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Showing posts from March, 2017

British Lost and Forgotten Films of the Past...

Good Morning Boys 1937 (US: Where There’s a Will) Will Hay just has to be the best classic vintage comic actor for me. I must have just about all of his films on DVD. Not so much a lost or forgotten film, as more of a cult film. Will Hay, battles with the boys of St. Michael’s school in their pursuits of drinking, smoking and gambling. Will plays Dr. Twist a hapless school master at the mercy of the pupils who fix a French Exam in order to get a trip to Paris, Here, they assist in the theft of the Mona Lisa, but in the end retrieve it and clear themselves. An enjoyable romp with a likeable cast in Graham Moffatt, Lilli Palmer, Marita Hunt, and Peter Gawthorne. Another pleasurable outing for Gainsborough Studios.

A 'Not-So' Forgotten British Film...

The Bargee 1963 ...Is a gorgeous romp around the canals of England and features Harry H. Corbett as The Casanova of the Canals with ‘a bird in every lock’ Harry plays Hemel Pike a narrow boat trader who won’t give-up his way of life on the water until one of his women becomes pregnant and he is forced by her drunk of a father to try and find work on land. A colourful film created by the writing team of Galton and Simpson, it also finds room for the talents of Ronnie Barker, Hugh Griffith and Eric Sykes. A very funny film that is both wonderfully nostalgic and beautifully shot in the sunshine of an English summer.

The Lone Ranger...

Well, I just gotta hark back to my childhood in purchasing a dvd of the ‘Lone Ranger’ featuring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. I just loved these half hour cowboy slots with ‘Hi Yo Silver’ being the reference to the beautiful white horse that he rode. I once had the pleasure of meeting Clayton Moore at Gamages store in Central London and would have been around nine years old, and you know, the very thing that struck me about Clayton was: how short he was! now I’m not tall 5ft 4ins! So he must have been sitting down at the time. But he looked just great! With the eye mask he wore and his wonderful warm voice. He was just tops for me!

British Lost and Forgotten Films of the Past...

Climbing High 1938  A situation comedy that perhaps could be called something of a love triangle. It features Jessie Mathews and Michael Redgrave as Diana and Nicky who meet at a modelling agency. Nicky is a wealthy young man calling himself John Smith and takes on extra modelling work to be near Diana who at first wants nothing to do with him. Also in the frame is Lady Constance played by Margaret Viner and she simply wants to marry him for his money. There are some very funny moments in the movie as when the custard pies start flying around in the agency. An amusing film for its age. Also features Enid Stamp Taylor in a lesser role.

The Shriving of Miss Esme Stamp...

Episode 36 In a queer light at the foot of the stairs Toby peered at the two men. The sudden appearance of him startled Edward and he stopped his shouting almost at once. His attention now drew on Tobias. ‘So you’re here as well, are you!’ He had barely finished the sentence before he began to feel his whole body shake from head to toe. Slowly at first, then gaining more frequency, until he could stand no more. He slumped to the floor beside Charles, and the convulsions went on. ‘Plea… Please What’s happening to me, help me?’ The words were feeble, almost unrecognizable, and he began to turn in a continuing circle upon the floor. Then suddenly he stopped. The boy sprang onto the floor like a Gazelle and seated himself beside Edward’s limp body. He grinned impishly and gently stroked Edward’s hair. The poor man could not move a limb, as if pinned to the floor. Toby became still, and his fingers offered no more movement. His hand slid from Edward’s head. A strange dar

British Lost and forgotten Films of the Past...

Excess Baggage 1933 In this exceptable ‘Spooky’ Claud Allister plays Colonel Murgatroyd who thinks he has shot General Brewster played by Frank Pettingell dead, whilst hunting for a ghost, he puts the body into a trunk that he intends to dispose of in a river. Later there is a mix-up with two trunks and a ‘Lady’ takes the wrong trunk to her home in the country. This particular house is haunted and that’s when the fun starts…

The Shriving of Miss Esme Stamp...

The principle of beauty had not been lost on their evening of reunion. Toby had brought Esme to the little shop in Bayswater and then retired to his small room at the rear of the building. Esme spent most of the evening and night in the protective arms of Charles and it was in the early hours of the following morning just as the first trickle of light began to enter their upstairs room, that the hammering and hollering began on the shop door downstairs. They both woke with a start. Charles guessed at once that it must be Edward and that he was clearly deranged. He hurried with his clothes and told Esme to stay in bed. He made his way downstairs and into the dim light of the shop. The hammering became louder and the door shook and juddered about to give. ‘Alright!… Alright!’ he shouted the words, but doubted they were heard above the din. He slid the bolts, top and bottom, and fumbled for a fallen key. The sound of its turn in t