John Mills Movies
Born in a British seaside resort town, John Mills was the son of a mathematics teacher father. Mills' mother worked as a theatrical box office manager, and it was this world, rather than his father's academic milieu, which most attracted young Mills. After brief employment as a clerk in a corn merchant's office, Mills moved to London, where he enrolled at Zelia Raye's Dancing School. His first professional job was as a chorus dancer in The Five O'Clock Revue in 1929. Making as many contacts as possible, Mills was able to secure work on the legitimate stage, and in 1932 appeared in his first film, the Jessie Matthews vehicle The Midshipmaid. Learning his craft in "quota quickies," Mills rose to leading man in such prestige productions as Brown on Resolution (1935), Tudor Rose (1936), and The Green Cockatoo (1938). In 1939, he appeared in his first American film, Goodbye Mr. Chips, playing student Peter Colley. He starred in a number of morale-boosting World War II films, usually playing the personification of the calm, resourceful young British military officer; any chance for a real life career in uniform, however, was scuttled by Mills' duodenal ulcer. After the war, he starred in such international hits as Great Expectations (1946), Scott of the Antarctic (1949), Hobson's Choice (1954), and Above Us the Waves (1955). In 1970, Mills won a long overdue Oscar for his performance as the village idiot in Ryan's Daughter (1970), directed (as were several of Mills' earlier films) by David Lean. His Broadway work has included Ross, a 1961 dramatization of the life of T.E. Lawrence. In 1966, Mills directed Sky West and Crooked (aka Gypsy Girl), which starred his daughter, Hayley Mills, and was written by his wife, Mary Hayley Bell (Mills' other daughter, Juliet, is likewise an actress of note). One year later, he made his American series-TV debut as British attorney Dundee in the weekly Western Dundee and the Culhane. In 1977, John Mills was made a knight of the British Empire; his very full life, both offscreen and on, was summed up three years later in his autobiography Up in the Clouds, Gentlemen, Please. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1932
When economy expert Kerr works to cut the costs of the fleet in Malta, his lovely daughter, Matthews, is courted by the crew members on board. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessie Matthews, Frederick Kerr, (more)
- 1933
In this musical, a middle-class cockney fishwife yearns to become a movie star. Her plans go swimmingly. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
Very little plot, but some interesting scenes in this slight suspense offering. A man is falsely accused of murder. Luckily for him, a picture was taken of the murder. Unluckily for him, the camera had been thrown out of the window to destroy the evidence. Luckily, it landed in a passing car, so the evidence was not destroyed. Unluckily, they don't know where it went from there. An awful lot hangs on the ability of the viewer to keep believing in this set of bizarre circumstances in a chase to find the evidence that will clear his name. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Kendall, Ida Lupino, (more)
- 1933
In this comedy, a chimney sweep is swept into a political campaign and finds himself not only supporting the Labour Party, but also running against the elitist incumbent. When the sweep's son falls for the opposition's daughter, trouble ensues, but the sweep wins anyway. Later he realizes that he is not cut out for the job and backs out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
One doesn't expect much from British programmers of the 1930s, so it comes as a relief that River Wolves has a great deal of entertainment value. Michael Hogan plays a sea captain who aspires to become a novelist. Hogan decides to soak up "local flavor" in a small waterfront community. He and fellow writer John Mills (in one of his earliest movie appearances) find themselves rivals for the affections of innkeeper's daughter Helga Moray. Both Hogan and Moray come to the rescue when Mills is threatened by crooks. River Wolves was based on the Edward Dignon - Geoffrey Swaffer stage play The Lion and the Lamb. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
The tumultuous relationship between a self-made man and his no-account son is chronicled in this drama. The father is proud that he has worked his way into wealth and power. He is deeply disappointed that his playboy son did not follow in his footsteps. When he learns that the boy jumps a ship bound for Australia so he can see his lover, a married woman, the father goes berserk and almost beats his son to death with a horsewhip. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1934
John Mills made his seventh screen appearance in this British "quota quickie". Mills plays a supposed orphan who is actually the son of a medicine show huckster (Leslie Fuller). The shifty showman finances Mills' medical school education, keeping his identity secret all the while. It is all but inevitable that Mills will graduate, become a crusader against patent-medicine quacks, and come to loggerheads with his own father. John Mills would have to pay his dues with several subsequent low-budget pictures before achieving full stardom with Brown on Resolution (35). Mills' later status as an award-winning international star was certainly not due to such tripe as Doctor's Orders. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
Eva Moore, famous for her portrayal of Ernst Thesiger's religious-zealot sister in The Old Dark House, is awarded top billing in the British Blind Justice. Moore provides comic relief to the deadly serious goings-on in the rest of the film. Geraldine Fitzgerald plays the sister of a man who was accused of cowardice and shot during wartime. She attempts to keep her shame a secret, until a slimy blackmailer enters her life. Said blackmailer is murdered, and guess who is suspected of the crime? Blind Justice was adapted by Vera Allinson from Arnold Ridley's play Recipe for Murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1934
This lush historical drama chronicles the brief reign of the late Henry VIII's successor, Lady Jane Grey. After only nine days on the throne, she was beheaded at the behest of the treacherous Mary Tudor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cedric Hardwicke, John Mills, (more)
- 1934
In this comedy, an upstanding judge marries a woman whom he believes is much younger than she really is. To keep the illusion alive, the woman dresses her adult son as a boy. The truth is finally revealed during a wild music hall party. Fortunately, the judge is willing to accept them as they really are and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1935
His Hollywood career a thing of the past, director Herbert Brenon returned to his native England in 1934, where he continued making films until his retirement in 1940. Brenon's first project upon his arrival in London was the feature-length documentary Royal Cavalcade. Covering a 25-year period, the film is an encapsulation of the comings and goings of the British empire since the 1910 coronation of King George V. The highlights, drawn from the newsreel files of several English and European archives, include Captain Scott's arrival at the South Pole (and the tragic aftermath), the First World War, the Roaring 20s, and the Depression. Of special interest to show-biz buffs is the footage of the first Royal Command Performance at the Palace in 1911, featuring such matchless performers as Anna Pavlova and George Robey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1935
This war movie is set on the high-seas during WWI. It chronicles the exploits of a brave English sailor who is captured by a German cruiser. The courageous sailor, the bastard of a RN officer, soon escapes from the German ship. He also steals a rifle. He hides on the shore and begins taking pot-shots at the Germans. Due to his marksmanship, the ship's journey is delayed. While the Germans are hunting for him, the British ships sneak up and sink the enemy boat. Unfortunately the brave sailor is killed. He becomes a hero and the British erect a cross on the highest point on the island to commemorate the young hero. The commander of the British ship is disturbed to discover that the dead hero was the son he denied having. This drama is considered to be a landmark British film; it is the first to utilize the actual Royal Navy and it's ships. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Balfour, John Mills, (more)
- 1935
Charing Cross Road is a London thoroughfare where several theatrical boarding houses have set up shop. Each one of these establishments is chock full of show-biz hopefuls, wannabes, has-beens and never-weres. John Mills and June Clyde play Tony and Pam, "at liberty" vaudevillians who arrive in London on the lookout for their Big Chance. In danger of developing a swelled head, Tony is chastened by an elderly trouper (Derek Oldham) who tells him the sad story of a once-great entertainer who hit the skids. Based on a BBC radio play, Charing Cross Road enjoyed a built-in fan following even before the cameras turned. Among the film's many pleasures is the presence of musical-comedy favorite Belle Baker as "herself," and a very young Coral Browne as a haughty aristocrat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Mills, June Clyde, (more)
In this romance, a poor girl spends her spare time window shopping for pricey goods. On a lark, she goes into an auto dealership to price a Rolls Royce. She feigns outrage when she learns the car has already been sold. She petulantly demands that she be sold that particular car. Her feisty actions are observed by a wealthy playboy who immediately falls in love with her. Much to the shock of her parents, who own a small antique shop, a brand new Rolls is delivered right to the front of their shop. Her mother goes to the dealer and demands to know who bought the vehicle for him. The dealer tells her that her daughter "won" it. Of course, it was the playboy who bought her the car on the sly. When at last they meet, the two fall in love. They encounter difficulty when the playboy discovers that she works at his father's musical instrument factory. He must conceal his identity to avoid scandal, but it cannot be avoided. The truth comes out and it is a while before the couple can get back together. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Mills, Mark Lester, (more)
- 1936
A wealthy doctor's bratty son throws a temper tantrum when his father denies him a car. To get even, the spoiled sprout heads for France to join a gang of car thieves. Fortunately, his devoted father speeds across the Channel to save him from further travels down a ruinous road. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Raoul Walsh, best remembered for his rough-and-tumble action pictures, made this film on a rare loan-out to a British studio. Jim Tracey (Wallace Ford) is an American gangster who, while on the run from the law, flees to England, where he joins the British army by posing as a Canadian. Jim and his new friend Bert Dawson (John Mills) go through training together, and they both get to know Sally Briggs (Anna Lee), the daughter of their commanding officer. While Jim and Bert vie for Sally's attentions, Jim discovers that his girlfriend Jean Burdett (Grace Bradley) has followed him to England and is threatening to reveal his true identity. Jim ships out to China with his regiment before Jean's word can get too far; it turns out that Sally is also on board the ship, but that bit of good news turns sour when band of Chinese bandits attempt to seize the ship and take Sally with them. O.H.M.S. was also released under the more American-sounding title You're in the Army Now. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wallace Ford, John Mills, (more)
- 1937
Dave Connor (Robert Newton) is a fixer for the London mob, who goes against his boss Terrell (Charles Oliver) for a big payoff at the dog track. Now he's a hunted man with a huge bankroll, and tries to share it with his song-and-dance-man brother Jim (John Mills), who works out of a seedy dive called The Green Cockatoo. Jim wants no part of Dave's money, but he does want to protect his brother, which gets him targeted by Terrell and his mob. They go after Dave, who manages to live just long enough to cross paths with Eileen (Rene Ray), a girl from a small village who has come to London looking for work. Eileen now finds herself accused of killing Dave, and goes to find his brother, to pass on a message the dying man gave her. She and Jim manage to cross paths without either ever realizing who the other is -- all Eileen knows is that Jim and Terrell want to kill each other, and all Jim knows is that he's got this wide-eyed innocent girl to look after (and hide from the police) while seeking vengeance and keeping himself alive. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
Goodbye, Mr. Chips, based on James Hilton's novel, is a melodrama about a shy British teacher named Mr. Chipping (Robert Donat) who devotes his life to teaching "his boys" after the death of his lovely, energetic American wife Katherine (Greer Garson). Told via flashbacks, the film features an aged Mr. Chipping looking back nostalgically at his long career, taking note of the people who've touched his life over the years. Donat was the recipient of a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the title character, and the film features the debut performance of a young Garson. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Donat, Greer Garson, (more)
- 1940
Cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfeather's woebegone WW1 British soldier Old Bill was revived for WW2 in Old Bill and Son. When his son Young Bill (John Mills) signs up for military duty against the Nazis, Old Bill (Morland Graham) tries to re-enlist as well. Turned down for the obvious reasons, Old Bill has trouble convincing anyone that he's of any use in the present conflict. The plot is, surprisingly, never resolved, suggesting that the producers couldn't come up with a logical ending and just gave up after 96 minutes. On the plus side, the film features the comic talents of Renee Houston, Nicholas Phipps and Gus McNaughton, who like stars John Mills and Morland Graham are heaps better than their material. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morland Graham, John Mills, (more)
In ancient Bagdad, Abu, a good-natured young thief (Sabu), befriends the deposed king Ahmad (John Justin) as both are imprisoned in the palace dungeon, awaiting execution under orders from the evil vizier Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), who has seized the throne. But they escape and make their way to Basra, where Ahmad, now living as a beggar, meets and falls in love with the Princess (June Duprez), who has been betrothed by her father the Sultan (Miles Malleson, who also wrote the screenplay) to Jaffar. Their fight for the love of the Princess triggers a series of adventures for the young Abu that brings him halfway around the world and into mystical realms with help from a towering genie (Rex Ingram), brushing up against the gods and transforming the little thief into a hero in the process. Along the way, we encounter a wide array of characters, some of them charming, such as the gentle Old King (Morton Selten), and some sinister, such as the devious Halima (Mary Morris), plus a range of color and lushly designed sets and set pieces (and special effects) that still dazzle the eye seven decades later, even in the wake of various remakes (which include Disney Studios' Aladdin). And it all leads to an amazing and suspenseful ride on a magic carpet, and a race against time to save the king and his beloved. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Conrad Veidt, Sabu, (more)
- 1941
In this WW II comedy, a professor teaching a correspondence school gets in hot water when he entangles himself with the Nazis who are trying to prevent the signing of an important trade agreement between South American countries and England. When the professor learns that a Nazi agent has breached security and is posing as the economics expert responsible for lining out the international agreement, the good professor tries to find the real expert, who has been kidnapped and hidden. To find him, the prof must utilize numerous ridiculous disguises. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Hay, John Mills, (more)
- 1941
In the wake of Abbott & Costello's Buck Privates, every studio in Hollywood began cranking out service comedies. Warner Bros.' contribution to this trend was You're in the Army Now, featuring the unlikely but undeniably chucklesome duo of Jimmy Durante and Phil Silvers. The stars are cast as Jeeper and Breezy, erstwhile vacuum-cleaner salesman who stage a demonstration at a local army camp, only to end up in uniform themselves. Thanks to their ineptitude and chronic inability to follow orders, our heroes spend most of their training period in the guardhouse. They try to atone for past misdeeds during maneuvers, only to end up trapped in a remote cabin which teeters perilously on a mountain ledge (the whole routine was borrowed-actually, stolen-from Chaplin's The Gold Rush). Not teamed in the traditional sense, Durante and Silvers are permitted to perform their solo specialties, with both comedians coming out fairly even in terms of laugh delivery. As a bonus, this is the film in which nominal romantic leads Regis Toomey and Jane Wyman performed the longest screen kiss in movie history (Leonard Maltin clocked it at three minutes, five seconds)-a feat that reportedly led Wyman's then-husband Ronald Reagan to wonder aloud why he couldn't keep his wife's interest that long! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Durante, Jane Wyman, (more)
- 1941
Cottage to Let is a taut British wartime spy thriller, laced with moments of genuinely hilarious comedy. The "maguffin" in this instance is a revolutionary new bombsight, designed by inventor John Barrington (Leslie Banks). A group of Nazi spies intend to steal the blueprints for the invention (hence the film's alternate title Bombsight Stolen), and to that end dispatch one of their top agents (John Mills), who parachutes into the story posing as wounded RAF pilot Lt. Perry. Hailed as a war hero by the gullible locals, Perry rents a cottage from the unsuspecting Barrington and his wife (Jeanne de Casalis). The treacherous Nazi meets his match in the unlikely form of oafish Charles Dimble (Alastair Sim), who turns out to be a British undercover agent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Banks, Jeanne de Casalis, (more)
- 1942
In this WW II actioner, two British Intelligence agents and a French agent follow their leader into Nazi-occupied France to see how strong the invaders really are; unfortunately, the only way to get that information is to break into the German headquarters. They do so by pretending to be champagne vendors. As soon as the Nazis figure out their scheme, they begin chasing the Allied agents who are assisted by the French Resistance to make sure the information is given to the British who use it to destroy the German supplies and munitions. During their flight, one of the agents his killed; later his sister vows to do everything she can to stop those evil Nazis. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Williams, Carla Lehmann, (more)
- 1942
Released worldwide by 20th Century Fox, Carol Reed's The Young Mr. Pitt is a static but sincere filmed biography of 19th century British prime minister William Pitt Jr., here played by Robert Donat. Appointed to his office at the tender age of 24, Mr. Pitt spends most of his time in Parliament alerting his countrymen of the dangers posed by France's Emperor Napoleon (Herbert Lom, in his first English-speaking role). The Frank Launder-Sidney Gilliat screenplay works overtime drawing parallels between the Pitt-Napoleon conflict and the present crisis involving Great Britain and Nazi Germany. Various historical personages are impersonated by the likes of Phyllis Calvert, John Mills, and Robert Morley, with Morley stealing the show hands down. Like its thematic "twin" Penn of Pennsylvania, Young Mr. Pitt is lavishly produced, but suffers from pedantic speechifying and substandard special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Donat, Robert Morley, (more)
