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The Oracle (1953 Film)
''The Oracle'' (known as ''The Horse's Mouth'' in the United States) is a 1953 British B movie, second feature ('B') comedy film directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards and starring Robert Beatty, Michael Medwin and Virginia McKenna. The film was based on the radio play ''To Tell You the Truth'' by Robert Barr. A journalist goes on holiday to Ireland and encounters a fortune-teller. Plot Timothy Blake, a British reporter holidaying on a remote island offshore of Ireland, hears a man's voice coming from the bottom of a well. The voice turns out to be a modern-day Oracle, or fortune teller, whose predictions prove uncannily accurate. Bob is determined to get a story out of this, but his editor is less enthusiastic and promptly fires him. The newfound publicity though, means the once-sleepy Irish village is now invaded by curiosity seekers, and those seeking the horse racing results. Production The film was shot at Southall Studios on a budget of £43,000. Cast * Robert Beatty as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronald Searle
Ronald William Fordham Searle, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE, Royal Designers for Industry, RDI (3 March 1920 – 30 December 2011) was an English artist and satirical cartoonist, comics artist, sculptor, medal designer and illustrator. He is perhaps best remembered as the creator of St Trinian's School and for his collaboration with Geoffrey Willans on the Nigel Molesworth, Molesworth series. Biography Searle was born in Cambridge, England, where his father was a Post Office worker who repaired telephone lines. He started drawing at the age of five and left school (Central School – now Parkside Community College, Parkside School) at the age of 15. He trained at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology (now Anglia Ruskin University) for two years. In April 1939, realizing that war was inevitable, he abandoned his art studies to enlist in the Royal Engineers. In January 1942, he was in the 18th Infantry Division (United Kingdom), 287th Field Company, RE in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gillian Lind
Gillian Lind (25 August 1904 - 25 October 1983) was a British stage, film and television actress. In 1930 she starred in Edgar Wallace's play '' On the Spot'' in the West End.Kabatchnik p.172 She went on to enjoy a long career in film and television. Initially appearing onscreen as a female lead, she later transitioned into character roles. In 1957 she appeared in the BBC Dickens adaptation '' Nicholas Nickleby'' as the protagonist's mother. She featured on the 1964 series '' Ann Veronica'' based on a novel by H.G. Wells. She was married to the actor Cyril Raymond. Selected filmography * '' Condemned to Death'' (1932) * '' Dick Turpin'' (1933) * '' The Man Outside'' (1933) * '' Open All Night'' (1934) * ''Death Croons the Blues'' (1937) * ''The Oracle'' (1953) * '' The Heart of the Matter'' (1953) * '' Aunt Clara'' (1954) * ''Don't Talk to Strange Men'' (1962) * '' Fear in the Night'' (1972) * ''And Now the Screaming Starts! ''And Now the Screaming Starts!'' is a 1973 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since. It is the oldest continuously working studio facility for film production in the world, and the current stages were opened for the use of sound in 1931. It is best known for a series of classic films produced in the post-WWII years, including '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949), '' Passport to Pimlico'' (1949), '' The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951), and '' The Ladykillers'' (1955). The BBC owned and filmed at the Studios for forty years from 1955 until 1995. Since 2000, Ealing Studios has resumed releasing films under its own name, including the revived '' St Trinian's'' franchise. In more recent times, films shot here include ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' (2002) and '' Shaun of the Dead'' (2004), as well as '' The Theory o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ealing Comedies
The Ealing comedies is an informal name for a series of comedy films produced by the London-based Ealing Studios during a ten-year period from 1947 to 1957. Often considered to reflect Britain's post-war spirit, the most celebrated films in the sequence include ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949), '' Whisky Galore!'' (1949), ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951), ''The Man in the White Suit'' (1951) and '' The Ladykillers'' (1955). ''Hue and Cry'' (1947) is generally considered to be the earliest of the cycle, and '' Barnacle Bill'' (1957) the last, although some sources list '' Davy'' (1958) as the final Ealing comedy. History Relatively few comedy films were made at Ealing Studios until several years after World War II. The 1939 film ''Cheer Boys Cheer'', featuring the rivalry between two brewing companies, one big and modernist, the other small and traditional, has been characterised as a prototype of later films. One of the few other films that can be seen as a direct precursor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Allmovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine, who also founded AllMusic and AllGame. The AllMovie database was licensed to tens of thousands of distributors and retailers for point-of-sale systems, websites and kiosks. The AllMovie database is comprehensive, including basic product information, cast and production credits, plot synopsis, professional reviews, biographies, relational links and more. AllMovie data was accessed on the web at the AllMovie website. It was also available via the AMG LASSO media recognition service, which can automatically recognize DVDs. In late 2007, TiVo Corporation acquired AMG for a reported $72 million. The AMG consumer facing web properties AllMusic.com, AllMovie.com and AllGame.com were sold by Rovi in Augus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gilbert Harding
Gilbert Charles Harding (5 June 1907 – 16 November 1960) was a British journalist and radio and television personality. His many careers included schoolmaster, journalist, policeman, disc jockey, actor, interviewer and television presenter. He also appeared in several films, sometimes in character parts but usually as himself – for example in ''Expresso Bongo'' (1959). Harding had a sizeable role alongside John Mills in the 1952 film ''The Gentle Gunman'', and narrated the introduction to the film '' Pacific Destiny'' (1956). He also made a couple of comedy records in the 1950s. Early life Harding was born in Hereford where his parents were employed as "master" and "matron" of the city's workhouse. His father, also called Gilbert Harding, died in 1911 aged 30 following an appendicitis operation, and so his mother placed their son into the care of the Royal Orphanage of Wolverhampton. Harding's education continued at Queens' College, Cambridge, after which he took jobs tea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack May
Jack Wynne May (23 April 1922 – 19 September 1997) was an English actor. Early life and education May was born in 1922 in Henley-on-Thames, and was educated at Forest School in Walthamstow. After war service with the Royal Indian Navy in British India, he was offered a place at RADA, but instead went to Merton College, Oxford. Here, with the OUDS, he played parts that included John of Gaunt in ''Richard II'' and Polonius in ''Hamlet''. Career May became familiar on television as the butler William E. Simms in two series of the BBC 1 fantasy/adventure television series '' Adam Adamant Lives!'' from 1966 to 1967. He provided the voice for Igor, long-suffering butler to Count Duckula in the cartoon series of the same name. He also appeared as the waiter Garkbit in the television version of ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', Théoden in the 1981 BBC Radio adaptation of ''The Lord of the Rings'', as General Hermack in the 1969 '' Doctor Who'' serial ''The Space Pirates ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jean St
Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jean Pierre Polnareff, a fictional character from ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'' Places * Jean, Nevada, USA; a town * Jean, Oregon, USA Entertainment * Jean (dog), a female collie in silent films * "Jean" (song) (1969), by Rod McKuen, also recorded by Oliver * ''Jean Seberg'' (musical), a 1983 musical by Marvin Hamlisch Other uses * JEAN (programming language) * USS ''Jean'' (ID-1308), American cargo ship c. 1918 * Sternwheeler Jean, a 1938 paddleboat of the Willamette River See also *Jehan * * Gene (other) * Jeanne (other) * Jehanne (other) * Jeans (other) * John (other) John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lionel Marson
Lionel Frederick Marson (15 June 1895 – 31 March 1960) was an English first-class cricketer, British Army officer and actor. Marson was commissioned into the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, serving in the First World War in which he was awarded the Military Cross. He was seconded into the Royal Air Force between 1918 and 1926, before returning to the Irish Dragoons and retiring from active service in 1930. The final year of his military service saw him play first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team. After retiring he became a radio announcer and an actor, starring in several minor roles. As an announcer for the BBC Home Service, he made the first announcement of the German Invasion of Poland. Early life and military career Marson was born at Wandsworth in June 1895. He was educated at Haileybury, before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He graduated from Sandhurst in September 1914, entering into the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards as a second lieut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Patrick McAlinney
Patrick Andrew McAlinney (9 November 1913 – 22 August 1990) was an Irish character actor who starred in many British dramas and sitcoms. His most memorable roles included a brother on the hit sitcom '' Oh, Brother!'', which starred Derek Nimmo, Mr. O'Reilly in ''The Tomorrow People'' and Dr. Daley in '' Bless Me, Father''. His stage work included the original production of Thornton Wilder's ''The Matchmaker'' in London's West End, and its subsequent fourteen month Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (other) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ... run, in 1945–1947. Early life Patrick Andrew "Paddy" McAlinney was born in Lammy near Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland on 9 November 1913; he was the son of farmer Patrick McAlinney and Anastasia O'Neill. Filmography References External links * * * 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maire O'Neill
Maire O'Neill (born Mary Agnes Allgood; 11 January 1886 – 2 November 1952) was an Irish actress of stage and film. She holds a place in theatre history as the first actress to interpret the lead character of Pegeen Mike Flaherty in John Millington Synge's controversial masterpiece ''The Playboy of the Western World'' (1907). Life Born at 40 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, O'Neill was one of eight children of compositor George and French polisher Margaret (''née'' Harold) Allgood, she was known as "Molly". Her father was sternly Protestant and against all music, dancing and entertainment, and her mother a strict Catholic. After her father died in 1896, she was placed in an orphanage. She was apprenticed to a dressmaker. One of Allgood's brothers, Tom, became a Catholic priest. Maud Gonne set up ''Inghinidhe na hÉireann'' (Daughters of Ireland) in 1900 to educate women about Irish history, language and the arts, and Allgood and her sister Sara joined the association's drama cl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lockwood West
Harry Lockwood West (28 July 1905 – 28 March 1989) was a British actor. He was the father of actor Timothy West and the grandfather of actor Samuel West. Life and career West was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England in 1905, the son of Mildred (née Hartley) and Henry Cope West, and through his mother a fourth cousin of the actress Margaret Lockwood, their common ancestor being Joseph Lockwood (c.1758–1837), a former Mayor of Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire. West married the actress Olive Carleton-Crowe (died 1985) and with her had two children; a son, the actor Timothy West, and a daughter, Patricia. He made his stage debut in 1926 as Lieutenant Allen in ''Alf's Button'' at the Hippodrome Theatre in Margate, Kent. His London stage debut was as Henry Bevan in ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street'' at the Queen's Theatre in 1931. West's television appearances included ''Just William'' (1962), '' Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' (1964), ''No Hiding Place'' (1965), ''The Prisoner'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
