Night and the City (1950)

zbyszko-working-toehold

At nearly 70 years of age, Stanislaus Zbyszko made his film debut in Night and the City (1950). Billed as Gregorious, a retired wrestler and the father of London’s wrestling promoter, Zbyszko displayed his wrestling skills, even at his advanced age, in the film’s signature scene. The movie begins with a man chasing Harry Fabian, a London hustler always looking

Share
» Read more

The Bat Whispers (1930)

chester-morris-1934

On November 13, 1930, Roland V. West released The Bat Whispers (1930) (affiliate link), the talkie version of his silent classic, The Bat (1926). The film follows faithfully the script of the original. However, West is able to experiment with film techniques like tracking shots, still a novelty in early sound cinema. Editing still dominated as the continuity and story

Share
» Read more

The Lodger (1927)

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927) is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s early silent films.  It is based on the Marie Belloc Lowndes story and play based on the Jack the Ripper murders.  Hitchcock directed the film (affiliate link) in 1926; it was released in February 1927 in London.  It made it to the United States in 1928. The film begins with the

Share
» Read more

Expressionism and Nosferatu (1922)

max-schreck-count-orlock

On March 4, 1922, F.W. Murnau released Nosferatu (1922).  Nosferatu (affilaite link) was Murnau’s adaptation of the Dracula novel by Bram Stoker.   Murnau neglected to purchase the rights to film the story from Stoker’s estate, which almost led to this film being lost to film viewers. Stoker’s widow successfully sued Murnau and the German film company that produced the motion picture. 

Share
» Read more

Things to Come (1936)

future-things-to-come

H.G. Wells wrote the story of Things to Come, which was turned into a film (affiliate link) in 1936. The film opens during Christmas 1940 in Everytown (obviously London) right before the outbreak of war. The war lasts almost thirty years before “the Airmen” led by John Cabal, a former resident of Everytown, leads the survivors to victory over the

Share
» Read more

Laura (1944): A Dark Tale of Love

laura-gene-tierney

Laura (1944) is the story of an ambitious young woman pulled into the middle of a murder investigation by both amorous suitors and jealous women. Laura Hunt, portrayed by Gene Tierney, is an advertising executive about to marry a shiftless seducer, Shelby Carpenter, portrayed by Vincent Price. To complicate matters, her aunt Anne Treadwell is in love with the seducer

Share
» Read more

Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It

gordon-harker-standing-in-boat

On May 17, 1941, Twentieth Century – Fox released the third and last Inspector Hornleigh feature film, Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It. The series blends comedy and crime drama to create a unique product. Gordon Harker plays Inspector Hornleigh, while Alistair Sims reprises his role as Sgt. Bingham. The film (affiliate link) opens with Inspector Hornleigh dictating his memoirs to

Share
» Read more

Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939)

gordon-harker-standing-in-boat

On December 1, 1939, Twentieth Century-Fox released Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939), the second film in the three film series. Gordon Harker starred as Scotland Yard Inspector Hornleigh. The film opens in Brighton-on-the-Sea, where a storm has kept Inspector Hornleigh and his assistant Sergeant Bingham, played by Alastair Sim, inside for their first few vacation days. Following the rule in

Share
» Read more
1 2 3 4