Gerard Fairlie Movies

Elizabeth Taylor played her first grown-up romantic lead in the Anglo-American melodrama Conspirator. Taylor portrays Melinda Greyton, the new bride of highly respected Major Michael Curraugh (Robert Taylor). It comes as quite a jolt when Melinda learns that her husband is actually a spy for the communists (ironically, Robert Taylor had been one of the friendliest of friendly witnesses during the HUAC hearings.) Much of the film takes place in a picturesque Welsh village, an unusual setting for a tense espionage yarn. Reversing the usual MGM "tailor the story to the stars" formula, the storyline in Conspirator is sometimes more compelling than its leading players. Still, Liz Taylor acquitted herself nicely, proving that she'd have little difficulty tackling meaty dramatic roles in future films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Paramount's "Bulldog Drummond" series got off to a start with 1937's Bulldog Drummond Escapes. Up-and-coming Ray Milland stars as soldier-of-fortune Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond, who on this occasion comes to the aid of pretty heiress Phyllis Clavering (Heather Angel). The heroine is being held against her will by scheming "family friend" Merridew (Porter Hall), who hopes to get his mitts on her inheritance. With the help of his silly friend Algy (Reginald Denny) and Scotland Yard inspector Nielsen (Sir Guy Standing), Drummond manages to rescue Phyllis several times -- and, reciprocally, is rescued by her on one occasion. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Released in the U.S. as Scotland Yard Commands, The Lonely Road was based on a novel by Nevil Shute (of On the Beach fame). When his marriage proposal is rejected by his sweetheart, retired naval commander Stevenson (Clive Brook) goes on a bender and drives his car wildly along a country road. No, he doesn't hit anyone, but he does plow his way right into a gang of weapons smugglers. Fearing that he'll blow the whistle on them, the crooks knock out Stevenson and arrange the evidence so as to convince him that he suffered his cranial blow in an auto accident. Released from hospital, Stevenson heads to a cabaret, where he makes the acquaintance of dancer Molly Gordon (Victoria Hopper) -- who turns out to be the sister of one of the smugglers. Falling in love with Molly, Stevenson must wrestle with his conscience when afforded the opportunity to turn the crooks over to the authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A British town, desperate to save its dying mineral spring water business, launches a bizarre conspiracy to attract badly needed attention for the town. They do so by claiming that a local man who died in an auto accident was a victim of murder. A government agent comes to investigate and learns, much to the surprise of the locals, that the man really was murdered. He then exposes the gang of smugglers who have been causing all the problems. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

After wrapping up his last case in Egypt, Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) heads to Shanghai for a well-deserved rest. It isn't long, however, before Chan has been summoned by the local constabulary to help smash an international dope ring. He is aided by erudite American intelligence agent James Andrews (Russell Hicks) and to a lesser extent by his overeager Number-One-Son Lee Chan (Keye Luke). The film is structured more like a serial than a mystery, with Chan and his friends escaping death and/or abduction at every turn. Only after rounding up the smugglers does Charlie reveal the well-concealed identity of the criminal mastermind behind it all. The nominal romantic lead is played by Charles Locher, who went on to greater fame as Jon Hall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Adapted from a play by Ernest Denny, this was one of director Michael Powell's "quota quickies" that lived up to the name, being filmed in a scant thirteen nights. (The stars were appearing in West End plays and couldn't film during the day, a not-uncommon practice at the time.) The lazybones of the title is Sir Reginald Ford, a baronet who has made indolence into an art form and sees no reason to change his ways -- until discovering that his means of support has dried up. With no recourse but to make an appropriate marriage, Ford pursues Kitty McCarthy, an American heiress, with considerable success. Just as things seem to be going along smoothly, Ford discovers that Kitty has lost her fortune. In the midst of all this, Ford discovers he has fallen in love with Kitty, not her money; further complications ensue as Kitty's conniving cousin Mike comes on the scene and tries to involve her in a wicked scheme. Shaking off his accustomed lethargy, Ford springs into high gear and rids Kitty of her cousin, while at the same time coming up with a clever business proposition that enables him to care for his new wife in the style to which they both have long been accustomed. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

British musical comedy star Jack Hulbert plays an amateur sleuth who takes over for the "real" Bulldog Drummond (Atholl Fleming), who is sidelined by an injury. Hulbert's quarry is master criminal Ralph Richardson (who himself played Drummond in a 1934 film). To expedite his scheme to rob the British museum, Richardson kidnaps Hulbert's girl friend Fay Wray (who left Hollywood for England because she was sick of playing damsels in distress!) The film's thrilling conclusion finds Hulbert duking it out with Richardson near the electrified Third Rail of the London Subway. The US version of Bulldog Jack, re-titled Alias Bulldog Drummond, has all the film's comedy scenes removed--inexplicably, since Jack Hulbert is far more effective as a comic than a straight actor. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This tragic drama chronicles the last days of an exiled Russian duke. To support himself, the duke worked at an all-night restaurant until his employer, wanting younger workers, fires him. After completing his final shift, a young man in the restaurant gets involved with a murder. To protect him, the aging nobleman takes the rap freeing the young many to take his dying wife to Vienna. Later that night, the duke goes home, writes a confession, and commits suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi