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Robert Clark (film Executive)
Robert Clark (1904–1984) was a Scottish film executive best known for being head of production at Associated British Picture Corporation in the late 1940s and 1950s. It was a successful time for the company, films including '' The Dam Busters'' (1955). Among Clark's achievements were negotiating a contract with Warner Bros, and signing Audrey Hepburn and Richard Todd to long-term contracts before they were stars. He also financed early films of J. Lee Thompson and Michael Anderson. Biography Clark was born in 1904 in Paisley, the last of thirteen children in a working-class family. His parents were members of the religious order the Plymouth Brethren who were opposed to cinema going. Clark attended school until he was fourteen years old, then was articled to a solicitor in Glasgow, John Maxwell. While working, Clark also studied law at Glasgow University and became a full qualified solicitor. Maxwell was interested in the film industry, buying up cinemas and establishing a Sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Associated British Picture Corporation
Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned approximately 500 cinemas in Britain by 1943, and in the 1950s and 60s owned a station on the ITV television network. The studio was partly owned by Warner Bros. from about 1940 until 1969; the American company also owned a stake in ABPC's distribution arm, Warner-Pathé, from 1958. It formed one half of a vertically integrated film industry duopoly in Britain with the Rank Organisation. History From 1927 to 1945 The company was founded during 1927 by Scottish solicitor John Maxwell after he had purchased British National Pictures Studios and its Elstree Studios complex and merged it with his ABC Cinemas circuit, renaming the company British International Pictures. The Wardour Film Company, with Maxwell as chairman, was the distributor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Happy Go Lovely
''Happy Go Lovely'' is a 1951 British musical comedy film in Technicolor, directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Vera-Ellen, David Niven, and Cesar Romero. The film was made and first released in the UK, and distributed in the US by RKO Radio Pictures in 1952. Plot When chorus girl Janet Jones is late for rehearsal in Edinburgh, Bates, the chauffeur for B. G. Bruno, gives her a ride in Bruno's limousine, starting rumours that she is engaged to the wealthiest man in Scotland. American producer John Frost, her employer, has just had the star of his next show, ''Frolics to You'', walk out on him because of his desperate financial situation. He replaces her with Janet, hoping that Bruno will back his revue, or at least that he can use Bruno's reputation to fend off impatient creditors. Her dressmaker, Madame Amanda, gives her more clothes, and sends the bill to Bruno. Janet's roommate, Mae Thompson, convinces her to continue the deception. When Bruno receives the bill, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ice Cold In Alex
''Ice Cold in Alex'' is a 1958 British war film set during the Western Desert campaign of World War II based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Landon. Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring John Mills, the film was a prizewinner at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival. Under the title ''Desert Attack'', a shortened 79-minute version of the film was released in the United States in 1961. Film critic Craig Butler later referred to the shortened version as nonsensical. This review states the length of ''Desert Attack'' as 64 minutes. Subsequent reviews indicate a length of 79 minutes. Plot Captain Anson, the officer commanding a British RASC Motor Ambulance Company in Tobruk, is suffering from battle fatigue and alcoholism. Ahead of the Axis capture of Tobruk by the German Afrika Korps, Anson and most of his unit are ordered to evacuate to Alexandria. During the evacuation Anson, MSM Tom Pugh and two nurses, Sister Diana Murdoch and Sister Denise Norton, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
It's Great To Be Young
''It's Great to Be Young'' is a 1956 British Technicolor musical comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Cecil Parker and John Mills. It was written by Ted Willis. The story concerns an inspirational school music teacher. Although the movie was very successful it has been described as "almost forgotten" today. Plot Mr Dingle seeks to interest his pupils in music in order to enjoy life, while the new strict headmaster, Mr Frome, believes Dingle is ruining the children's traditional education. Mr Dingle's pupils come up with a way to raise money by playing to crowds in the street and persuade him to help them. When this fails they decide to jazz it up and bring in some younger kids to help. This initiative is a success and, with the help of one of the pupil's parents, they are able to buy new musical instruments. The total cost, £200, is to be paid in instalments of £2.10s. per week which Dingle personally signs for. However, when Mr Dingle ends up on the front pa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Weak And The Wicked
''The Weak and the Wicked'' (U.S. title: ''Young and Willing'') is a 1954 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Glynis Johns and Diana Dors. It was written by Anne Burnaby, Thompson and Joan Henry, based on the 1952 autobiographical novel '' Who Lie in Gaol'' by Henry. The film explores the life of inmates behind bars where innocence is lost in the world of vice. Plot Frank " women in prison" story that sympathetically tracks several inmates through their imprisonment and subsequent return to society. Some are successfully rehabilitated; some are not. Female prisoners talk about the events that brought them there and each of their stories is detailed in a series of flashbacks; the upper-class Jean, the brash Betty, and the pregnant Pat. Jean has a gambling habit and owes money to a gambling den. Her friend Pam frames her. The film follows the inmates' progress behind bars; Jean's ordeal improves after some sympathetic bonding with her fellow inma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knave Of Hearts (film)
''Knave of Hearts'' is a 1954 British-French comedy drama film directed by René Clément and starring Gérard Philipe, Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood. The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British and on location across London including Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ralph Brinton. In France it was released as ''Monsieur Ripois'', referencing the title of the original novel by Louis Hémon. The film was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize. Synopsis The film portrays the adventures of a French philanderer in Paris and London. Cast * Gérard Philipe as Andre Ripois * Natasha Parry as Patricia * Valerie Hobson as Catherine Ripois * Joan Greenwood as Norah * Margaret Johnston as Anne * Germaine Montero as Marcelle * Percy Marmont as Catherine's Father * Diana Decker as Diana * Bill Shine as Pub Barman * Eric Pohlmann as Boarding House Proprietor * Mar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Father's Doing Fine
''Father's Doing Fine'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Richard Attenborough, Heather Thatcher, and Noel Purcell, and featuring Sid James. It was written by Anne Burnaby based on the 1948 play ''Little Lambs Eat Ivy'' by Noel Langley. Plot Eccentric upper-class widow Lady Buckering lives in splendour in Hampstead, but behind the scenes is struggling with poverty and bringing up four demanding daughters, one of whom is about to have a baby. Also of concern is the very nervous father-to-be and how exactly to deal with her light-fingered butler. All problems disappear in a happy ending and Lady Buckering marries the family doctor. Cast * Richard Attenborough as Dougall * Heather Thatcher as Lady Buckering * Noel Purcell as Shaughnessy * George Thorpe as Dr Drew * Diane Hart as Doreen * Susan Stephen as Bicky * Mary Germaine as Gerda * Virginia McKenna as Catherine * Jack Watling as Clifford Magill * Peter Hammond as Roly * Bria ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Yellow Balloon (film)
''The Yellow Balloon'' is a 1953 British drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Andrew Ray, William Sylvester, Kathleen Ryan, Kenneth More and Hy Hazell. It was Thompson's second feature as director. It was distributed by Associated British and produced by the company's Marble Arch Productions. It was made at Elstree Studios with sets designed by the art director Robert Jones. Location shooting took place around Bayswater and Chelsea including Queensway tube station. Plot The film is set in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, in London's East End, amongst the bomb sites. 12-year-old Frankie Palmer loses the sixpence his father has given him to buy a large yellow balloon from a street seller which the boy has set his heart on. He sees that a friend of his, young Ronnie Williams, has already bought one and Frankie snatches it off him and runs off with it, with Ronnie in hot pursuit. Ronnie chases Frankie into a large, bombed-out house and they are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Woman's Angle
''The Woman's Angle'' is 1952 British drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Edward Underdown, Cathy O'Donnell and Lois Maxwell. It was written by Arliss, Mabbie Pool and Frederick Gotfurt based on the 1940 novel ''Three Cups of Coffee'' by Ruth Feiner. Plot The film is the story of three love affairs of a man who belongs to celebrated family of musicians, culminating in divorce and his final discovery of happiness. Cast * Edward Underdown as Robert Mansell * Cathy O'Donnell as Nina Van Rhyne * Lois Maxwell as Enid Mansell * Claude Farell as Delysia Veronova * Peter Reynolds (actor), Peter Reynolds as Brian Mansell * Marjorie Fielding as Mrs. Mansell * Anthony Nicholls (actor), Anthony Nicholls as Doctor Nigel Jarvis * Isabel Dean as Isobel Mansell * John Bentley (actor), John Bentley as Renfro Mansell * Olaf Pooley as Rudolph Mansell * Ernest Thesiger as Judge * Eric Pohlmann as Steffano * Joan Collins as Marina * Malcolm Knight as shepherd boy * Fred Berger (actor) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Young Wives' Tale
''Young Wives' Tale'', also known as ''Fun for Four'', is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Joan Greenwood, Nigel Patrick, Derek Farr, and Guy Middleton. The film is based on the 1949 play '' Young Wives' Tale'' by Ronald Jeans. It features one of Audrey Hepburn's earliest film roles, albeit a minor one, as Eve Lester. Plot During the post-World War II housing shortage, Bruce and Mary are a married couple who both have professional jobs and own their own house, and they let out rooms, including to another married couple, Rodney and Sabina, because Sabina is a friend of Mary. Both couples have an infant child, and the presence of a nanny for the two children exacerbates the problems caused by the crowding. Another young female lodger and Sabina's persistent old beau intensify the tensions. Cast * Joan Greenwood as Sabina Pennant * Nigel Patrick as Rodney Pennant * Derek Farr as Bruce Banning * Guy Middleton as Victor Manifold * Athene Seyler as N ... [...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] |
