Susan Shaw Movies
Onetime model Susan Shaw was groomed for movie stardom by the British Rank Organisation. Susan was seen to good advantage in such crowd-pleasers as Holiday Camp (1947), My Brother's Keeper (1948), and Quartet (1949), reaching a popularity peak around 1950. Thereafter, her film career slowly dwindled into decorative parts in lower-case productions. It is an apt comment on the vagaries of fate to note that Shaw is now best known for her worst movie, Fire Maidens From Outer Space (1955). Married to actor Albert Lieven from 1949 through 1953, her second of three husbands was actor Bonar Colleano; their son, also an actor, was Mark Colleano. Susan Shaw's credits should not be confused with those of the same-named Hollywood starlet of the 1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1963
The villains in the British The Switch are members of a wristwatch-smuggling gang. Poor Zena Marshall knows too much, so the gangs abducts her. Stalwart customs official Anthony Steel struggles manfully to rescue the girl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
A movie star is typecast as a ruthless gangster. His troubles begin when he gets reality confused with his job and becomes deluded into believing that he really is a mobster. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Veteran British "heavy" Donald Pleasence has the 1960 programmer The Big Day all to himself. Pleasence plays a businessman who has overextended himself financially, and overplayed his hand in his personal life. His already rocky marriage is further threatened by his impatient mistress. Adding to his headaches is his go-getting brother-in-law, whose salesmanship savvy may very well lose Pleasence his job. Donald Pleasence is so much better than his material in The Big Day that it might be advisable to turn the sound down and revel in his silent emoting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
The "Carry On" gang take up residence in the men's ward of a British hospital in this wildly funny and wildly crude farce. There's not much of a plot, but plenty of nudging and winking, as the male patients line up by their bedpans as a mixed assortment of female nurses tend to their every whim. Included in the menagerie is Bert Albie (Wilfrid Hyde White), who enjoys killing time by taunting an overweight student nurse; Bernie Bishop (Kenneth Connor), a sharp-tongued boxer; and Hinton (Charles Hawtrey), who likes to amuse himself at the radio. There's also a slight romantic storyline, hinging around Ted York (Terence Longdon) and his amorous advances upon the attractive Nurse Denton (Shirley Eaton). But the gag's the thing in this rambunctious entry. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth Connor, Kenny Williams, (more)
- 1958
The Diplomatic Corpse has been rendered lifeless by a couple of foreign diplomats. London reporter Robin Phillips suspects much, but can prove little. Going beyond the law, Phillips unearths a sinister conspiracy (there's a nice conspiracy?) He also rescues girlfriend Susan Shaw from the villains. Montgomery Tully could direct a film like Diplomatic Corpse in his sleep, which may well have been the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
A little white lie sets off a harrowing series of increasingly catastrophic events in this thriller. The trouble begins when a bank clerk tells a fib to avoid paying his bus fare. The lie quickly becomes the basis for extortion and finally murder. The story is based on a radio play written by British actor Leo McKern. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Corpulent "Goon Show" regular Harry Secombe plays the title role in the British comedy Davy. Set in the rarefied world of the British music halls, the film focuses in on the Mad Morgans, a family song-and-dance act. It is clear that Davy Morgan is the star of the act, but he loyally remains with his family, even though he seems destined to spend the rest of his life in the Small Time. At long last, Davy gets a chance to perform at the Covent Garden--but only as a solo. Will ambition win out over family solidarity, or vice versa? A stellar supporting cast enables Davy to overcome its occasional banalities and cliches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Secombe, Ron Randell, (more)
- 1957
In this crime drama a murderer covers his tracks by framing his wife. He does this by posing as his victim and forcing his wife to shoot him (with a blank-filled gun). The woman then confesses her crime. Fortunately, a sharp-eyed police inspector doesn't buy her story and soon brings the real killer to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1956
This silly British-made space opera finds distant ancestors of the lost civilization of Atlantis -- all of them nubile young ladies, of course, and starved for male company -- residing for some unexplained reason on the thirteenth moon of Jupiter, where they are discovered by an Earth exploration team headed by Anthony Dexter. The Earthmen offer to help the Atlantean cuties return home and re-establish their fallen city, but only manage to rescue one of them after they come under attack from a cheesy monster known as the "Black God." The film's camp highlight comes when the maidens perform an interpretive dance to the music of Borodin. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1955
The fast-paced world of stock-car racing provides the backdrop of this British adventure. The story centers on Katie Glebe as she attempts to save her father's failing garage after he is killed during a race. She ends up assisted by an American driver, Larry Duke. Unfortunately, creditor Turk McNeil is determined to take the garage to repay a debt. Real trouble ensues when Turk's lover Gina becomes interested in Larry. Turk then rigs the race and has Larry beaten up. Fortunately, this does not stop the determined Yankee from winning the race and the girl in the end. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
In this drama, a convicted killer serves his time and after his release sets off in search of those who framed him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1954
The Good Die Young is a psychological crime yarn, exploring the motivations of four participants in an armed robbery. American ex-GI Joe (Richard Basehart) hopes to use his share of the haul to bring his British wife to the US. Professional boxer Mike (Stanley Baker) finds himself unable to work in his chosen profession when his hand is broken, while his life savings are stolen by his disreputable brother-in-law. American airman Eddie (John Ireland) has deserted upon discovering that his wife (Gloria Grahame) is unfaithful. And shabby aristocrat Rave (Laurence Harvey) needs to pay off his wife's gambling debts. In other words, all four amateur criminals would have been better off staying single, which may or may not be the subliminal message of The Good Die Young. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, (more)
- 1953
In this drama, an ex-con, who served time for a crime he did not commit, attempts to return to his home village and lead a peaceful, hard working life. Unfortunately, a murder victim is found in town and the ex-con is naturally blamed. Fortunately, he is able to clear his name by solving the murders. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
A British football team fights to win a spot on the third division. If they succeed, they will win a tidy fortune. Unfortunately, things look bleak until Canadian ex-soldier Bob Regen shows up to save the day. Because he is so talented at soccer, other clubs use dubious means to try to steal him away. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Jack Hawkins plays a former British army officer who is surprised in his home one evening by a burglar. His surprise is compounded when the intruder turns out to be one of the men from his World War II army unit. With the straight-arrow diligence of a wartime commander, Hawkins delves into the unfortunate burglar's past, trying to discover why so promising a soldier hit the skids. The film is not so much a mystery but a genteel expose of the socioeconomic problems facing discharged servicemen in postwar England. The Intruder was adapted by Robin Maugham (son of Somerset Maugham) from his own novel Line on Ginger. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hawkins, Hugh Williams, (more)
- 1952
In this murder mystery, the trouble begins when one of two brothers kills his own grandmother so he can steal her fortune and use it to impress a sophisticated city girl. To make matters worse he frames his milque-toast sibling for his crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this crime drama, a small-time thief steals so he can provide his material girl with the luxuries she craves. One day he steals a wallet and ends up involved in a blackmail scam. This results in his death. His girl friend begins investigating to find out why and ends up bringing the killer to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
Bonar Colleano, who spent the war years playing featured roles in British films as likeably cocky Americans, heads the cast of Pool of London. Ever his brass, cheeky self, Colleano is cast as Dan MacDonald, a sailor who dabbles in a bit of smuggling, just for the fun of it. The fun is over when he gets mixed up with a gang of jewel thieves who have a habit of framing others for their crimes. At the risk of his own neck, MacDonald must extricate his best friend Johnny (Earl Cameron) from a murder charge. Pool of London ran into censorship troubles in the U.S. because of its depiction of a romance between Cameron, a black actor, and Susan Shaw, a white actress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bonar Colleano, Susan Shaw, (more)
- 1951
Star-in-the-making Laurence Harvey receives third billing in the British There is Another Sun. Set in the rarefied world of fairground auto racing, the film stars Susan Shaw as Lillian, a stranded carny performer who attaches herself to a pair of young men. One of them, played by Maxwell Reed, is known only as "Racer," a suitable cognomen; the other is Maguire (Laurence Harvey), an aspiring boxer. Anxious to finance his racing activities, the desperate Racer pulls off a robbery, for which Maguire is held responsible. Torn between both men, Lillian finally chooses the "right" one -- at least so far as the script is concerned. There is Another Sun is better known by its American title, Wall of Death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Shaw, Maxwell Reed, (more)
- 1950
The alternate title to the British The Woman in Question is Five Angles on Murder. That pretty much sums up the tenor of this investigatory drama, wherein an enigmatic fortune teller (Jean Kent) is murdered. The police track down the five most likely suspects and start asking questions. Each suspect offers a different perspective on the murdered woman, and each provides a vital clue towards solving the killing. This "prismatic" technique was of course the foundation of Citizen Kane; while The Woman in Question is not in Kane's league, its gimmick holds the audience's attention whenever director Anthony Asquith allows the pace to lag. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Kent, Dirk Bogarde, (more)
- 1950
A decidedly pre-Around the World in 80 Days Michael Anderson was the director of the British melodrama Waterfront. Robert Newton pulls out all the stops as an embittered, alcoholic sailor who deserts his family, only to return 14 years later. If he was expecting a warm reunion, he was sadly mistaken. Going off on another bender, the sailor pushes the envelope too far, eventually killing an old friend. Richard Burton shows up in a featured role. Based on a novel by John Brophy, Waterfront was released in the U.S. as Waterfront Women. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Newton, Kathleen Harrison, (more)
- 1949
In this comedy, two soldiers find themselves dishonorably discharged after they accidently allow a Nazi prisoner to escape. Later they open up a detective agency. They are constantly plagued by the Nazi who follows them on every case. In the climax, the trio plays a crazy cricket match using a ball with a diamond hidden within it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Anticipating The Defiant Ones by nearly ten years, the British My Brother's Keeper concentrates on the exploits of two handcuffed-together escaped convicts. The protagonists are career criminal George Martin (Jack Warner) and terrified "first timer" Willie Stannard (George Cole). The film is one long chase, with a brief respite to establish the relationship between Martin and his girlfriend Nora Lawrence (Jane Hylton). Despite the fact that they're polar opposites, George and Willie develop a grudging friendship and dependence upon one another, broken only by the events in the final scenes. Director Alfred Roome's utilization of actual exterior locations adds a great deal of credibility to the story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Warner, Jane Hylton, (more)
- 1949
The Huggets Abroad is the last and most contrived of Britain's "Huggetts" film series. The titular family members, first introduced in the 1947 film Holiday Camp, are played by Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark (the same). Mr. Huggett feels he's in a rut, so he quits his jobs and packs himself and his family off to Africa. In quick order, the innocents abroad (a) become involved with diamond smugglers and (b) wind up in jail. When his job becomes available again, the chastened Mr. Huggett returns to his own back yard. Four writers were required to concoct this tired British Ma and Pa Kettle equivalent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
The action in the British Marry Me! centers around a marriage bureau. Utilizing the "omnibus" approach made popular by such films as Quartet, director Terence Fisher relates the stories of four separate marriage-bound couples. The cast (including Derek Bond, Susan Shaw, Patrick Holt, Carol Marsh, David Tomlinson, Zena Marshall, Guy Middleton and Nora Swinburne) is quite appealing, and the production values are of the highest caliber. It would have been nice, though, to spend more time getting to know the individuals involved in the four playlets. Marry Me! is not a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Bond, Susan Shaw, (more)
