George Pearson Movies
British filmmaker George Pearson was a driving force in the development of British cinema during its early years. Educated at Oxford, Pearson was a schoolmaster before joining the film industry in 1912 as a director of educational films; the following year, he began making more entertaining features. In time, Pearson distinguished himself as one of Britain's premiere directors of silent films. He later founded his own production company where, in addition to directing, he produced and wrote his own films. Pearson was known for his technical innovations and for his intense stories; it was he who was responsible for making British films popular in the U.S. While Pearson was a key figure during the silent era, his influence and the quality of his work declined sharply after the advent of sound, when he began making numerous "quota quickies." In 1957, Pearson published his autobiography, Flashback (1957). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi- 1938
This film tells the story of Tracy's struggle to become a famous singer. ~ Rovi
- 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. ~ Rovi
- 1937
In this romantic drama, a renowned stage singer leaves the theater to become a gypsy after his voice weakens. The break down of his voice is caused by nerves. In the gypsy camp he continues to sing on the street. In camp, he falls for a beautiful, naive gypsy girl who doesn't know that he is famous. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Arthur Tracy, Lilli Palmer, (more)
- 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, Rovi
- 1936
In this musical melodrama, a young man's ascent from humble sailor to ship captain is chronicled. His career is going swimmingly until his ship is rammed and he, in order to save the lives of all aboard, is forced to jump ship. Later, the dishonored fellow is stripped of his command and forced to retire into the country with his family. Several years later, his good-hearted son reassembles his father's old crew, puts them aboard the old boat and gets his father to be the captain once more. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1936
Largely filmed on location inside Madame Tussaud's Wax museum, this horror movie centers on a banker who bets that he can spend an entire night in the London attraction's notorious Chamber of Horrors. Unfortunately, once there, he discovers himself to be a potential murder victim. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1935
The Ace of Spades is a lively little British crime meller. Detective Nick Trent (Michael Hogan) sets out to investigate the death of a politician. The accused is a young bucko named Tony (Richard Cooper)-but where's the motive? Digging deeper, Trent discovers that the manipulative sister (Jane Carr) of Tony's fiancee (Dorothy Boyd) was the real brains behind the murder--even though she never sullied her hands with the victim's blood. The Ace of Spades was based on a novel by John Crawford Fraser. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1935
In this musical comedy, a Cockney flower girl is in love with a policeman whom she wants to marry. Unfortunately, her father opposes the union because he is involved in a little crooked investing. Fortunately, the young woman wins a lottery and is able to find wealth and marital bliss. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1935
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, Rovi
- 1934
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
- Starring:
- Frank Vosper, Gillian Lind, (more)
- 1934
In this costume melodrama, a nobleman, aspiring to becoming an earl, devises an evil scheme to murder his relative. His plot eventually fails and justice, as always, prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 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, Rovi
- 1934
Attorney Stuart joins the gang responsible for his brother's death during a holdup in order to seek revenge. ~ Rovi
- 1933
In this murder mystery a suspicious clergyman begins looking into the apparent suicide of a local miser who was generally despised. After much investigating, the minister's dark hunch is confirmed. Unfortunately, several people emerge and confess the crime. The trouble is, though each confessor had sufficient motive, only one of them actually committed the crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1933
Based on a novel by J. B. Priestley, this British musical-comedy follows an unlikely trio as they try to revive the fortunes of a floundering touring theatrical troupe. Inigo Jolifant (John Gielgud) is a schoolteacher with a talent for songwriting, and Jess Oakroyd (Edmund Gwenn) is a man with theatrical ambitions who has just lot his job. Together, they persuade Miss Trant (Mary Glynne), an older single woman looking for adventure, to back them as they try to bring "The Dinky Do's" back into the spotlight. Susie Dean (Jessie Matthews) is a chorus girl who dreams of stardom, and when she's made the new leader of the show, it looks as if her dreams may finally become a reality. The Good Companions is buoyed by the superb singing and dancing talents of Matthews, who was considered one of the screen's greatest musical stars in England and Europe, though she inexplicably never achieved the same fame in the United States; Gielgud also got a rare opportunity to display his vocal abilities in this film. Keep your eyes peeled for Jack Hawkins and horror film great George Zucco, who both appear in supporting roles. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jessie Matthews, Edmund Gwenn, (more)
- 1932
A sailor masquerades as an Australian boxing champion to impress a cocktail waitress in this comedy. Naturally, the sailor's bragging ends up getting him into the ring with a real fighter. Fortunately, the barmaid's ex-boy friend understands the sailor's situation and convinces the boxer to take a dive. In the end the waitress jilts them both and takes off with the bar owner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1931
At the risk of repeating an old cliché, the title tells all in East Lynne of the Western Front. Set during WWI, the story focuses on a group of British "Tommies," bored out of their gourds during a lull in the war. To perk up morale, the soldiers decide to stage a camp production of the barnstorming stage meller East Lynne -- and "camp" is definitely the operative word, as the female roles are broadly essayed by males. The fun begins when Wilfred Lawson, an actor in civilian life, begins taking the whole project seriously. Featured in the cast as one of the doughboys is Harold French, later a prolific film director. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Herbert Mundin, Mark Daly, (more)
- 1930
R.C. Sherriff's forceful drama about men at war, a long running hit in London as well as New York, is brought to the screen in this film adaptation. Capt. Denis Stanhope (Colin Clive) is the commander of a military unit during World War I; constantly bombarded by enemy fire and hemmed in by his superiors, Stanhope no longer believes in the cause for which he fights, and is despondent over the thought he is sending young men to a pointless death. Depressed, Stanhope has turned to drink, and often squabbles with Lt. Osborne (Ian MacLaren), his second-in-command, as well as berating nd Lt. Raleigh (David Manners), whose sister is Stanhope's beloved. As his confidence begins to collapse, Stanhope believes he has lost the respect of his men, until he secretly obtains a letter Raleigh is writing to his sister. Journey's End was the first major success for director James Whale; he soon signed a deal to work in the United States, and he cast his Journey's End leading man, Colin Clive, in one of his first American projects, Frankenstein. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Colin Clive, David Manners, (more)
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