|
An Inspector Calls (1954 Film)
''An Inspector Calls'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Alastair Sim, Jane Wenham and Eileen Moore. It is based upon the 1945 play '' An Inspector Calls'' by J.B. Priestley and was adapted for the screen by Desmond Davis. It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Joseph Bato. Plot In 1912, the prosperous Birling family sit at a dining table at the end of a dinner party with their friend, Gerald Croft, who is engaged to the daughter, Sheila. Mother chastises Eric, the son, for drinking too much. Father discusses the likelihood of war and after the meal discusses his possible knighthood with Gerald over port and cigars. They are interrupted by a man calling himself Inspector Poole, investigating the suicide of a working-class girl, Eva Smith, whose death is linked to each family member. Eva has poisoned herself. She left a diary. Eva was one of Mr Birling's workers in his factory. In a flashback to 1910, Eva is se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Desmond Davis
Desmond Stanley Tracey Davis (24 May 1926 – 3 July 2021) was a British film and television director, best known for his 1981 film ''Clash of the Titans (1981 film), Clash of the Titans''. Early life and career Desmond Davis was born in Wandsworth, southwest of South London, London. His parents were Dorothy (nee Newbold) and Isaac (known as William) Davis, director of optical lens manufacturer Newbold & Co. While a student at the Regent Street Polytechnic (now University of Westminster), Davis studied photography and cinematography. In 1944 Davis joined Riverside Studios as a clapper loader. While there, he worked on two comedies, ''Don't Take It to Heart'' (directed by Jeffrey Dell) and ''It's in the Bag! (1945 film), It's in the Bag'' (directed by Richard Wallace (director), Richard Wallace). Davis was then drafted to join the British Army Film and Photographic Unit, serving at the end of the Second World War at age 18. He was a sergeant in the army's South East Asia Command ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bryan Forbes
Bryan Forbes Order of the British Empire, CBE (; born John Theobald Clarke; 22 July 1926 – 8 May 2013) was an English film director, screenwriter, film producer, actor and novelist described as a "Renaissance man"Falk Q. . BAFTA. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2013 and "one of the most important figures in the British film industry".Batty DBryan Forbes, acclaimed film director, dies aged 86. ''The Guardian''. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013 Forbes directed the film ''The Stepford Wives (1975 film), The Stepford Wives'' (1975) and wrote and/or directed several other critically acclaimed films, including ''Whistle Down the Wind (film), Whistle Down the Wind'' (1961), ''Séance on a Wet Afternoon'' (1964) and ''King Rat (film), King Rat'' (1965). He also scripted several films directed by others, such as ''The League of Gentlemen (film), The League of Gentlemen'' (1960), ''The Angry Silence'' (1960) and ''Only Two Can Play'' (1962). Early life Forbes was born John Theobald ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Observer
''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and '' The Guardian Weekly''. In December 2024, Tortoise Media acquired the paper from the Scott Trust Limited, with the transition taking place on 22 April 2025. History Origins The first issue was published on 4 December 1791 by W.S. Bourne, making ''The Observer'' the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. Believing that the paper would be a means of wealth, Bourne instead soon found himself facing debts of nearly £1,600. Though early editions purported editorial independence, Bourne attempted to cut his losses and sell the title to the government. When this failed, Bourne's brother (a wealthy businessman) made an offer to the government, which also refused to buy the paper but agreed to subsidise it in return for influence over its editori ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Film
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since the 1930s, synchronized with sound and (less commonly) other sensory stimulations. Etymology and alternative terms The name "film" originally referred to the thin layer of photochemical emulsion on the celluloid strip that used to be the actual medium for recording and displaying motion pictures. Many other terms exist for an individual motion-picture, including "picture", "picture show", "moving picture", "photoplay", and "flick". The most common term in the United States is "movie", while in Europe, "film" is preferred. Archaic terms include "animated pictures" and "animated photography". "Flick" is, in general a slang term, first recorded in 1926. It originates in the verb flicker, owing to the flickering appearance of early films ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, former county in South East England, now mainly within Greater London. Its boundaries largely followed three rivers: the River Thames, Thames in the south, the River Lea, Lea to the east and the River Colne, Hertfordshire, Colne to the west. A line of hills formed its northern boundary with Hertfordshire. The county was the List of counties of England by area in 1831, second smallest of the historic counties of England, after Rutland. The name of the county derives from its origin as a homeland for the Middle Saxons in the early Middle Ages, with the county subsequently part of that territory in the ninth or tenth century. The City of London, formerly part of the county, became a self governing county corporate in the twelfth century; the City was still able to exert influence as the sheriffs of London maintained their jurisdiction in Middlesex, though the county otherwise remained separate. To the east of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shepperton
Shepperton is a village in the Borough of Spelthorne, Spelthorne district, in north Surrey, England, around south west of central London. The settlement is on the north bank of the River Thames, between the towns of Chertsey and Sunbury-on-Thames. The village is mentioned in a document of 959 AD and in Domesday Book. In the 19th century, resident writers and poets included Rider Haggard, Thomas Love Peacock, George Meredith, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, who were attracted by the proximity of the River Thames. The river was painted at Walton Bridge in 1754 by Canaletto and in 1805 by J. M. W. Turner, Turner. Shepperton Lock and nearby Sunbury Lock were built in the 1810s, to facilitate river navigation. Urbanisation began in the latter part of the 19th century, with the construction in 1864 of the Shepperton Branch Line, which was sponsored by William Schaw Lindsay, the owner of Shepperton Manor. Its population rose from 1,810 residents in the early 20th century to a little short ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Olwen Brookes
Olwen Brookes (26 November 1901 – 17 September 1976) was an English actress, known for '' An Inspector Calls'', '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' and ''The First Night of Pygmalion''. Her career spanned over a quarter of a century, and as well as stage work, included 29 films and 25 television appearances. Filmography * ''Men of Rochdale (Short)'' (1944) - Mrs. Clackman * '' Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945) - Slave Girl (uncredited) * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) - Spinster (uncredited) * '' The Mark of Cain'' (1947) - Mrs. Fisher (uncredited) * '' My Sister and I'' (1948) - Mrs. Lippincott * '' Warning to Wantons'' (1949) - (uncredited) * '' Stop Press Girl'' (1949) - Hotel Receptionist (uncredited) * ''Poet's Pub'' (1949) - Bridge Player (uncredited) * ''Choir Practice'' (1949, TV film) - Mrs. Davies * '' Trottie True'' (1949) - Lady Talman (uncredited) * '' Obsession'' (1949) - * '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950) - Mrs. Parry * '' Appointment with Venus'' (1951) - F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Cole (actor)
George Edward Cole (22 April 1925 – 5 August 2015) was an English actor whose career spanned 75 years. He was best known for playing Arthur Daley in the long-running ITV comedy-drama show ''Minder (TV series), Minder'' and Flash Harry (St Trinian's), Flash Harry in the early ''St Trinian's'' films. Early life Cole was born in Tooting, south London. He was placed for adoption at ten days old and adopted by George and Florence Cole. They lived in Tooting, moving five miles away to a council flat in Morden when Cole was five years old. The senior George suffered from epilepsy, a double hernia, and the after-effects of gas poisoning during the First World War. He had several jobs which were curtailed by his ill-health, including pulling a heavy roller for Tooting council. In Cole's opinion, the exertion contributed to his father's death. Cole attended secondary school in nearby Morden. He left school at 14 to be a butcher's boy and had an ambition to join the Merchant Navy (Unit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Woodbridge (actor)
George Arthur Woodbridge (16 February 1907 – 31 March 1973) was an English actor who appeared in films, television, and theatre ranging from the 1930s to the 1970s. Woodbridge's ruddy-cheeked complexion and West Country accent meant he often played publicans, policemen or yokels, most prominently in horror and comedy films alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Early life Woodbridge was born in Exeter, England.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. p. 839; Raised in Devon, he lived there most of his life. He died in London in 1973. Career Woodbridge became a Chief Steward in the Merchant Navy before becoming an actor, first appearing on the London stage in 1928. He made his film debut in 1940 in '' The Big Blockade'', he went on to appear in films such as '' Green for Danger'' (1946), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), '' The Queen of Spades'' (1949), '' Stryker of the Yard'' (1953), '' An Insp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barbara Everest
Barbara Everest (19 June 1890 – 9 February 1968) was a British stage and film actress. She was born in Southfields, Surrey, and made her screen debut in the 1916 film ''The Man Without a Soul''. On stage she played Queen Anne in the 1935 historical play '' Viceroy Sarah'' by Norman Ginsbury. Her most famous rôle was Elizabeth, the rather deaf servant in Gaslight (1944). Selected filmography * '' The Hypocrites'' (1916) – Helen Plugenet * ''The Man without a Soul'' (1916) – Elaine Ferrier * '' Whosoever Shall Offend'' (1919) – Maddalena * '' Not Guilty'' (1919) – Hetty Challis * '' The Lady Clare'' (1919) – Alice * ''Calvary'' (1920) – Rachel Penryn * ''The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol'' (1920) – Anne * ''Testimony'' (1920) – Lucinda * '' The Bigamist'' (1921) – Blanche Maitland * ''A Romance of Old Baghdad'' (1922) – Mrs. Jocelyn * '' The Persistent Lovers'' (1922) – Joyce * '' Fox Farm'' (1922) – Kate Falconer * '' Lily Christine'' (1932) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Welsh (actor)
John Welsh (7 November 1914 – 21 April 1985) was an Irish actor. Biography Welsh was born in Wexford. After an early stage career in Dublin, he moved into British film and television in the 1950s. His roles included James Forsyte in the 1967 BBC dramatisation of John Galsworthy's '' The Forsyte Saga'' and Sir Pitt Crawley in Thackeray's Vanity Fair, as well as the waiter, Merriman in '' The Duchess of Duke Street'', Sgt. Cuff in '' The Moonstone'' and a brief scene as the barber in ''Brideshead Revisited''. He also appeared in ''Hancock's Half Hour'', '' The Brothers'', ''Prince Regent'', '' To Serve Them All My Days'', 'The Frighteners' ('Bed and Breakfast' episode, 1972), and '' The Citadel'', and played the assistant chief constable in the early series of '' Softly, Softly''. Welsh also appeared in a number of different roles in ''Danger Man'' that included British diplomats and butlers. He died in London. Filmography * ''The Accused'' (1953) - Mr. Tennant * '' The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Norman Bird
John George Norman Bird (30 October 1924 – 22 April 2005) was an English character actor. Early life Bird was born in Coalville, Leicestershire, England. A RADA graduate, he made his West End debut in Peter Brook's production of ''The Winter's Tale'' at the Phoenix Theatre in 1951. He was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company."Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., ''Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016'', pp. 353-354 His first film appearance was as the foreman in ''An Inspector Calls'' (1954). Film career He was a familiar face to British cinema audiences of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in nearly 50 films such as ''The Angry Silence'' (1960), ''The League of Gentlemen'' (1960), '' Whistle Down the Wind'' (1961), '' Victim'' (1961) and ''Term of Trial'' (1962) with Laurence Olivier and The Hill with Sean Connery (1965). Television appearances He had over 200 television appearances, notably as Mr Braithwaite in ''Worzel Gummidge'' (1979–81) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
