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Anatole De Grunwald
Anatole "Tolly" de Grunwald (25 December 1910 – 13 January 1967) was a Russian British film producer and screenwriter. Biography De Grunwald was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the son of a diplomat (Constantin de Grunwald) in the service of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. He was seven years old when his father was forced to flee with his family to France during the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. He grew up in France and England, studied at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he edited a student magazine, ''The Europa'', and attended the University of Paris (Sorbonne). He started his career in films by reading scripts for Gaumont-British. He then turned to screenwriting in 1939 for the British film industry and eventually became a producer. He was appointed managing director of Two Cities Films, and later formed his own production company with his brother, Dimitri de Grunwald in 1946. De Grunwald contributed to the scripts of many of his productions, including ''The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Russian British
Russians in the United Kingdom are Russians, or the persons born in the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union or the Russian Federation, who are or were citizens of or residents of the United Kingdom. Settlement and population numbers The 2001 UK census recorded 15,160 residents born in Russia. The 2011 census recorded 36,313 people born in Russia resident in England, 687 in Wales, 2,180 in Scotland and 349 in Northern Ireland. The Office for National Statistics estimates that 73,000 people born in Russia were resident in the UK in 2020. Estimates published by ''The Guardian'' suggest that the resident population of London born in Russia was over 150,000 in 2014. The rise in population has led to jocular nicknames for London such as "Londongrad" and "Moscow-on-the-Thames". Education In London, in particular Notting Hill Gate there are a number of Russian schools aimed at transmitting Russian language and culture to the children of Russian immigrant parents. The Russian Embassy School ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Without Tears (film)
''French Without Tears'' is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ray Milland. It was based on the 1936 play of the same name by Terence Rattigan, who also co-wrote the script. An on-off working relationship between Asquith and Rattigan began with this film and continued over the next 15 years. Plot The love affairs are depicted of three young Englishmen at a language "cramming" school in the south of France. Diana, the sister of one of the boys, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates. Cast * Ray Milland as Alan Howard * Ellen Drew as Diana Lake * Janine Darcey as Jacqueline Maingot * David Tree as Chris Neilan * Roland Culver as Cmdr. Bill Rogers * Guy Middleton as Brian Curtis * Kenneth Morgan as Kenneth Lake * Margaret Yarde as Marianne * Toni Gable as Chi-Chi * Jim Gérald as Professor Maingot * Mantovani as Himself - Orchestra Leader Critical reception Sky Movies described a "sparkling version of Terence Rattigan's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tomorrow We Live (1943 Film)
''Tomorrow We Live'' (released as ''At Dawn We Die'' in the US), is a 1943 British film directed by George King and starring John Clements, Godfrey Tearle, Greta Gynt, Hugh Sinclair and Yvonne Arnaud. The film was made during the Second World War, and the action is set in a small town in German-occupied France. It portrays the activities of members of the French Resistance and the Germans' tactic of taking and shooting innocent hostages in reprisal for acts of sabotage. The opening credits acknowledge "the official co-operation of General de Gaulle and the French National Committee". Dorothy Hope is credited with "original story". Plot A young French idealist (John Clements), who gives his name as Jean Baptiste, arrives in "St Pierre-le-Port", a small town near Saint-Nazaire, a major port and base of operations for the German Navy, particularly their U-boats, on the Atlantic coast. Baptiste tells a member of the French Resistance that "I come from Saint-Nazaire. I've details o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secret Mission
''Secret Mission'' is a 1942 British war film directed by Harold French and starring Hugh Williams, James Mason, Nancy Price, Carla Lehmann and Roland Culver. Plot During the Second World War, British Army Major Peter Garnett assembles a team consisting of Captain ‘Red’ Gowan; Private ‘Nobby’ Clark, and Raoul de Carnot, a member of the Free French forces. A small boat takes them across the Channel, through the minefield near to the coast of occupied France. Sub-Lieutenant Jackson ( Stewart Granger) watches their dinghy pull away and remarks that he does not envy them their jobs, which are to collect intelligence on German military strength in the area, prior to an air raid. Ashore, Gowan kills a sentry. They set a time and place for a rendezvous in two days, and the code for bringing the aircraft. They split up, Gowan and Nobby to the village, Raoul and Garnett to the chateau that is Raoul's ancestral home. Nobby knows the area well: He used to live in Saint Antoine, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The First Of The Few
''The First of the Few'' (US title ''Spitfire'') is a 1942 British black-and-white biographical film produced and directed by Leslie Howard, who stars as R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. David Niven co-stars as a Royal Air Force officer and test pilot, a composite character that represents the pilots who flew Mitchell's seaplanes and tested the Spitfire. The film depicts Mitchell's strong work ethic in designing the Spitfire and his death. The film's title alludes to Winston Churchill's speech describing Battle of Britain aircrew, subsequently known as the Few: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few". The film premiered at the Leicester Square Theatre in London at 6.30pm on Thurs 30 August, as a charity performance in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund. Leslie Howard's portrayal of Mitchell has a special significance since Howard was killed when the Lisbon-to-London civilian airliner in which he was travelling was shot down by the L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Unpublished Story
''Unpublished Story'' is a 1942 British black-and-white war film directed by Harold French and starring Richard Greene and Valerie Hobson. It was produced and co-written by Anthony Havelock-Allan. The film served as a propaganda film during World War II. The film has two main plots. The first one involves a journalist whose stories are repeatedly censored by the Ministry of Information. The second one involves a pacifist organisation, whose members are actually agents of Nazi Germany. Plot In May 1940 Bob Randall (Greene), a war correspondent with a (fictional) London newspaper, the ''Gazette'', is evacuated with British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. He writes a hard-hitting story about his experiences, but it is censored by the Ministry of Information. Randall goes to see Lamb (Radford), the official responsible, but Lamb will not change his decision. As London burns in the Blitz and the newspaper struggles to stay in business, Randall writes several more eyewitness ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Day Will Dawn
''The Day Will Dawn'', released in the US as ''The Avengers'', is a 1942 British war film set in Norway during World War II. It stars Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Hugh Williams and Griffith Jones, and was directed by Harold French from a script written by Anatole de Grunwald, Patrick Kirwan and Terence Rattigan, based on a story by Frank Owen. The music by Richard Addinsell was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson. Plot Following the Invasion of Poland in September 1939, the former horse racing-correspondent Colin Metcalfe is placed as a foreign correspondent in neutral Norway. Eight months later he meets a Norwegian fisherman, Captain Alstad, in a sailors' bar, where a scuffle breaks out between British and Norwegian sailors (singing "Rule Britannia", egged on by Metcalfe) and German ones (singing the Nazi Party anthem the "Horst-Wessel-Lied"). Alstad takes him aboard his boat during a sea voyage in Norway's territorial waters, during wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Penn Of Pennsylvania
''Penn of Pennsylvania'' is a 1941 British historical drama film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Deborah Kerr, Clifford Evans, Dennis Arundell, Henry Oscar, Herbet Lomas and Edward Rigby. The film depicts the life of the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. It is also known by the alternative title ''Courageous Mr. Penn''. Story The film portrays his struggle to be granted a colonial charter in London and attracting settlers to his new colony as well as his adoption a radical new approach with regard to the treatment of the Native Americans. Cast * Clifford Evans as William Penn * Deborah Kerr as Gulielma Maria Springett * Dennis Arundell as Charles II * Aubrey Mallalieu as Chaplain * D.J. Williams as Lord Arlington * O. B. Clarence as Lord Cecil * James Harcourt as George Fox * Charles Carson as Admiral Penn * Henry Oscar as Samuel Pepys * Max Adrian as Elton * John Stuart as Bindle * Maire O'Neill as Cook * Edward Rigby as Bushell * Mary Hinton as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Freedom Radio
''Freedom Radio'' (a.k.a. ''A Voice in the Night'') is a 1941 British propaganda film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard, Raymond Huntley and Derek Farr. It is set in Nazi Germany during the Second World War and concerns an underground German resistance group who run a radio station broadcasting against the totalitarian Third Reich. It was shot at Shepperton Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Paul Sheriff. Plot The story begins in Vienna just before the beginning of the Second World War. Dr Roder is physician to some important members of the Nazi party but prefers being at his luxurious house with his wife, Irena, and servants. Irena's brother Otto returns from Italy and they throw a party with many interesting and high-ranking attendees. During the party the Gestapo call, requiring his immediate attendance. At his club, the main servitor, Sebastian, announces the club is closing and they will not see him again. His ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cottage To Let
''Cottage to Let'' is a 1941 British spy thriller film directed by Anthony Asquith starring Leslie Banks, Alastair Sim and John Mills. Filmed during the Second World War and set in Scotland during the war, its plot concerns Nazi spies trying to kidnap an inventor. The film was shot at the Lime Grove Studios in London, with sets designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky. The film includes the first appearance of George Cole, superbly confident as a cocky young evacuee. Plot John Barrington (Leslie Banks) is a talented inventor, currently working on a bombsight for the Royal Air Force. who prefers to work in his own country house in the Highlands of Scotland near Loch Tay. His eccentric wife (Jeanne de Casalis) has agreed to take in child evacuees from London to be accommodated in a nearby cottage they own. However, also arriving is Charles Dimble (Alastair Sim) to whom the cottage has been let by the letting agency. To compound the confusion, Mrs. Barrington had also agreed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeannie (film)
''Jeannie'' (also known as ''Girl in Distress'') is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Barbara Mullen, Michael Redgrave, and Albert Lieven. The film's sets were designed by Duncan Sutherland. Based on a play of the same name by Aimée Stuart, it was loosely remade in 1957 as ''Let's Be Happy''. Plot Jeannie McLean is a young Scottish woman who takes care of her tightfisted father, leaving her no time (and money) for herself. When he dies, she discovers he has left his "fortune" – 297 pounds – to her, nothing to her married sisters. She decides to have some fun for a change, starting with a trip to Vienna. On the way to and in Vienna, a stranger, Stanley Smith, helps her through various difficulties resulting from her inexperience. As they become acquainted, she tells him she is 26, but he soon discovers (from her passport) that she is 22. In Vienna, Jeannie makes the acquaintance of Count Ehrlich von Wittgenstein, while Stanley get ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quiet Wedding
''Quiet Wedding'' is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play ''Quiet Wedding'' by Esther McCracken. The film was remade in 1958 as ''Happy Is the Bride''. Premise A young couple become engaged, but undergo a number of misadventures before their wedding ceremony. Cast Production It was Lockwood's first film following a series of films with Carol Reed. Critical reception ''The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...'' wrote, "a foreword to the film states that its production was interrupted five times when Nazi bombs exploded on the studio, but all their destructive fury has le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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