Anthony Havelock-Allan Movies
The son of a British nobleman, Anthony Havelock-Allen began his film career in a variety of capacities in 1933. By 1937, Havelock-Allen had become a producer. He was most closely associated with director David Lean; this collaboration resulted in such quality films as Brief Encounter (1945), Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). He frequently co-scripted the films he produced, earning an Academy Award nomination in this capacity for Great Expectations. Not long after producing his final feature, Lean's Ryan's Daughter (1970), Havelock-Allen was elevated to knighthood. Anthony Havelock-Allen was married twice, to actresses Valerie Hobson and Marguerite Chapman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1939
This Man in Paris was the followup to the successful British comedy-mystery This Man is News. Barry K. Barnes and Valerie Hobson return as Simon and Pat Drake, London's answer to Nick and Nora Charles. The plot gets under way when Simon, star reporter for a London tabloid, is dispatched to Paris to gets the goods on a counterfeiting gang. Despite warnings from editor Macgregor (Alistair Sim) to stay out of the way of the police authorities, Simon and Pat insist upon doing a lot of sleuthing themselves. Inevitably, hero and heroine find themselves at the mercy of the villains, but one is certain that they'll wriggle out of their predicament none the worse for wear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Barnes, Valerie Hobson, (more)
- 1939
This Man is News is a British imitation of Hollywood's Thin Man pictures. The "Nick and Nora" herein are Barry K. Barnes as an investigative reporter and Valerie Hobson as his helpful wife (?) After writing a series of articles about an elusive gang of jewel thieves, Barnes is framed for robbery. He goes after the crooks himself, despite the "cease and desist" warnings of Scotland Yard and his own editor. This Man is News did well enough to warrant a sequel, but This Man in Paris did poorly enough to bring this would-be series to an abrupt end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Barnes, Valerie Hobson, (more)
- 1939
This mystery is set aboard the Orient Express bound for Istanbul. There a French agent thwarts a scheme by revolutionaries to blow up a politician. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
In this British comedy, a bishop is desperate to finish the restoration on his cathedral. To quickly raise the needed cash, he gives a fellow some money. The fellow promises the bishop that he will use it to make the 1,000 pounds needed to complete the job. The ingenious man uses the honest money to buy smuggled goods. Among the things he buys are silk lingerie and brandy; the latter ends up being sold at a church bazaar and the money is raised. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1938
This breezy British action comedy stars Gordon Harker as Albert Rughouse, cockney conductor of a passenger bus running the Victoria Station-Epping Forest route. In his spare time, Albert indulges in magic tricks, become rather proficient at sleight-of-hand. This talent serves him well when his bus is commandeerd by foreign spies bent on stealing valuable government aviation plans. Proving that the hand is quicker than the eye, Albert flummoxes the villains and makes the world safe for Democracy once more. No mere programmer, The Lightning Conductor is exceptionally well cast, with such reliables as John Lodge, Sally Gray, Ernst Thesiger and Steven Geray going through their usual expert paces. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Harker, John Lodge, (more)
- 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
In this drama, two young truckers leave a crooked company to form their own. Their former boss sends his charming daughter and several goons to bring them back, and almost succeeds, but the truckers make a success of themselves by rescuing miners trapped in a flooded mine. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this crime drama, an insurance investigator trails a notorious gang of jewel thieves who smuggle their booty inside donuts which are purchased by the ring leader. To catch the bad-guy bakers, the investigator poses as one which results in his almost getting involved in the murder of the leader. Fortunately, just before he criminal dies, he tells the investigator of the leader's identity enabling him to retrieve the jewels, capture the crooks, and bring the killer to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this crime drama, an honest clerk finds himself in a difficult situation when he refuses to help a corrupt financier cheat a group of investors. This angers the financier who then threatens to kill himself. The two men fight over his gun, and it fires. The financier falls to the floor. The panicked clerk then hides the corpse and begins running the company himself. Along the way, he cuts a deal that saves the company and the employees. Unfortunately, the body is found, and for a while, the clerk is in deep. Fortunately, the police investigation reveals the truth and he is acquitted. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this romantic comedy a woman inherits a boarding house. The enterprising lass turns it into a fancy nightclub. There she finds herself between two handsome suiters, a musician and a gambler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this courtroom drama a barrister's wife is tried for her husband's murder. To save the innocent woman, her husband's partner must confess. He does so. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
In this British comedy, a working-class father wins a fortune on the football pools and ends up buying a tiny tea shop in the high-class section of town. Both he and his daughter enjoy the high life, especially after she falls in love with a handsome aristocrat. Naturally, his snooty mother is appalled by the romance until at last all is resolved and the class differences cease to matter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1936
British journalist Guy Newall falls hard for comely model Mary Glynne. For her part, Glynne is engaged to blustery nobleman Eric Cowley. For his part, Cowley spends most of his time trying to avoid his predatory ex-wife. It all ends in a nightclub floor show, just like a Hollywood film. Grand Final was released in the US by Paramount Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1936
When 2 people plan to meet on a cruise, they send substitutes who end up falling in love with each other in this comedy. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this espionage thriller, a scientist develops a nonflammable fuel. Fearing that his life and the formula are in jeopardy, he photographs the formula and sends the picture to the League of Nations where it will be safe. Sure enough, the spies close in and kidnap his sister so he will be forced to give up the formula. Fortunately, the villains are thwarted and the formula is safe. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
