Sydney Bromley Movies
British character actor Sydney Bromley was especially known for his theatrical appearances and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also appeared on television and in a few films where he usually portrayed small character roles as old men and toothless vagabonds. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1957
- NR
After an extensive talent search, producer-director Otto Preminger selected a 17-year-old unknown from Iowa, Jean Seberg, to play Joan of Arc, a role traditionally portrayed by actresses twice to three times Seberg's age. Seberg is cast opposite such venerable pros as Richard Todd (as Dunois), Anton Walbrook (the Bishop of Beauvais), John Gielgud (Earl of Warwick) and Felix Aylmer (The Inquisitor). Cast as the vacillating Dauphin is Richard Widmark. Graham Greene's screenplay refashions the original Shaw text in the form of a flashback. Seberg eventually became an accomplished actress by virtue of her appearances in such nouvelle vague films as Breathless, but it was too late to salvage Saint Joan, which was figuratively burned at the stake by critics and filmgoers alike. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Seberg, Richard Widmark, (more)
- 1955
In this comedy, two rabid football fans begin an unstoppable train of events when they physically harass a referee. ~ 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 Devil's Harbor is a second-string British melodrama starring American film vet Richard Arlen. Arlen is the captain of a small boat that is commandeered by narcotics smugglers. Though he himself is ignorant of the drug traffic, Arlen is hounded by an insurance investigator (Donald Huston). The skipper and the detective team up to track down the crooks who, much to the investigator's discomfort, turn out to have powerful allies in his own insurance company. Devil's Harbor was issued in the states by 20th Century-Fox, in order to free up some of the studio's "frozen funds" in England. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Arlen, Greta Gynt, (more)
- 1949
Originally filmed in 1934 (see entry 84314), R.C. Sheriff's venerable stage comedy Badger's Green was given another screen treatment in 1949. The plot is the same as before: a group of villagers revolt when their precious cricket field is threatened with demolition by a fat-cat business firm. Most of the character names remain the same as well, with one curious exception: the heroine, played by Barbara Murray, is named Jane Morton rather than Molly Butler. Though shorter than the 1934 version, the 1949 Badger's Green enjoys far better production values. Still, the comedy content is rather dated, especially the jokes concerning class consciousness. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1947
In this costume drama, a woman finds herself the prize in a battle between two jealous brothers. Eventually she marries the suave one, but finds that he is most displeased by her inability to behave in a matter he deems appropriate for a woman of her station. The sad wife takes her troubles to the other brother who suggests she divorce her husband and take up with him. She ignores the advice and reconciles with her man. The angered brother then poisons the husband and tries to get the wife blamed for the death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Gray, Eric Portman, (more)
Based on Noël Coward's play "Still Life," Brief Encounter is a romantic, bittersweet drama about two married people who meet by chance in a London railway station and carry on an intense love affair. Sentimental yet down-to-earth and set in pre-World War II England, the film follows British housewife Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson), who is on her way home, but catches a cinder in her eye. By chance, she meets Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard), who removes it for her. The two talk for a few minutes and strike immediate sparks, but they end up catching different trains. However, both return to the station once a week to meet and, as the film progresses, they grow closer, sharing stories, hopes, and fears about their lives, marriages, and children. One day, when Alec's train is late, both become frantic that they will miss each other. When they finally find each other, they realize that they are in love. But what should be a joyous realization is fraught with tragedy, since both care greatly for their families. Howard and Johnson give flawless performances as two practical, married people who find themselves in a situation in which they know they can never be happy. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, (more)
- 1946
This heartwarming British drama is based on Beth the Sheepdog, a novel by Ernest Lewis. Beth is played, quite well indeed, by a magnificent animal named Fleet. The story concerns the efforts of various interested human parties to enter Beth in the All-England Dog Championship. When a farmer is unsuccessful in his efforts to purchase Beth for his own, he spitefully accuses the dog's owner of sheep stealing. After this mess is straightened out, the plot segues into the Championship, and it is at this point that the film finally comes to life. Percy Marmont is the biggest "name" actor in Loyal Heart, while Marmont's daughter Patricia plays a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Welchman, Percy Marmont, (more)
