Gerald Elliott Movies
British writer Gerald Elliott made occasional forays into films in the 1930s. Elliot's output consists almost exclusively of mystery melodramas. Perhaps his best-known effort was Inspector Hornleigh (1939), based on the popular BBC radio serial. Here as elsewhere, Gerald Elliot worked in collaboration; one of his co-writers was none other than How Green Was My Valley author Richard Llewellyn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1942
The tumultuous life of 18th-century composer Handel is chronicled in this dramatic biography. The story begins when the self-exiled German composer adopts England as his new homeland. While there, he and the bishop of the Anglican Church get into a heated argument while they rehearse a choir for the upcoming royal coronation. The fight is over who is the better Englishman, the bishop, a native, or the ex-patriate Handel, who deliberately chose his nationality. The argumentative composer also has a row with the Prince of Wales, but he makes it up to him by writing the "Messiah." Much of the musical score is comprised of Handel's work. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wilfred Lawson, Elizabeth Allan, (more)
- 1939
Inspector Hornleigh was the first of three lively British crime films inspired by the popular BBC radio serial "Monday Night at Eight". Hornleigh is played by Gordon Harker, while Alastair Sim assumes the comic-relief responsibilities inherent in the character of Sergeant Bingham. The "maguffin" in this film is a set of bags stolen from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which Hornleigh and Bingham set about to retrieve. The principal suspect is an unscrupulous millionaire who hopes to corner the British stock market. Based on characters created by Hans Wolgang Priwin, Inspector Hornleigh inspired two cinematic sequels, both filmed in 1939. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, Alastair Sim, (more)
- 1939
Originally released in England by British Consolidated, Sons of the Sea was the last film to be distributed in America by Grand National Pictures. Generally cast in villainous roles, Leslie Banks plays the film's true-blue hero Captain Hyde. Alas, Hyde's young son Philip (Simon Lack), though a graduate of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, does not possess the noble purpose of his father, and soon finds himself inadvertently involved with a foreign spy. But with the British Secret Service involved, the villains don't stand a chance. Sons of the Sea was lensed in Dufaycolor, a two-tint process which looked suspiciously like America's Cinecolor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Banks, Mackenzie Ward, (more)
- 1939
In this drama, a young son follows in his father's and his grandfather's footsteps by attending military college at Sandhurst. There he ends up getting strongly disciplined for abusing a horse. This results in his dropping out to become a jockey and his riding in the Grand National. In the end, he proves himself an excellent horseman and is able to return to Sandhurst with his head held high. He then wins the coveted Sword of Honour. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
When a factory worker is sent off to deliver a message, he inadvertently gets enrolled in the navy. His bumblings take him far and wide in the service of the Royal Crown. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1938
In this complicated comedy chronicles a caper involving jewel thieves and an unlucky parking lot jockey whom they mistake for the American gunman they have been awaiting. Naturally they don't discover the truth until the day of the heist when the real mobster appears. Mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
Gordon Harker stars as a goonish London cabbie who finds himself up to his brimmed cap in espionage. Harker innocently thwarts an assassination attempt on a Middle-Eastern potentate. The perpetrator is a demonic British oil executive who'll stop at nothing to corner the "black gold" market. The villain sets Harker up as the fall guy for his next attempt on the potentate's life, Yeh, we know: Where are the blondes? Well, cast your eye upon leading ladies Enid Stamp-Taylor and Janet Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, Janet Johnson, (more)
- 1938
Following a string of mysterious robberies, Scotland Yard assigns its best detective, Inspector Elk, to bring the crooks to justice. The only clue the villains leave at the crime scene is a rendering of a frog. Still that is enough for intrepid Elk to solve the case, but not after considerable danger, excitement and comedy. This is the sequel to 1937's The Frog. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, Una O'Connor, (more)
- 1938
In this sad melodrama, a kindly and popular old lady who owns the town candy shop inherits a modest fortune and finds herself set upon by greedy villains. To get her money, they force a young man to masquerade as the woman's lost son. Unfortunately for them, the young man is basically a decent sort, and when he falls in love with the vicar's daughter, he decides to abandon the cruel scam. He then goes to the lady and tells the bitter truth. She gently tells him that she knew that from the start. She forgives him and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Innocent antique shop owner Rigby is actually the leader of a spy ring, attempting to kill a scientist with the use of a time bomb in a clock sold from the antique shop. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
An industrialist's secretary is guilty of fatally shooting a crooked lawyer as proven by a photograph taken by an unemployed, foolish reporter. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1937
A trio of American actors head the cast of the British naval drama Torpedoed. Noah Beery appears as the unnamed President of an equally unnamed South American banana republic. When a group of insurgents stage of revolt, His Majesty's Navy is dispatched to put down the uprising. Richard Cromwell carries the romantic subplot as Bill Armstrong, the sweetheart of Pamela (Hazel Terry), daughter of American businessman Mr. Brent (H. B. Warner). Robert Douglas, years before being typecast as a villain, costars as stalwart captain Markham, while Esme Percy, a specialist in indeterminate "foreign" types, plays the rebel leader. Originally filmed as Our Fighting Navy, the title was changed to keep apace of world events-specifically, the torpedoing of the Athenia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- H.B. Warner, Robert Douglas, (more)
- 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
- 1936
In this anti-war drama, set in England during its Depression, a demobilized major from WW I, tries to a veteran's reunion that is to include soldiers from all sides of the conflict. To do this, the major loses everything to no avail. Just as the despairing pacifist is about to end his life, an old army orderly, now a noncommissioned officer appears, cheers him up, and helps make his dream become reality. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this comedy, a talented singer is hired to dub the voice of a star who has lost his own. During the film's premiere, news that he sang the songs slips out and suddenly he finds that he himself has become a star. Unfortunately he soon encounters unanticipated problems. He is especially concerned about his girl friend who dumped him in favor of the voiceless star. ~ Sandra Brennan, 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
- 1935
Birds of a Feather was based on A Rift in the Loot, a play by George Foster. British music-hall great George Robey stars as a "nouveau riche" sausage manufacturer. Hoping to break into society, Robey moves himself and his loved ones into the castle of a noble but impecunious family. So as to avoid the scandal of their poverty, the castle's real owners pose as servants. It isn't long before the lowbrows and highbrows discover that they're really not all that different underneath, especially when Robey's daughter and the aristocrats' son fall in love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Robey, Horace Hodges, (more)
- 1935
D.W. Griffith served as supervisor (but not director) for the Fine Arts production Cross Currents. Helen Ware plays Elizabeth Crane, the fiancee of handsome and wealthy Paul Beale Courtenay Foote. Upon learning that her kid sister Flavia (Teddy Sampson) is hopelessly in love with Beale, Elizabeth nobly steps aside to allow sis to marry the man. After the marriage, Beale and Flavia go on a yachting voyage, accompanied by Elizabeth and several other wedding guests. The yacht catches fire, stranding Elizabeth and Beale together on a desert island. By an amazing coincidence, the island is inhabited by one of Elizabeth's former suitors, Silas Randolph (Sam DeGrasse). The two men fight over Elizabeth's attentions, and for a moment it looks as though the physically stronger Silas will win. But Elizabeth takes a hand in matters by killing Silas, allowing her and Beale to live as common-law husband and wife until their rescue. Returning to civilization, the couple discovers that Flavia is pregnant with Beale's child. With the same nobility she exhibited in reel one, Elizabeth once again removes herself from Beale's life, insisting that he "belongs" to Flavia and swearing him to silence regarding their idyllic island romance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
