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They Were Sisters
''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by Roland Pertwee. ''They Were Sisters'' is noted for its frank, unsparing depiction of marital abuse at a time when the subject was rarely discussed openly. It was one of the Gainsborough melodramas. Background Unlike most of the hugely successful melodramas made by Gainsborough during the mid-1940s, ''They Were Sisters'' has a near-contemporary rather than a costume setting, spanning the years from the end of the First World War, to the late 1930s. The screenplay was developed by Pertwee from a popular novel of the same name by Dorothy Whipple, published in 1943. ''They Were Sisters'' features the spouses of both Mason and Calvert; Pamela Mason (billed under her maiden name Pamela Kellino and playing Mason's daughter, despite being ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthur Crabtree
Arthur Crabtree (29 October 1900 in Shipley, Yorkshire, England – 15 March 1975 in Worthing, Sussex, England) was a British cinematographer and film director. He directed films with comedians such as Will Hay, the Crazy Gang and Arthur Askey and several of the Gainsborough Melodramas. Cinematographer Crabtree earliest credits as a cinematographer were for British International Pictures. He shot ''Out of the Blue'' (1931) with Jessie Matthews; '' Verdict of the Sea'' (1932); and ''The Maid of the Mountains'' (1932). Crabtree did some films for Michael Powell, '' Lazybones'' (1935) and '' The Love Test'' (1935). He was a camera operator on '' First a Girl''. Gainsborough Pictures Crabtree joined Gainsborough Pictures. He worked on ''The First Offence'' (1936) with John Mills; '' Pot Luck'' (1936) with Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn; '' Everybody Dance'' (1936) with Cicely Courtneidge; and '' All In'' (1936) with Lynn for director Marcel Varnel. He went on to '' Good Morning, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Costume Drama
A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swashbucklers. A period piece may be set in a vague or general era such as the Middle Ages, or a specific period such as the Roaring Twenties, or the recent past. Scholarship Films set in historical times have always been some of the most popular works. D. W. Griffith's ''The Birth of a Nation'' and Buster Keaton's '' The General'' are examples of popular early American works set during the U.S. Civil War. In different eras different subgenres have risen to popularity, such as the westerns and sword and sandal films that dominated North American cinema in the 1950s. The ''costume drama'' is often separated as a genre of historical dramas. Early critics defined them as films focusing on romance and relationships in sumptuous surroundings, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edie Martin
Edie Martin (1 January 1880 – 22 February 1964) was a British actress. She was a ubiquitous performer, on stage from 1886, playing generally small parts but in high demand, appearing in scores of British films (although often uncredited). She frequently appeared in memorable Ealing comedies as their resident ”little old lady.” Selected filmography * ''M'Blimey'' (1931) * '' Late Extra'' (1935) - Apartment Resident (uncredited) * ''Broken Blossoms'' (1936) - Woman in West End Party Visit (uncredited) * '' Educated Evans'' (1936) - Bit Part (uncredited) * '' The Big Noise'' (1936) - Old Lady * '' Feather Your Nest'' (1937) - Blanche (uncredited) * '' Return of a Stranger'' (1937) - Mrs. Stevens (uncredited) * '' Farewell Again'' (1937) - Mrs. Bulger * '' Under the Red Robe'' (1937) - Maria * ''St. Martin's Lane'' (1938) - Libby's Dresser (uncredited) * '' Bad Boy'' (1938) - Mrs. Bryan * '' A Spot of Bother'' (1938) - An Occasional Bar-Lady (uncredited) * '' Old Mother R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brefni O'Rorke
Brefni O'Rorke (26 June 1889 – 11 November 1946) was an Irish actor, both on the stage and in movies. Early life O'Rorke was born as William Francis Breffni O'Rorke at 2 Esplande Villas in Dollymount, Clontarf, Dublin on 26 June 1889, and baptised at Clontarf Parish Church on 1 August 1889. His father, Frederick O'Rorke, was a cork merchant, and his mother, Jane Caroline O'Rorke, née Morgan, was an actress. He had an older brother, Frederick, who was twelve years older than him. Career O'Rorke began studying acting with his mother and made his professional début in 1912 at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin in a production of Shaw's ''John Bull's Other Island''. While still living in Dublin, he met and married in 1916 Alice Cole, a chorus-girl turned actress, who had divorced her first husband and immigrated from South Africa with her young son. Thus O'Rorke became the stepfather of Cyril Cusack. Other theatre roles included the title role in ''Finn Varra Maa'' (1917), a musical " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Gilpin (dancer)
John Brian Gilpin (10 February 1930 – 5 September 1983) was a leading English ballet dancer and actor. Life and career John Brian Gilpin was the son of William John Gilpin (1903–1967) and Lilian May ''née'' Lendon (1902–1986). He had a twin brother, Anthony. Gilpin started dance lessons at the age of seven, studying at the Arts Educational and Ballet Rambert schools.Obituary for John Gilpin. Friends of Festival Ballet newsletter, Spring 1984, London. As a child he appeared in several West End stage successes and in films, such as '' They Were Sisters'' and '' The Years Between'', opposite Michael Redgrave. He won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal in 1943, the youngest winner to do so. Gilpin joined Ballet Rambert in 1945, becoming a principal. He went with the company on their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1947–49. He danced the 1949 season with Roland Petit's company, and the 1950 season with Le Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas in Monte Carlo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thorley Walters
Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in '' Two-Way Stretch'' and ''Carlton-Browne of the FO''. Early life Walters was born in Teigngrace, Devon, the son of Prebendary Thomas Collins Walters of Silverton, Devon and his wife Mary née Swinstead. He was educated at Monkton Combe School, Somerset. Walters appeared in the West End in the 1942 naval play '' Escort'' by Patrick Hastings and the 1949 musical '' Her Excellency'' at the London Hippodrome. Career Films He featured in three of the St Trinian's films, starting as an army major in '' Blue Murder at St Trinian's''. He later appeared as Butters, assistant to Education Ministry senior civil servant Culpepper-Brown (Eric Barker) in '' The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'' and played the part of Culpepper-Brown in '' The Wildcats of St Trinian's''. From the 1960s onwards he also appeared in several Hammer horror f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amy Veness
Amy Veness (26 February 1876 – 22 September 1960) was an English film actress. She played the role of Grandma Huggett in ''The Huggetts Trilogy'' and was sometimes credited as Amy Van Ness. Veness was born Amy Clarice Beart in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. She was married to Basil Springett. On 22 September 1960 she died in Saltdean, Sussex, England at age 84. Selected filmography * ''Please Help Emily'' (1917) - Mrs. Lethbridge * ''My Wife'' (1918) - Mrs. Hammond * '' The Brat'' (1919) - Mrs. Forrester * ''The Wife's Family'' (1931) - Arabella Nagg * ''Hobson's Choice'' (1931) - Mrs. Hepworth * ''Tonight's the Night'' (1932) - Emily Smithers * '' Murder on the Second Floor'' (1932) - (uncredited) * '' Money for Nothing'' (1932) - Emma Bolt * ''Self Made Lady'' (1932) - Old Sookey * '' The Marriage Bond'' (1932) - Mrs. Crust * ''Pyjamas Preferred'' (1932) - Mme. Gautier * '' Let Me Explain, Dear'' (1932) - Aunt Fanny * '' Red Wagon'' (1933) - Petal Schultze * '' The Love Nest'' (193 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joss Ambler
Joss Ambler (23 June 1900 – 1959) was an Australian-born British film and television actor. He usually played somewhat pompous and irascible figures of authority, particularly in comedy films. He was an effective foil to George Formby in both '' Trouble Brewing'' (as Lord Redhill) and '' Come On George!'' (as Sir Charles), and similarly to Will Hay in ''The Black Sheep of Whitehall ''The Black Sheep of Whitehall'' (the opening credits read ''Black Sheep of Whitehall'') is a 1942 British black-and-white comedy war film, directed by Will Hay and Basil Dearden, starring Will Hay, John Mills, Basil Sydney and Thora Hird in h ...'', (as a government minister). Filmography References External links * 1900 births 1959 deaths Australian male film actors Australian male television actors British male film actors British male television actors 20th-century British male actors 20th-century Australian male actors Australian emigrants to the United Kingdom Date of d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Horne (actor)
David Edgar Alderson Horne (14 July 1898 in Balcombe, Sussex – 15 March 1970 in Marylebone, London) was an English film and stage actor. Biography British actor and playwright David Horne began his film career in the 1930s, after a distinguished early career in the theatre. He was generally seen portraying pompous, self-satisfied characters. He never managed to rise to the "star" level in his silver screen acting career, but he was an indispensable character actor, and played many utility parts such as desk clerks, newspaper editors, police officials, lawyers and doctors. He continued his theatre work until his death in 1970. Filmography * ''Lord of the Manor'' (1933) as General Sir George Fleeter (film debut) * '' General John Regan'' (1933) as Maj. Kent * '' Badger's Green'' (1934) as Major Forrester * '' The Case for the Crown'' (1934) as James Rainsford * '' That's My Uncle'' (1935) as Col. Marlowe * '' The Village Squire'' (1935) as Squire Hollis * '' Late Extra'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brian Nissen
Brian Nissen (20 October 1927 in London – 8 February 2001 in Salisbury, Wiltshire) was a British actor and television continuity announcer. Biography Nissen made an early appearance in Laurence Olivier's film of Shakespeare's ''Henry V'', and made many TV, film and stage appearances, including '' The Dam Busters'' (1955), and the television series '' The New Adventures of Charlie Chan'' and '' Sword of Freedom'' in 1957. But he is probably best-remembered as an in-vision announcer for Southern Television, where his formal style seemed to sum up the company's aesthetic. He joined Southern at its inception in 1958 and stayed until its demise in 1981, and was kept on by the successor company TVS despite its general policy of breaking with Southern's conservatism. He retired from TVS in August 1987. Nissen died on 8 February 2001 in Salisbury, Wiltshire at the age of 73. Selected filmography * '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) - Page (uncredited) * '' The Demi-Paradise'' (1943) - Geo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ann Stephens
Ann Stephens (21 May 1931 – 15 July 1966) was a British child actress and singer, popular in the 1940s. She was born in London. In July 1941 she recorded several songs, including a popular version of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic", " Dicky Bird Hop" (with Franklin Engelmann) and a setting by Harold Fraser-Simson of one of A. A. Milne's verses about Christopher Robin, "Buckingham Palace," which was often featured on the BBC Light Programme's Children's Favourites. In the same year Stephens had made her recording debut as Alice in musical adaptations of Lewis Carroll's ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' and '' Through the Looking Glass''. She was chosen for this role from some 700 applicants auditioned by the record company His Master’s Voice. Later in the 1940s, Stephens appeared in several films, including '' In Which We Serve'' (1942), '' Fanny By Gaslight'' (1944), '' The Upturned Glass'' (1947) and '' Your Witness'' (1950). In the 1950s she turned her attention to televi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barry Livesey
Barry Edwards Livesey (16 Oct 1905 in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan – 1959 in Maidstone, Kent) was a British stage and film actor. He was sometimes credited as Barrie Livesey. He was the son of Sam Livesey, the brother of actor Jack Livesey, and the cousin and step-brother of actor Roger Livesey Roger Livesey (25 June 1906 – 4 February 1976) was a British stage and film actor. He is most often remembered for the three Powell & Pressburger films in which he starred: '' The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'', '' I Know Where I'm Goin .... Filmography References External links * * 1959 deaths British male film actors British male stage actors 1905 births People from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan 20th-century British male actors {{UK-film-actor-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
