very early effort from director Michael Powell, C.O.D is a gimmick-laden British murder mystery. Hope Davy finds herself with the corpse of her stepfather on her hands. She insists she's innocent, but all existing evidence points right in her direction. She takes erudite crook Gary Marsh into her confidence, begging him to help her hide her stepfather's body until she can track down the real murderer. Screenwriter Ralph Smart was still plying his twist-and-turn trade thirty years later on The Avengers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide