Constance Cummings

  • John Francis Dillon – Behind the Mask (1932)

    1931-1940ClassicsCrimeJohn Francis DillonUSA

    Behind the Mask is a typically virile Jack Holt vehicle, with the hero at one point shooting himself in the arm to establish an alibi! Holt plays a federal agent named Hart who has himself planted in jail as a convict to get the goods on a drug syndicate. Befriending small-time gangster Henderson (Boris Karloff), Hart follows the trail of clues to unmask the head of the syndicate, who turns out to be the supposedly respectable Dr. Steiner (Edward Van Sloan). In the rip-roaring climax, Steiner prepares to perform an “operation” on Hart, gleefully informing his victim that his chances for recovery are next to nil. Because of the presence of Boris Karloff and Edward Van Sloan in the cast, Behind the Mask was included in Screen Gems’ “Shock Theater” TV package, even though there’s nothing really horrific in the film.Read More »

  • Charles Crichton – The Battle of the Sexes (1960)

    1951-1960Charles CrichtonComedyCrimeUnited Kingdom

    Angela Barrows is a man-eating business woman sent by her American employer to investigate their export opportunities in Edinburgh. En route she meets Robert MacPherson a businessman who asks for her help to bring his company into the 20th Century. The staff, led by Mr Martin has other ideas though, and a battle between the old and new business methods soon breaks out.Read More »

  • Alexander Mackendrick – Sammy Going South aka A Boy Ten Feet Tall (1963)

    Drama1961-1970AdventureAlexander MackendrickUnited Kingdom

    Ten year old Sammy travels 4500 miles on his own from the Suez Canal to Durban, South Africa.

    Quote:
    A unique portrait of a time now gone, Sammy Going South takes the epic journey of a 10-year-old orphan across Africa and turns it into an in-depth look at the strange mix of people who frequented the far corners of Africa.

    The film begins with a family caught in the midst of political strife. A British family living in Port Said are nervously discussing whether to send their young son Sammy to his Aunt in Durban, as the Suez crisis stretches relations between the British and Egyptians to breaking point. But then tragedy strikes. An air attack destroys Sammy’s home and kills both of his parents. With no-one to turn to, Sammy resolves to make his way to South Africa, and the home of his aunt, alone.Read More »

  • Howard Hawks – The Criminal Code (1931)

    1921-1930CrimeDramaHoward HawksUSA

    Howard Hawks made his first film for Columbia Pictures with this pre-Code prison movie. The great Walter Huston stars as a district attorney-turned-prison warden who gets to witness first-hand the effects of his convictions, especially Phillips Holmes, imprisoned after killing a man in a drunken brawl. Co-starring Boris Karloff, The Criminal Code is tough, no-nonsense, quintessential Hawks.Read More »

  • Clyde Bruckman & Harold Lloyd – Movie Crazy (1932)

    1931-1940ClassicsClyde BruckmanComedyHarold LloydUSA

    Synopsis:
    Harold Hall, an accident prone young man with little or no acting ability, desperately wants to be in pictures. After a mix-up with his application photograph, he gets an offer to have a screen-test, and goes off to Hollywood…Read More »

  • David Lean – Blithe Spirit (1945)

    1941-1950ComedyDavid LeanFantasyScrewball ComedyUnited Kingdom

    Synopsis:
    An English mystery novelist invites a medium to his home, so she may conduct a séance for a small gathering. The writer hopes to gather enough material for the book he’s working on, as well as to expose the medium as a charlatan. However, proceedings take an unexpected turn, resulting in a chain of supernatural events being set into motion that wreak havoc on the man’s present marriage.Read More »

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