|
|
|
Lest We Forget (1935)
Character: N/A
Lest We Forget was Canada’s official Great War film. It sparked controversy when it was shown across the country in 1935, during the midst of the worst depression in Canadian history, and with a growing anxiety over the increased aggression of international dictators. The film provided a contested venue for what the Great War had meant to a generation of Canadians. But this was no ordinary war film. Officially sanctioned and constructed from archival footage, the story of Canada’s war was told in 100 minutes, from the opening phases through to the grim fighting on the Western Front, and including those who supported the soldiers from home. Many journalists, politicians, and veterans called Lest We Forget the most authentic film to have appeared since the end of the war, especially in contrast to Hollywood fictional productions.
|
|
|
Red Ensign (1934)
Character: Mr. Lindsey
David Barr is the manager and chief designer of a British shipyard in decline. The shipyard is in financial trouble but Barr has a design for a new ship that will save them all. Can he get the ship built in spite of the opposition from his own bankers as well as the rival shipbuilders and their infiltrated militants.
|
|
|
The Common Touch (1941)
Character: Charlie
On the death of his father, an eighteen-year old leaves school to take over the family firm in the City of London. Realising the other directors want to keep him in the dark he starts asking questions, and is soon undercover as a down-and-out in a hostel which will disappear if a company building project goes ahead.
|
|
|
Hard Steel (1942)
Character: Bert Mortimer
A steelworker rises through the ranks to become manager of three steel mills, but ruthless ambition overwhelms him.
|
|
|
The Agitator (1945)
Character: Bill Shackleton
The Agitator is a 1945 British drama film directed by John Harlow and starring William Hartnell, Mary Morris and John Laurie. Its plot follows a young mechanic who unexpectedly inherits the large firm where he works and tries to run it according to his socialist political beliefs. It was based on the 1925 novel Peter Pettinger by William Riley.
|
|
|
|
City of Beautiful Nonsense (1935)
Character: Chesterton
A young woman who is in love with a penniless composer, but believes she must marry a wealthy man to please her father. But only realises after various tribulations she should follow her heart rather than her head.
|
|
|
Flood Tide (1934)
Character: Captain Bill Buckett
Set on the Thames estuary, romance blossoms for a young couple.
|
|
|
|
Consider Your Verdict (1938)
Character: The Butcher
A short featurette about a murderer summoned by chance to sit on the jury and try the man accused of his crime.
|
|
|
|
Easy Riches (1938)
Character: Sam Miller
A quota quickie directed by Maclean Rogers in 1938, "Easy Riches" featured character players George Carney & Gus McNaughton as a couple of rival builders competing for the award of a big contract.
|
|
|
|
Father Steps Out (1937)
Character: Joe Hardcastle
The film features 17 year old Dinah Sheridan as the daughter of the owner of a cheese factory (veteran actor Goerge Carney), who helps save her father from the action of a couple of swindlers.
|
|
|
When We Are Married (1943)
Character: Landlord
The Helliwells, the Soppitts, and the Parkers, old friends gathered to celebrate their common silver anniversaries. To their dismay they learn that their marriages may not be valid. On hand are an outrageous housekeeper and a photographer.
|
|
|
|
When We Are Married (1938)
Character: Henry Ormonroyd
The Helliwells, the Soppitts, and the Parkers, old friends gathered to celebrate their common silver anniversaries. To their dismay they learn that their marriages may not be valid. On hand are an outrageous housekeeper and a photographer. The first play in history to ever be televised complete and unedited direct from the theatre. It is now believed to be lost. The BBC would make another television film version of this play in 1949 with several of the same actors from this film including Raymond Huntley, Ernest Butcher, Patricia Hayes, George Carney and Lloyd Pearson.
|
|
|
A Window in London (1940)
Character: Bill, the Night Watchman
A man witnesses a murder that isn't a murder, only to get involved with the magician and his wife who created the illusion. The insanely jealous magician husband eventually kills his wife, making for complications in life of unhappily married man who is now involved more than he ever thought he would be.
|
|
|
|
Commissionaire (1933)
Character: Sergeant Ted Seymour
A Commissionaire is suspected of a robbery committed by his son.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music Hall (1934)
Character: Bill
A rare film put out by Twickenham Film Studios which includes many original music hall acts.
|
|
|
|
Variety (1935)
Character: N/A
Follows the development of the variety theatre from 1892 to the present day, centred on a family in show business.
|
|
|
|
Rose of Tralee (1942)
Character: Collett
Paddy, an Irish singer heads to America to seek fame and fortune. Once successful he returns home to search for his family. He joins The Royal Air Force.
|
|
|
The Briggs Family (1940)
Character: George Downing
During the Second World War, a special constable and former solicitor is called upon to defend his son who is accused of the theft of a car
|
|
|
|
Woman to Woman (1947)
Character: Taxi Driver
A Canadian officer, David Anson, who falls for French dancer Nicolette Bonnett during wartime, has a child with her, and returns heartbroken after her death from a weak heart, only for his wife to adopt the son, linking their lives across continents and tragedy, exploring themes of love, duty, and lost time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Television Follies (1933)
Character: Mr Bloss
A Lancashire family watch a series of variety acts on their dodgy new television set. Inspired, they put on a few numbers of their own at home.
|
|
|
Welcome, Mr Washington (1944)
Character: Publican
Based on a story by author Noel Streatfeild, the film trells the story of two sisters who are left penniless by their father's sudden death and lease their estate as an airbase to US forces in Britain to help the war effort. Both eventually fall for American servicemen.
|
|
|
Soldier, Sailor (1944)
Character: Mr. Church
Life aboard merchant ships with the Maritime Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
|
|
|
Tawny Pipit (1944)
Character: Whimbrel
Jimmy Bancroft, a fighter pilot, who is recovering from injuries sustained during the Battle of Britain, and Hazel Court, a nurse, come across a pair of rare birds nestling in a field. After a run in with the army, and a couple of thieves, they, with the cooperation of the village people and the Ornithology Society, help the eggs to hatch. A wonderful look at life in a small village, during World War II.
|
|
|
Beauty and the Barge (1937)
Character: Tom Codd
A young girl is engaged to a man she doesn't love, and rather than marry him she decides to flee the situation altogether. She is helped by a crusty old barge captain.
|
|
|
|
|
Tomorrow We Live (1936)
Character: Mr. Taylor
Financier Sir Charles Hendra, on the brink of ruin, contemplates ending his own life. After pondering the difficult decision, Charles decides to invite twelve similarly desperate individuals to dinner so they can all discuss their problems. Will his generosity change the course of their lives?
|
|
|
The Day Will Dawn (1942)
Character: Harry, Soldier in Fleet Street Pub
When Hitler invades Poland, sports journalist Colin Metcalfe (Hugh Williams) is unexpectedly reassigned as a foreign correspondent in Norway. En route, his ship is attacked by a German U-boat, but his warning to the Royal Navy is dismissed and he loses his post. With the German invasion of Norway soon after, Metcalfe returns, determined to uncover enemy operations and strike back against the occupiers. (Note: The film was released in the United States under the alternate title The Avengers (1942).)
|
|
|
Unpublished Story (1942)
Character: Landlord
Morale-boosting story released in the middle of World War II. A journalist uncovers a peace organisation at the centre of disreputable dealings.
|
|
|
Kicking the Moon Around (1938)
Character: Police Constable Truscott
Kicking the Moon Around is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Bert Ambrose, Evelyn Dall and Harry Richman. In an effort to discover whether his fiancee is a golddigger a millionaire's son pretends to have lost all his money. The film marked Maureen O'Hara's screen debut as she made a cameo appearance speaking one line.
|
|
|
The Stars Look Down (1940)
Character: Slogger Gowlan
Davey Fenwick leaves his mining village on a university scholarship intent on returning to better support the miners against the owners. But he falls in love with Jenny who gets him to marry her and return home as local schoolteacher before finishing his degree.
|
|
|
Where's That Fire (1939)
Character: Councillor
Capt Viking and his incompetent fire crew accidentally foil a plot to steal the crown jewels.
|
|
|
Wanted for Murder (1946)
Character: Boat Rental Agent
The son of a notorious hangman is gradually becoming insane and he finds himself unable to resist the urge to strangle women to death.
|
|
|
Waterloo Road (1945)
Character: Tom Mason
During WW2 a former railway employee who had been drafted, goes AWOL to hunt down the spiv and draft dodger who is having an affair with his wife.
|
|
|
Good-Time Girl (1948)
Character: Mr. Rawlings
Sent to a home for "problem" girls, incipient juvenile delinquent Gwen receives a crash course in petty crime. Back on the outside, she falls in with the usual bad crowd, and suffers spectacularly as a result.
|
|
|
The Root of All Evil (1947)
Character: Bowser
Jeckie Farnish is a level-headed young woman, unlike her spoiled younger sister, Rushie. When the sisters become involved with charming businessman Charles Mortimer, the resulting tragedy leads to a lust for revenge on Rushie's part. However, Jeckie knows that she can always turn to reliable Joe Bartle in times of need.
|
|
|
Love on the Dole (1941)
Character: Mr. Hardcastle
Depressing and realistic family drama about the struggles of unemployment and poverty in 1930s Lancashire. The 20-year-old Kerr gives an emotionally charged performance as Hardcastle, one of the cotton workers trying to make life better. Interlaced with humour that brings a ray of sunshine to the pervasive bleakness, this remains a powerful social study of life between the wars, and was a rare problem picture to come out of Britain at the time.
|
|
|
I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
Character: Mr. Webster
Plucky Englishwoman Joan Webster travels to the remote islands of the Scottish Hebrides in order to marry a wealthy industrialist. Trapped by inclement weather on the Isle of Mull and unable to continue to her destination, Joan finds herself charmed by the straightforward, no-nonsense islanders around her, and becomes increasingly attracted to naval officer Torquil MacNeil, who holds a secret that may change her life forever.
|
|
|
Brighton Rock (1948)
Character: Phil Corkery
Centring on the activities of a gang of assorted criminals and, in particular, their leader – a vicious young hoodlum known as "Pinkie" – the film's main thematic concern is the criminal underbelly evident in inter-war Brighton.
|
|
|
In Which We Serve (1942)
Character: Mr. Blake
The story of the HMS Torrin, from its construction to its sinking in the Mediterranean during action in World War II. The ship’s first and only commanding officer is Captain E.V. Kinross, who trains his men not only to be loyal to him and the country, but—most importantly—to themselves.
|
|
|
Come on George! (1939)
Character: Sergeant Johnson
George Formby, who plays George, a stable boy. He also has the unique ability to soothe an anxious racing horse. Expectedly, George races the horse and wins
|
|
|
Convoy (1940)
Character: Bates
A tale of life on board a Royal Navy cruiser assigned to protect the vital convoys between America and England during WWII.
|
|
|
Thunder Rock (1942)
Character: Harry
David Charleston, once a world renowned journalist, now lives alone maintaining the Thunder Rock lighthouse in Lake Michigan. He doesn't cash his paychecks and has no contact other than the monthly inspector's visit. When alone, he imagines conversations with those who died when a 19th century packet ship with some 60 passengers sank. He imagines their lives, their problems, their fears and their hopes. In one of these conversations, he recalls his own efforts in the 1930s when he desperately tried to convince first his editors, and later the public, of the dangers of fascism and the inevitability of war. Few would listen. One of the passengers, a spinster, tells her story of seeking independence from a world dominated by men. There's also the case of a doctor who is banished for using unacceptable methods. David has given up on life, but the imaginary passengers give him hope for the future.
|
|
