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Ann Lancaster
Ann Lancaster (5 May 1920 – 31 October 1970) was a well-known character actress who appeared in many British films, television shows and in theatre. Lancaster specialised in comic roles and had a talent for voices which she often used on radio to portray children and to do voiceovers for television commercials. Her most high-profile film roles were in ''The Million Pound Note'' (1953), '' A Night to Remember'' (1958, uncredited as a woman on a train), ''The Dirty Dozen'' (1967), ''Fathom'' (1967), ''The Railway Children'' (1970), and in one Carry On Film '' Carry On Again Doctor'' (1969). She was the voice behind the Ajax 'It cleans like a white tornado' advertisements on television. She was in the radio show: Mrs Dale's Diary, and appeared in many well-known television comedies including Hancock's Half Hour, Till Death Us Do Part, Tea at the Ritz, Hughie and The World of Beachcomber with Spike Milligan. Personal life Ann Lancaster was born in 1920 in London and died of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Magic Box
''The Magic Box'' is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier. Produced by Ronald Neame and distributed by British Lion Film Corporation, the film was made as part of the Festival of Britain and adapted by Eric Ambler from a biography by Ray Allister. The film presents a dramatized account of Friese-Greene's life, who was one of the earliest inventors to design and patent a working cinematic camera. Told largely in flashback, the story follows his passionate pursuit of motion picture technology and its impact on his financial stability and personal life. Plot The film begins in 1921, where British inventor William Friese-Greene, in severe financial distress, attends a London film industry conference. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks. The first is told from the perspective of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Railway Children
''The Railway Children'' is a children's book by E. Nesbit, Edith Nesbit, originally serialised in ''The London Magazine'' during 1905 and published in book form in the same year. It has been adapted for the screen several times, of which the The Railway Children (1970 film), 1970 film version is the best known. Setting and synopsis The ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' credits Oswald Barron, who had a deep affection for Nesbit, with having provided the plot. The setting is thought to be inspired by Edith's walks to Grove Park nature reserve, close to where she lived on Baring Road. Her home, Three Chimneys, was demolished and replaced by the current building Stratfield House. Grove Park railway station, Grove Park station, near the reserve, now has a mural commemorating this connection. Alternatively, there is evidence that the inspiration came from Strines, a village near Marple, Greater Manchester, Marple in Greater Manchester. The story concerns a family who mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Window Cleaner (film)
''The Window Cleaner'' is a 1968 British sex comedy short film directed and written by Malcolm Leigh and starring Donald Sumpter, Edina Ronay, and Ann Lancaster. Plot David is a window cleaner employed on skyscrapers until he loses his nerve and is relegated to bungalows. Having asked to go back to high buildings, he once again loses his nerve and half-way up a block of flats meets Sharon, whose window he is cleaning. Sharon pulls him into her flat and seduces him. He finds the experience theraputic. Cast * Donald Sumpter as David * Edina Ronay as Sharon * Ann Lancaster as mother * Jennifer Hill as secretary * Peggy Aitchison as landlady * Fred Griffiths as foreman * Robert Hamilton as workman Reception ''The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, includi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Three Bites Of The Apple
''Three Bites of the Apple'' is a 1967 American romantic comedy film directed by Alvin Ganzer. Plot Stanley Thrumm is a British tour guide. An unlikely night of successful casino gambling on the Italian Riviera leaves him wealthy but in a quandary. If he returns to England with the cash, most of it will go to British taxes. He decides to smuggle the money to Switzerland and establish a bank account there. Carla Moretti, a beautiful bystander at the casino, volunteers to help, but in fact intends to fleece Thrumm with the help of her ex-husband. As summarized by Michael Betzold, the "lightweight comedy" turns into a "long car chase with many comic diversions and a lot of Alpine scenery". There also is a soundtrack album where David McCallum sings the theme song over the opening credits. Cast * David McCallum: Stanley Thrumm * Sylva Koscina: Carla Moretti * Tammy Grimes: Angela Sparrow * Harvey Korman: Harvey Tomlinson * Domenico Modugno: Remo Romano * Aldo Fabrizi: Dr. Manzoni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bunny Lake Is Missing
''Bunny Lake Is Missing'' is a 1965 psychological mystery film directed and produced by Otto Preminger and starring Carol Lynley, Keir Dullea and Laurence Olivier. Filmed in black-and-white widescreen format in London, it was based on the 1957 novel '' Bunny Lake Is Missing'' by Merriam Modell. The score is by Paul Glass. The rock band the Zombies also appear in the film. Plot American single mother Ann Lake, who recently moved to London from New York, arrives at the Little People's Garden pre-school to collect her daughter, Bunny. The child has mysteriously disappeared. An administrator recalls meeting Ann but claims never to have seen the missing child. Ann and her brother Steven search the school and find a peculiar old woman living upstairs, who claims she collects children's nightmares. In desperation, the Lakes call the police and Superintendent Newhouse arrives on the scene. Everyone becomes a suspect and Superintendent Newhouse is steadfast, and diligently follows ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Secret Of My Success (1965 Film)
''The Secret of My Success'' is a 1965 British black comedy film from American writer-director Andrew L. Stone, starring James Booth, Shirley Jones, Stella Stevens, Honor Blackman, and Lionel Jeffries (in four roles). A police constable solves two high-profile cases with help from his mother. He becomes the leader of a South American country through becoming the figurehead of its revolution. The new leader later inherits millions from an earl, but makes the mistake of naming his mother as his heir. His mother kills him to get the inheritance. Plot Thanks to his mother's help, Arthur Tate somehow makes a remarkable rise from a lowly constable to the ruler of a South American country. His story begins with Inspector Hobart's investigation into dressmaker Violet Lawson's missing husband. Hobart suspects foul play and digs up Violet's cellar, looking for the body. Violet did indeed kill her spouse, but doesn't bury the corpse there until after Hobart has dug the hole. A helpful ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I've Gotta Horse
''I've Gotta Horse'' (also known as ''Wonderful Day'') is a 1965 British musical comedy film directed by Kenneth Hume and starring Billy Fury, Amanda Barrie, Michael Medwin, Jon Pertwee and pop bands The Gamblers (British band), The Gamblers and The Bachelors. It was written by Larry Parnes, Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe (screenwriter), Ronald Wolfe. Musical direction was by Mike Leander. Plot Based on the star's famous love of animals, this musical comedy portrays Billy setting out to add a sheepdog to his vast entourage of animals and coming back with an irresistible horse named Armitage instead. To his manager's horror, Billy smuggles the horse backstage during rehearsals for his big show and the horse proceeds to create havoc. Little do either of them know that Armitage is actually a thoroughbred racehorse. Then Billy's horse contracts pneumonia and Billy must choose between love of his horse and the big show. Cast *Billy Fury as Billy *Amanda Barrie as Jo *Micha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Lamp In Assassin Mews
''The Lamp in Assassin Mews'' is a 1962 'B' British comedy crime film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Francis Matthews, Lisa Daniely and Ian Fleming. The film's plot concerns a local council's plans to gentrify an area, which are disrupted by a series of murders. Plot Modernising councillor Jack Norton becomes the target of a couple of elderly serial killers when he plans to remove a gas lamp outside their home. Cast * Francis Matthews as Jack Norton * Lisa Daniely as Mary Clarke * Ian Fleming as Albert Potts * Amy Dalby as Victoria Potts * Ann Sears as Ruth * as Ella * Derek Tansley as Jarvis * John Lewis as Harpingdon * Ann Lancaster as Mrs Dowling * Colin Tapley as Inspector * Douglas Ives as Gault * Dorothea Phillips as Mrs Burke Reception ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "A curious blend of romance and comedy tinged with drama, the story is puerile, and many might feel that the murderous old pair, likeable though they may be, are not at all funny. Und ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Durant Affair
''The Durant Affair'' is a 1962 British second feature 'B' drama film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Jane Griffiths, Conrad Phillips and Nigel Green. It was written by Eldon Howard. Plot A will is contested in court after a fortune is granted to an unexpected heiress. Cast * Jane Griffiths as Mary Grant * Conrad Phillips as Julian Armour * Nigel Green as Sir Patrick * Simon Lack as Roland Farley * Francis de Wolff as Mario Costello * Richard Caldicot as the Judge * Michael Beint as Bill Lewis * Tony Quinn as James O'Flaherty - Manservant * Ann Lancaster * Robert Raglan as Ned Dunston (uncredited) * Katharine Pate as Ethel Durant (uncredited) Reception ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "Undramatic, repetitive courtroom melodrama with one or two sound performances but little else to recommend it." ''Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Flesh And The Fiends
''The Flesh and the Fiends'' (US title ''Mania''; also known as ''The Fielndish Ghouls'' and ''Psycho Killers'') is a 1960 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring Peter Cushing, June Laverick and Donald Pleasence. It was written by John Gilling and Leon Griffiths. 19th-century medical doctor Robert Knox purchases human corpses for research from a murderous pair named Burke and Hare. The film is based on the true case of Burke and Hare, who murdered at least 16 people in 1828 Edinburgh and sold their bodies for anatomical research. Plot In 1828 Edinburgh Dr. Knox is a highly skilled anatomist who draws large crowds of medical students to his lectures on the human body. Though he is constantly at odds with his stuffy, backwards colleagues, he is highly venerated by his students and believes his duty is to push the medical profession forward. Unfortunately, due to the laws of the time very few cadavers are legally available to the medical profession, nece ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Angels One Five
''Angels One Five'' is a 1952 British war film directed by George More O'Ferrall and starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond and Veronica Hurst. Based on the book ''What Are Your Angels Now?'' by Pelham Groom (who was also technical adviser to the film under his full title of W/Cdr. A. J. C. Pelham Groom), the plot centres on a young fighter pilot immediately before and during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Some scenes in the film were shot at RAF Uxbridge, where there was a wartime operations room. "Angels One Five" refers to RAF radio procedure from the Second World War. Angels stands for altitude. One Five means 15,000 feet. The film was the first British post-war production to deal with the Battle of Britain.Pendo 1985, p. 175. Plot In 1940, a newly qualified pilot, Pilot Officer T. B. "Septic" Baird (John Gregson), is delivering a replacement Hawker Hurricane (and himself) to "Pimpernel" Squadron's airfield. Just as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Card (1952 Film)
''The Card'' is a 1952 British comedy film version of the 1911 novel by Arnold Bennett. In America, the film was titled ''The Promoter''. It was adapted by Eric Ambler and directed by Ronald Neame. It stars Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, and Petula Clark. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound. It is mainly faithful to the novel, omitting some minor incidents. Plot The film follows the adventures and misadventures of Edward Henry (Denry) Machin, an ambitious young man from a poor background. Denry surreptitiously changes his poor grades to qualify for entry to a "school for the sons of gentlemen". At the age of 16, he becomes a junior clerk to Mr. Duncalf, the town clerk and a solicitor. He meets the charming and socially well-connected Countess of Chell, a client of Duncalf's, and is given the job of sending out invitations to a grand municipal ball. He "invites" himself and wins a £5 bet that he will ask the countess to dance. This earn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
