Basil Mason Movies

In this touching drama, set in the midst of the Swiss mountains, a philandering husband and his idealistic young wife battle it out for the rights to the White Cradle Inn, her familial estate. The man spends much of his time messing with a maid at the inn. His wife spends time helping the village orphans whom she allows to stay in the manor. She becomes especially bonded to one of the little children. She wants to adopt him, but her husband refuses to allow it unless she is willing to give him all rights to the inn. Her love for the child causes her to give in. Later, the husband and the lad are mountain climbing. They are trapped in a sudden storm and the husband sacrifices his own life to save the boy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Crackerjack tells the story of Jack Drake (Tom Walls), who is seemingly an ordinary, foppish member of England's idle rich, a true ne'er-do-well. He has a secret, however (actually, several) -- the first being a heart of gold and a social conscience, which motivate him to help the less fortunate; the second is an array of special, stealthy skills that permit him to be a master thief, so masterful that he can even steal from other thieves without their knowledge. His exploits, attributed to a master thief known as "Crackerjack," are even chronicled in an anonymously authored bestseller entitled Crackerjack (which even the Scotland Yard superintendent is reading). Its royalties are all directed to a charity. As he explains to his valet/social secretary, Burdge (Charles Heslop -- the only person who knows his secret), he never steals from anyone who would actually miss the money in any material way, and he does it because they're "too mean to give it away themselves." He is also in love with the Baroness Von Haltz (Lilli Palmer) and the two interests converge at a costume party thrown by Mrs. Humbold (Muriel George) -- he plans to court the baroness and steal the Humbold pearls. But all plans of romance are swept aside when the quartet of American entertainers at the party turn out to be armed robbers who kill one of the guests. Now a cat-and-mouse game ensues: Crackerjack on the one side trying to steer Scotland Yard to the American gang, the gang trying to get a line on Crackerjack to get the Humboldt pearls, and Scotland Yard caught between them, and on top of that, baroness is in jeopardy. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, a hotel clerk is framed for a jewel theft by the real culprits and is forced to grab his wife and flee to France where he is mistaken for a famous singer by a bogus movie producer. Eventually, he ends up running into the real thieves and bringing them to justice. Also a song he wrote becomes a hit. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, a photographer is placed in charge of the village coffer. He takes the cash and hides it in an old dresser. The trouble begins when his wife sells the junkie chest to a junk man. A frantic search ensues. Fortunately, during the hunt, the cameraman locates an old charter that saves the village from the encroachment of developers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The WW1 melodrama I Married a Spy was originally released in England in 1937 under the title Secret Lives (the title of the Paul de Sainte Colombe novel upon which it was based). German film favorite Birgitte Horney stars as Lena Schmidt, a Teutonic lass who is forced into a marriage of convenience with French lieutenent Pierre de Montmalion (played by Hollywood's Neil Hamilton). If she hopes to avoid deportation from her adopted country of Switzerland, Lena will have to act as a French spy against her German countrymen. Her dilemma is exacerbated by the fact that Lt. De Montmalion despises her, and has no qualms about telling her so. Ultimately, however, the two fall in love, making the film's tragic finale all the more poignant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A "silly ass" saves the day in this adventure set in an old English house. The trouble begins when the ass, a mild-mannered clerk, accidently finds out that his boss is a Spanish revolutionary and leader of a ring of counterfeiters. The clerk soon finds himself abducted by the revolutionaries and taken to Spain. There his boss's daughter helps him to escape. Upon breaking free, he then returns to save the girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a chemist finds a purse and "borrows' some money from it. Unfortunately there was also a precious piece of jewelry in it, but it is gone. He soon finds himself accused and convicted of stealing. His difficulties are compounded when an associate swipes his special formula for paint. After serves his time, the chemist goes looking for the real crooks and clears his name. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Filmed in Great Britain, Brides to Be was distributed worldwide by Paramount. Leading lady Betty Stockfield is a humble shop girl, in love with a rich millionaire who has lots of money. Betty is framed for a robbery by a gang of crooks. This proves awkward not only for Betty but for the crooks, who may have to eliminate the girl before her wealthy beau finances her defense. Basil Mason scripted Brides to Be from his own (presumably less confusing) story Sign Please. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally released in 1934 as Death at Broadcasting House, this musty British whodunit was distributed in the US in 1941 to cash in on the Hollywood-engendered popularity of its star, Ian Hunter. Set in a BBC radio studio, the story gets under way when a much-despised airwaves personality is murdered in the middle of a live broadcast. Scotland Yard inspector Gregory (Ian Hunter) shows up to piece together the clues and sift through the suspects. The solution of the mystery hinges on the fact that the victim insisted upon broadcasting in a private room, far removed from his fellow actors. Inspector Gregory provides this solution by coming up with a transcription of the fatal broadcast (this at a time when few radio programs were recorded for posterity). Elements of Death at a Broadcast resurfaced in the 1942 Abbott & Costello comedy Who Done It? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide