Minnie Rayner Movies

The 1940 British production of Gaslight was the first of two cinematic adaptations of Patrick Hamilton's play. Oozing faux continental charm, Anton Walbrook inveigles his way into the confidence of the young mistress (Diana Wynyard) of a large Victorian mansion. Walbrook is searching for the rubies that he'd stolen from the previous owner of the house -- whom he'd also murdered. Suspecting that Wynyard is about to catch on to his secret, Walbrook enlists the aid of a sluttish maidservant to drive his loving bride crazy. The ploy almost works, but Wynyard is rescued by an unexpected ally. Gaslight was released in the U.S. as Murder in Thornton Square, then withdrawn entirely on the occasion of MGM's expensive 1944 remake of Gaslight, which starred Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. To avoid confusion, MGM allegedly ordered that all prints of the original Gaslight be destroyed. Evidently that order was not honored to the letter, since the 1940 Gaslight is still safely available for both theatrical and TV exhibition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sherlock Holmes and Watson travel to the home of their old friend Baskerville who wants Holmes to figure out who stole his prized race horse Silver Blaze and murdered the groom. The primary suspect is the young rider who loves the daughter of Baskerville, but he is innocent. Holmes finds the horse on a neighboring farm and deduces that his old enemy Moriarity is behind the mayhem. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

When a socialist barber inherits a royal title, he adapts his political opinions in this political and social satire. ~ All Movie Guide

Dreams Come True for Ilona Ratkay (Frances Day), a popular opera singer who falls in love with gangly farm boy Anton (Nelson Keys). Not so lucky is Anton's father Albert (Hugh Wakefield), who is left all alone when his son runs off to the Big City with Ilona. Things really get sticky when Albert becomes obsessed with the notion that Ilona is actually his own illegitimate daughter! The more censurable aspects of the story are neatly skirted and circumvented with liberal doses of music and comedy. Dreams Come True is a remake of the German operetta Liebesmelodie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Archie Pitt not only starred in the British Barnacle Bill, but also wrote the story upon which the screenplay was based. Pitt plays an elderly, widowed seaman who has raised his daughter Joan Gardner all by himself. Having spent his life scrimping, saving and sacrificing to ensure Gardner's happiness, Pitt is aghast at his daughter's choice in men. Your tear ducts will likely get quite a workout in the closing scenes. Sybil Jason, later a briefly popular Hollywood child star, is seen as young Joan Gardner. Neither the 1942 Barnacle Bill (a Wallace Beery vehicle) nor the 1958 film of that name (starring Alec Guinness) has any relation to the 1935 film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After spending time working as dialogue director on a number of films, Carol Reed made his directorial debut as co-director of It Happened in Paris. Based upon a French play by Yves Mirande, Paris stars John Loder as Paul, the artistically-inclined son of an American millionaire. Serious about his work, he has moved to Paris, where he can find inspiration and study the masters. While there, he finds inspiration of a different sort in the form of the beautiful Jacqueline, played by Nancy Burne. Thinking that his wealth is a handicap, Paul lies and pretends that he is poor. In time-honored fashion, this causes some complications, but eventually all is revealed and the two lovers are set on the course to living happily ever after. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

In this strange, tuneful melodrama, the career of a cabaret singer is interrupted by an extortionist. To save her daughter from the ensuing scandal, the woman pretends to kill herself. She then joins a convent and becomes a nun. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this drama, an impoverished exiled Russian prince is taken in by a good-hearted Cockney shopgirl. His presence creates chaos in her family's humble home. More trouble ensues when the girl is tossed out for getting romantically involved with her employer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Saturnine Arthur Wontner makes his second screen appearance as Conan Doyle's master sleuth Sherlock Holmes in The Missing Rembrandt. The plot is motivated by the perfidious Baron von Guntermann (Francis L. Sullivan), "the worst man in London." Using blackmail as his principal weapon, the Baron manages to decorate the walls of his townhouse with several stolen works of art, including a priceless Rembrandt recently stolen from the Louvre. When an American detective proves unable to capture the elusive Von Guntermann, Sherlock Holmes (Wontner) takes over. Disguised as a priest, Holmes gains entry to the Baron's lair but is soon found out and forced to flee for his life. Reasoning that it takes a thief to catch a thief, Holmes and Dr. Watson (Ian Fleming) resort to burglary to retrieve valuable evidence, only to be accused of the murder of the American detective. Finally, however, Holmes emerges triumphantly, revealing the diabolically clever hiding place for the Missing Rembrandt. The film is based on the Conan Doyle story The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sherlock Holmes' Fatal Hour marked the first of five appearances by Arthur Wontner in the role of Holmes. Based on two Conan Doyle stories, The Final Problem and The Empty House, the story begins with a robbery and murder at a London bank. Holmes is certain that the mastermind behind this and several related crimes is his old nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Norman McKinnel), at present posing as one Colonel Henslow. Racing against time, Holmes and his aide Dr. Watson (Ian Fleming) try to prevent young diplomat attache Roland Adair (Leslie Perrins) from becoming a reluctant accomplice to Moriarty's latest scheme. Boasting excellent production values (especially notable in the accurate rendition of Holmes' Baker Street lodgings), Sherlock Holmes' Fatal Hour got the Wontner Holmes series off to a rousing start. The film was originally released in the England as The Sleeping Cardinal, a title which makes sense only in context. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a physician falls in love with a woman who unfortunately ends up marrying another man. The doctor is enraged and begins destroying their marriage until the very end when he saves the couple's son from dying. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this melodrama, a blind musician enters his newest composition in a competition and wins. At least he thinks he wins. His loving wife cannot bear to tell him the truth. Fortunately, a kindly neighbor helps out and hands the musician a big check so he thinks he won. When the man discovers the truth, he immediately begins suspecting his wife of cheating and leaves her. After his tunes become popular the humbled fellow returns and peace is restored. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide