Maclean Rogers Movies
British director Maclean P. Rogers concentrated on low-budget regional comedies and pulp-novel melodramas. Rogers scripted many of his films, and, on at least one occasion (1940's Garrison Follies), served as producer. Active from 1929 to 1962, he directed several entries in the low-comedy Gert and Daisy series, and also such radio-serial adaptations as Salute the Toff (1947) and Calling Paul Temple (1948). One of Maclean P. Rogers' 1950s directorial efforts, the Goon Show extravaganza Down Among the Z Men (1952), later enjoyed a healthy second life on the videocassette market. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1960
The title of this British farce, one assumes, does not refer to the producers' assessement of its box office success. Richard Murdoch, Sandra Dorne and Jon Pertwee star as, respectively, an American secret agent, a pretty British customs official, and a vain TV star. This less-than-dynamic trio sets about to foil a gang of smugglers. They do, but not before a lot of furniture is smashed and a lot of clothes torn asunder. Yes, it's funny, but for a whole 77 minutes? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Joe is played by Leslie Randall in this lean British programmer. Working at a detergent company, Joe is ignored by his bosses and co-workers alike. But when the opportunity arises for Joe to become a hero, well, watch out! Motivating the plot is a bit of industrial espionage involving the theft of a secret detergent formula. Of interest in Just Joe is the supporting-cast presence of veteran film star Anna May Wong and future Doctor Who Jon Pertwee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
This thriller centers on the possession of a valuable new metal that is able to withstand nuclear radiation. It had been invented by a Belgian metallurgist, but he was murdered by an international ring of thieves who make some of the valuable alloy into a cigarette case that is placed on an unknowing jewel thief in hopes that he will inadvertently sneak it into East Germany. Unfortunately, he decides to sell the case back to the ring leader and is almost killed. Fortunately, he escapes and gets the case to the proper authorities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1958
In this children's fantasy, Toyland is endangered by a series of enigmatic disasters. The Toyland police blame one person for the events, but he is innocent. The real culprits are the dreaded Red Goblins. Fortunately, by the story's end, the truth is discovered and Noddy is set free. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
The British Assignment Redhead stars Hollywood's Richard Denning as a devil-may-care secret agent. The blonde Denning is, of course, not the redhead of the title: that honor goes to luscious nightclub vocalist Carole Mathews. The girl is up to her pretty neck in intrigue, thanks to a $12 million robbery masterminded by chameleon-like criminal Ronald Adam. When she has the chance to ice Denning, Carole refuses to do so, throwing her lot with him to foil the villains. Based on a novel by Al Bocca, Assignment Redhead was released in the US (in a radically chopped-up version) as Million Dollar Manhunt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
After years of faithful supporting service, British comic actor Ronald Shiner was finally rewarded with a few leading roles in the 1950s. In Not Wanted on Voyage, Shiner plays cockney ship's steward Higgins, who tends to the needs of the various passengers on a Tangiers-bound luxury liner. When a valuable necklace is stolen from one of the vacationing dowagers, Higgins and his buddy Hollebone (Brian Rix) decide to play detective, hoping for a huge reward upon recovering the missing item. Along the way, Higgins and Hollebone find it necessary to disguise themselves as Arabs, leading to a wacky slapstick chase. Even those filmgoers who'd seen and heard the wheezy gags in Not Wanted on Voyage in earlier films were amused by the breezy ridiculousness of the project. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, (more)
- 1957
In this British detective yarn, a Yankee sleuth teams up with Scotland Yard to catch the culprits behind a successful counterfeiting ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this crime drama, the trouble begins when Arabs kidnap a young wife and hold her hostage for a pair of rare books. Mayhem ensues as her husband and another book smuggler team up to get her back without having to sacrifice the rare tomes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1956
In this comedy, a remake of the 1936 comedy, two sanitation workers get an unexpected bonus when they encounter a rare book that was accidentally tossed away. Soon they find themselves pursued by thieves, as this book is unique in the world. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
In this comedy, two rabid football fans begin an unstoppable train of events when they physically harass a referee. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1954
In this crime drama, a man wrongfully convicted of murder goes back home to find the real killer and clear his name. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Forces' Sweetheart is a British service comedy, perhaps best appreciated by its homegrown audience. Musical comedy favorite Hy Hazell plays Judy James, a performer with ENTA, the British equivalent of the USO. Three goofy soldiers, played by Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine and Freddie Frinton, vie for the affections of the lovely Judy. The threadbare production numbers feature such specialty acts as The Leslie Roberts Television Girls. Forces' Sweetheart didn't get much play in the US, save for a showing or two on the Late Late Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Alf Donkin (Jerry Desmonde) and his two nitwitted brothers (C. Dernier Warren and Mark Daly) adopt an orphaned baby girl. She grows up to be the delectable Pauline Stroud, whose beauty and vulnerability prompts the good-hearted Alf to be all the more protective of her. When Pauline falls in love with a crook (Peter Hammond), Alf and his siblings try to prevent their foster child from making the mistake of her life. Alf's Baby was based on It Won't Be a Stylish Marriage, a play by A.P. Dearsley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
The title is explained during the course of the British Flannelfoot. We'll just say here that the film stars Jack Watling as a crime reporter, hot on the trail of a jewel thief. When his informant is murdered, Watling goes after the crook himself. He proves a thorn in the side to investigating detective Ronald Adam, but together the two men bring the criminal to heel. B-flick stalwart Maclean Rogers keeps the incidents in Flannelfoot moving at a satisfyingly fast clip. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this British comedy, a group of World War II spies attempt to capture a secret atomic formula and it is up to military-man Harry Jones (Harry Secombe) and Carole Gayley (Carole Carr) to stop them. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this mystery, a woman desiring to locate her missing employer engages the services of "The Toff," a suave amateur detective. Mayhem ensues until the detective reveals that the boss wanted to disappear so he could hide from the man behind an insurance fraud who wants to kill him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this murder mystery, an aspiring novelist and amateur detective begins looking into the case of a famous unsolved murder and eventually ends up in a mansion filled with serpents. He then enlists the aid of his wife, solves the murder, and gets kudos for his newest book. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1952
In this detective story, based on a novel by John Creasey, a smooth-talking detective helps a young woman solve her uncle's murder. When the Robin Hood-like thief accused of the crime is proved innocent, everyone breathes a sight of relief. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
In this entry in the series, amateur sleuth and aspiring novelist Temple and his wife look for a kidnapped scientist whose formula for a new atomic weapon has been stolen by the enemy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
Once again comedian Arthur Lucan dons an old woman's togs to become the tart-tongued Irish washerwoman. This time Mother Riley gets into the thick of things when her daughter finds a South Seas treasure map and they set sail to find it. Upon their arrival to the remote island, Mother Riley ends up far more than she bargained for. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
In this comedy, a bookie wins a boutique and decides to modernize the joint by devising, new, more effective programs for running it. Those who have worked in the shop for years are not pleased with the new changes, and when the bookies elaborate plans blow up in his face, they are only too pleased to go back to working for the shop's original owner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1950
In this comedy, a street artist has successfully conned his wife and family into believing that he is a well-to-do businessman. This scam has been going on for many years. Unfortunately, it all blows up in his face when his alter ego is believed murdered and that he is the prime suspect. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1949
In this crime melodrama, a young couple moves into a charming rural cottage. There the wife becomes fixated upon the mysterious demise of the earlier occupant. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
