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Hell Drivers
''Hell Drivers'' (1957) is a British film noir crime drama film directed by Cy Endfield and starring Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins and Patrick McGoohan. The film was produced by the Rank Organisation and Aqua Film Productions. The film revolves around a recently released convict who takes a driver's job at a haulage company. Plot Having spent time abroad, Tom Yately (Stanley Baker) seeks work as a truck driver with Hawletts, a transport company. Mr. Cartley (William Hartnell), the depot manager, informs Tom that his drivers convey their ten-ton loads of gravel fast over bad roads. They are expected to deliver a minimum of twelve loads a day; if a driver falls behind, he is fired. Each run is round-trip; the top driver makes eighteen runs a day. Tom goes on a trial run with the depot mechanic, in truck no. 13. He narrowly avoids colliding head-on with two other Hawletts trucks speeding the other way. Cartley hires Tom, and he's assigned truck 13. Tom meets the other ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield (November 10, 1914 – April 16, 1995) was an American screenwriter, director, author, magician and inventor. Having been named as a Communist at a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing and subsequently blacklisted, he moved to the United Kingdom in 1953, where he spent the remainder of his career. Early life Endfield was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to a Jewish immigrant father whose business was hit hard by the Great Depression. He attended Yale University. Career in the U.S. Endfield began his career as a theatre director and drama coach, becoming a significant figure in New York's progressive theatre scene. It was largely through a shared interest in magic that Orson Welles became aware of Endfield and recruited him as an apprentice for Mercury Productions (then based at RKO Pictures). One of his independent films was ''Inflation'' (1942), a 15-minute commission for the Office of War Information that was rejected as being anti-capitalist. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beatrice Varley
Beatrice Evelyn Varley (11 July 1896 – 4 July 1964) was an English actress who appeared in television and film roles between 1936 and 1964. She made her screen debut in the 1936 film ''Tomorrow We Live'' and began to portray a variety of character roles in films such as ''Oh, Mr Porter!'', ''Holiday Camp'' and ''The Wicked Lady'' before moving predominantly into television until she died in 1964. Selected filmography * '' Tomorrow We Live'' (1936) - Patricia's Mother (uncredited) * ''Spring Handicap'' (1937) - Mrs. Tulip * ''Oh, Mr Porter!'' (1937) - Barney's Bar Landlady (uncredited) * ''Young and Innocent'' (1937) - Accused Man's Wife in First Court Case (uncredited) * '' Crackerjack'' (1938) - Bit Role (uncredited) * ''Poison Pen'' (1939) - Mrs. Jenkins * '' Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday'' (1939) - Mrs. Mooney (uncredited) * ''Kipps'' (1941) - Mrs. Kipps * '' Rush Hour'' (1941, Short) - Shopper (uncredited) * ''South American George'' (1941) - Mrs. Butters * '' Hatter's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marianne Stone
Marianne Stone (23 August 1922 – 21 December 2009) was an English character actress. She performed in films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, typically playing working class parts such as barmaids, secretaries and landladies. Stone appeared in nine of the ''Carry On'' films, and took part in an episode of the ''Carry On Laughing'' television series ("The Case of the Screaming Winkles"). She also had supporting roles with comedian Norman Wisdom. Film work Stone also appeared in '' Brighton Rock'' (1947), ''Seven Days to Noon'' (1950), '' The 39 Steps'' (1959), ''Lolita'' (1962), ''Ladies Who Do'' (1963), ''Oh! What a Lovely War'' (1969) and the first two "Quatermass" films. Her most serious and arguably most dramatic role was as Lena Van Broecken in three episodes of the BBC's '' Secret Army'' between 1977 and 1978. Stone, whose nickname was "Mugsie", was credited in her early films under the name "Mary Stone", and also has been credited as "Marion Stone". She was marr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Horsley (actor)
John Lovell Horsley (21 July 1920 – 12 January 2014) was a British actor. He was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. The son of a doctor, he made his acting debut at the Theatre Royal in Bournemouth. After appearing in repertory theatres he was called up for military service in the Royal Devon Yeomanry, in which he served in Sicily and Italy during the Second World War. He then contracted hepatitis and become a member of an Army drama company that toured military units. Horsley's early career as a professional career saw him playing a succession of doctors and policemen, including a doctor in the film '' Hell Drivers'' (1957) and a policeman in the television show '' Big Breadwinner Hog'' (1969). He was more prolific in television from the 1960s, and played character roles in many series and programmes including '' The Lotus Eaters'' (1972–73) and ''The Duchess of Duke Street'' (1976–77). He is perhaps best known for his role as Doc Morrissey in the BBC sitcom ''The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robin Bailey
William Henry Mettam "Robin" Bailey (5 October 1919 – 14 January 1999) was an English actor. He was born in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. Often cast in upper class and tradition-bound roles such as Mr Justice Graves in Thames Television's ''Rumpole of the Bailey'', Bailey is also known for his portrayal of Uncle Mort in '' I Didn't Know You Cared'', the BBC's adaptation of Peter Tinniswood's stories about an extended Yorkshire family. The television series ran from 1975 to 1979. Bailey continued to play Uncle Mort in a series of radio programmes. Bailey also collaborated with Tinniswood on the television and radio series ''Tales from a Long Room'', playing the Brigadier, an eccentric cricket-lover with a fund of extraordinary tales about the game and its players. Early life and education Bailey was born at Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, the son of china and glass merchant George Henry Bailey and Thirza Ann (née Mettam). He was educated at the Henry Mellish Grammar School, Nottin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vera Day
Vera Day (born 4 August 1935) is an English film and television actress. She was born in London just before the war and grew up in Forest Gate, East London. Early career Leaving school at 15, she had various jobs before finding employment in a hair salon. Modelling for hairstylists, she became a full-time model. One day she saw an advertisement in a theatrical paper for showgirls, so taking time off work and with the smallest bikini she could find, she attended the auditions. Even though she was untrained in singing and dancing, she caught the attention of Jack Hylton, who gave her a part in ''Wish You Were Here'' at the London Casino in 1953. She was only nineteen. Val Guest was at the opening night and left a note for her at the stage door to contact him. This led to Vera being cast in the film '' Dance Little Lady''. However, she had to ask permission from Jack Hylton, for she was under contract for two more shows, which ended up being '' Pal Joey'' at the Princes Theatre an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marjorie Rhodes
Marjorie Rhodes (9 April 1897 – 4 July 1979) was a British actress. She was born Millicent Wise in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. One of her better-known roles was as Lucy Fitton, the mother in Bill Naughton's play '' All in Good Time''. She played the role on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award in 1965. She reprised the role in the 1966 film version, titled ''The Family Way''. She was featured singing a track "The World Is for the Young" with Stanley Holloway in the Herman's Hermits 1968 film ''Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter''. Her television appearances included ''The Army Game'' (as Edith Snudge), ''The Adventures of William Tell'' episode "The Boy Slaves" (1958), ''Dixon of Dock Green'' (1961–1962), the episode " For the Girl Who Has Everything" of ''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' (1969), '' Doctor at Large'' (1971) and ''Z-Cars'' (1974). Selected filmography * ''Poison Pen'' (1939) - Mrs. Scaife * ''Just William'' (1940) - Cook (uncre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Murcell
Arthur George Murcell (30 October 1925 – 3 December 1998) was a British character actor. Life and career Born in Italy, he made his film debut in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's ''The Battle of the River Plate'' (1956), Murcell went on to develop a career playing snarling villains in both film and television. These could either be stupid, brutish henchmen, as in ''Hell Drivers'' and ''Campbell's Kingdom'' (both 1957), or sophisticated rogues, such as Needle in "You Have Just Been Murdered", an episode of '' The Avengers''. He specialised in playing foreign characters, including Germans, Russians and South Americans. A number of these roles were in ITC adventure TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, such as ''Danger Man'', '' The Baron'', ''The Saint'', ''The Champions'' (Reply Box No.666 episode, 1967) ''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'', ''The Persuaders!'' and '' Jason King''. His film roles included ''Sea of Sand'' (1958), '' The Fall of the Roman Empire'' (1964), ''T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wensley Pithey
Wensley Ivan William Frederick Pithey (21 June 1914 – 10 November 1993) was a South African character actor who had a long stage and film career in Britain. Biography Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa. A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to Britain in 1947. He appeared in various Shakespearean roles in his long career (memorably as Sir Toby Belch) as well as appearing in Eugene O'Neill's ''Anna Christie''. He also directed and produced plays in the West End and appeared in a range of roles on television including the 1976 drama ''Edward and Mrs Simpson'' (as Winston Churchill – a role he also played in the miniseries ''Ike'') as well as ''Special Branch'' and ''Poldark''. His British television appearances included ''Danger Man'' (1961) among others. He also played the title role Detective Superintendent Charlesworth in a number of BBC series including '' Charlesworth at Large'' (1958) and its sequel '' C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sean Connery
Sir Sean Connery (born Thomas Connery; 25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond on film, starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983. Originating the role in '' Dr. No'', Connery played Bond in six of Eon Productions' entries and made his final appearance in '' Never Say Never Again''. Following his third appearance as Bond in '' Goldfinger'' (1964), in June 1965 ''Time'' magazine observed "James Bond has developed into the biggest mass-cult hero of the decade". Connery began acting in smaller theatre and television productions until his breakout role as Bond. Although he did not enjoy the off-screen attention the role gave him, the success of the Bond films brought Connery offers from notable directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Lumet and John Huston. Their films in which Connery appeared included ''Marnie'' (1964), '' The Hill'' (1965), ''Murder on the Orient Express'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gordon Jackson (actor)
Gordon Cameron Jackson, (19 December 1923 – 15 January 1990) was a Scottish actor best remembered for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' and as George Cowley, the head of CI5, in '' The Professionals''. He also portrayed Capt Jimmy Cairns in ''Tunes of Glory'', and Flt. Lt. Andrew MacDonald, "Intelligence", in '' The Great Escape''. Early life Gordon Jackson was born in Glasgow in 1923, the youngest of five children. He attended Hillhead High School, and in his youth he took part in BBC radio shows including '' Children's Hour''. He left school aged 15 and became a draughtsman for Rolls-Royce. Early career His film career began in 1942, when producers from Ealing Studios were looking for a young Scot to act in ''The Foreman Went to France'' and he was suggested for the part. After this, he returned to his job at Rolls-Royce, but he was soon asked to do more films, and he decided to make acting his career. Jackson soon appeared in other films, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfie Bass
Alfie Bass (born Abraham Basalinsky, 10 April 1916 – 16 July 1987) was an English actor. He was born in Bethnal Green, London, the youngest in a Jewish family with ten children; his parents had left Russia many years before he was born. He appeared in a variety of stage, film, television and radio productions throughout his career. Personal life Alfie Bass was born Abraham Basalinsky in Bethnal Green in London's East End. He was the youngest of ten children of Jacob Basalinsky, who had fled Jewish persecution in Russia, and his wife, Ada Miller. After leaving school, he worked in his father's trade as a cabinet-maker. During this time he took part in amateur dramatics at a local boys' club. He was active in the labour movement and often attended union meetings. In 1936 he took part in the Battle of Cable Street, in which activists attempted to prevent a march through the East End by the British Union of Fascists. At the outbreak of World War II, he was rejected by the RAF, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
