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Michael Balfour (actor)
Michael Creighton Balfour (11 February 1918 – 24 October 1997) was an English actor, working mainly in British films and TV, following his TV debut in the BBC's ''The Marvellous History of St Bernard'', in 1938. He was a recognisable face, often in small character parts and supporting roles, in nearly two hundred films and TV shows, from the 1940s to the 1990s, often playing comical villain, heavies or otherwise shady characters notable for their "loud" clothes, sometimes convincingly cast as an American. He worked for a roll call of film directors, including Tony Richardson, Pete Walker (director), Pete Walker, Billy Wilder, Lewis Gilbert, Roman Polanski, Leslie Norman (director), Leslie Norman, Tim Burton, John Frankenheimer, François Truffaut, John Gilling, Stanley Donen, Ken Annakin, Alberto Cavalcanti, Cavalcanti, Lance Comfort, Terence Young (director), Terence Young, Gerald Thomas, Pasolini, John Paddy Carstairs, Terence Fisher, Val Guest, Frank Launder, John Huston, Ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes
''The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'' is a 1970 DeLuxe Color film in Panavision written and produced by Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond, and directed by Wilder. The film offers an affectionate, slightly parodic look at Sherlock Holmes, and draws a distinction between the "real" Holmes and the character portrayed by Watson in his stories for '' The Strand'' magazine. It stars Robert Stephens as Holmes and Colin Blakely as Doctor Watson. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, the creators and writers of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning series '' Sherlock'', credited ''The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'' as a source of inspiration for their show. Michael Hardwick and Mollie Hardwick authored a novelization of the film. Plot The film is divided into two separate, unequal stories. In the first and shorter of the two, in August 1887 Holmes is approached by Rogozhin, on behalf of a famous Russian ballerina, Madame Petrova. Madame Petrova is about to retire, and wishes to have a chil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lance Comfort
Lance Comfort (11 August 1908 – 25 August 1966) was an English film director. In a career spanning over 25 years, he became one of the most prolific film directors in Britain, though he never gained critical attention and remained on the fringes of the film industry, creating mostly B movies. Comfort carried on working almost right up to his death in Worthing, Sussex, in 1966. He had four children: Edward (born 1929), James (born 1931), Anna (born 1934) and Jack (born 1936). Filmography *''Penn of Pennsylvania'' (1941) *'' Hatter's Castle'' (1942) *'' Those Kids from Town'' (1942) *''Squadron Leader X'' (1943) *''Escape to Danger'' (1943) *''When We Are Married'' (1943) *''Old Mother Riley Detective'' (1943) *''Hotel Reserve'' (1944) *'' Great Day'' (1945) *'' Bedelia'' (1946) *''Temptation Harbour'' (1947) *'' Daughter of Darkness'' (1948) *''Silent Dust'' (1949) *'' Portrait of Clare'' (1950) *'' Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents'' (1953–1957) *''The Girl on the Pier' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danger Man
''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the programme and wrote many of the scripts. ''Danger Man'' was financed by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. Series development The idea for ''Danger Man'' originated with Ralph Smart an associate of Lew Grade, head of ITC Entertainment. Grade was looking for formats that could be exported. Ian Fleming was brought in to collaborate on series development, but left before development was complete. Like James Bond, the main character is a globetrotting British spy (although one who works for NATO rather than MI6), who cleverly extricates himself from life-threatening situations and introduces himself as "Drake...John Drake." Fleming w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mess Mates
''Mess Mates'' is a British comedy television series which originally aired on ITV between 1960 and 1962.Wagg p.9 It is set on the coastal vessel SS Guernsey where Captain Briskett has to keep a watchful eye on his rowdy and conniving sailors. A number of the scripts were written by Talbot Rothwell shortly before he became the established writer of the Carry On film series. Cast Main * Archie Duncan as Captain Biskett * Sam Kydd as 'Croaker' Jones * Ronald Hines as 'Dapper' Drake * Dermot Kelly as Blarney Finnigan * Fulton Mackay as Willie McGuinniss * Victor Maddern Victor Jack Maddern (16 March 1928 – 22 June 1993) was an English actor. He was described by ''The Telegraph'' as having "one of the most distinctive and eloquent faces in post-war British cinema." Life and career Born in Seven Kings, ... as 'Tug' Nelson * Frank Atkinson as 'Fry-Up' Dodds * Michael Balfour as 'Twinkle' Martin References Bibliography * Wagg, Stephen. ''Because I Tell a Joke or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Educated Evans (TV Series)
''Educated Evans'' is a British comedy television series which aired on the BBC in 24 episodes between 2 October 1957 and 24 June 1958. It is based on the 1924 novel '' Educated Evans'' by Edgar Wallace, about a racing tipster. The story had previously been made into a 1936 film '' Educated Evans''.Wagg p.5 The title role was played by Charlie Chester, whose comedic style was similar to that of Max Miller who had starred in the earlier film. Jack Melford starred as his antagonist, Detective Sergeant Miller. Other actors who appeared in episodes of the series included Sid James, Jackie Collins, Georgina Cookson, Jill Adams, Sydney Tafler, Liz Fraser, Deryck Guyler, Sam Kydd, Eunice Gayson, Danny Green, Robert Raglan, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Ray Cooney, Jack MacGowran, Ian Fleming, Erik Chitty, Diane Hart, Terence Alexander, Alan Tilvern, Charles Farrell and Mavis Villiers. Main cast * Charlie Chester as 'Educated' Evans * Michael Balfour as Man in Pub * Jack Melford as Det. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howard Hawks
Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American director who is not a household name." A versatile film director, Hawks explored many genres such as comedies, dramas, gangster films, science fiction, film noir, war films and westerns. His most popular films include '' Scarface'' (1932), '' Bringing Up Baby'' (1938), '' Only Angels Have Wings'' (1939), ''His Girl Friday'' (1940), '' To Have and Have Not'' (1944), ''The Big Sleep'' (1946), '' Red River'' (1948), ''The Thing from Another World'' (1951), '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1953), and '' Rio Bravo'' (1959). His frequent portrayals of strong, tough-talking female characters came to define the "Hawksian woman". In 1942, Hawks was nominated the only time for the Academy Award for Best Director for '' Sergeant York'' (1941). In 1974, he was awarded an Honorary Academy Awa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Basil Dearden
Basil Dearden (born Basil Clive Dear; 1 January 1911 – 23 March 1971) was an English film director. Early life and career Dearden was born at 5, Woodfield Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex to Charles James Dear, a steel manufacturer, and his wife, Florence Tripp. Basil Dean Dearden graduated from theatre direction to film, working as an assistant to Basil Dean. He later changed his own name to Dearden to avoid confusion with his mentor. He wrote ''This Man Is News'' (1938), a hugely popular quota quickie and wrote and directed a film for TV ''Under Suspicion'' (1939). He was assistant director on ''Penny Paradise'' (1938), produced by Dean and directed by Carol Reed, and two George Formby comedies directed by Anthony Kimmins: ''George Takes the Air'' (1938), produced by Dean, and '' Come on George!'' (1939). Dearden was promoted to associate producer on two more George Formby films, which he also co-wrote: ''To Hell with Hitler'' (1940) aka ''Let George Do It'' and ''Spare a Coppe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Huston
John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics, including '' The Maltese Falcon'' (1941), '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' (1948), ''The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950), '' The African Queen'' (1951), '' The Misfits'' (1961), '' Fat City'' (1972), ''The Man Who Would Be King'' (1975) and ''Prizzi's Honor'' (1985). During his 46-year career, Huston received 15 Academy Award nominations, winning twice. He also directed both his father, Walter Huston, and daughter, Anjelica Huston, to Oscar wins. In his early years, Huston studied and worked as a fine art painter in Paris. He then moved to Mexico and began writing, first plays and short stories, and later working in Los Angeles as a Hollywood screenwriter, and was nominated for several Academy Awards writing for films directed by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frank Launder
Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat. Early life and career He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England and worked briefly as a clerk before becoming an actor and then a playwright. He began working as a screenwriter on British films in the 1930s, contributing the original story for the classic Will Hay comedy ''Oh, Mr Porter!'' (1937). Sidney Gilliat Launder first collaborated with Gilliat in 1936 on the film '' Seven Sinners''. After writing a number of screenplays with Gilliat, including ''The Lady Vanishes'' (1938) for Alfred Hitchcock, and ''Night Train to Munich'' for Carol Reed; the two men wrote and directed the wartime drama ''Millions Like Us'' (1943). After founding their own production company Individual Pictures, they produced a number of memorable dramas and thrillers including ''I See a Dark Stranger'' (1945) and '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Val Guest
Val Guest (born Valmond Maurice Grossman; 11 December 1911 – 10 May 2006) was an English film director and screenwriter. Beginning as a writer (and later director) of comedy films, he is best known for his work for Hammer, for whom he directed 14 films, and science fiction films. He enjoyed a long career in the film industry from the early 1930s until the early 1980s. Reprinted from ''Reference Guide to British and Irish Film Directors'' Early life and career Guest was born to John Simon Grossman and Julia Ann Gladys Emanuel in Maida Vale, London. He later changed his name to Val Guest (officially in 1939). His father was a jute broker, and the family spent some of Guest's childhood in India before returning to England. His parents divorced when he was young, but this information was kept from him. Instead he was told that his mother had died. He was educated at Seaford College in Sussex, but left in 1927 and worked for a time as a bookkeeper. Guest's initial career was as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Terence Fisher
Terence Fisher (23 February 1904 – 18 June 1980) was a British film director best known for his work for Hammer Films. He was the first to bring gothic horror alive in full colour, and the sexual overtones and explicit horror in his films, while mild by modern standards, were unprecedented in his day. His first major gothic horror film was ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' (1957), which launched Hammer's association with the genre and made British actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee leading horror stars of the era. He went on to film several adaptations of classic horror subjects, including '' Dracula'' (1958), ''The Mummy'' (1959), and ''The Curse of the Werewolf'' (1961). Given their subject matter and lurid approach, Fisher's films, though commercially successful, were largely dismissed by critics during his career. It is only in recent years that Fisher has become recognised as an ''auteur'' in his own right. His most famous films are characterised by a blend of fairyt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Paddy Carstairs
John Paddy Carstairs (born John Keys; 11 May 1910, in London – 12 December 1970, in London) was a British film director (1933–62) and television director (1962–64), usually of light-hearted subject matter. He was also a comic novelist and Painting, painter. Biography The son of actor Nelson Keys, Carstairs changed his name in order to avoid the appearance of nepotism. He directed 37 films in total. He had a long association with the character of Simon Templar (the character's creator, Leslie Charteris, dedicated the 1963 book, ''The Saint in the Sun'' to Carstairs). Aside from directing the 1939 ''Saint'' film, ''The Saint in London'', he also directed two episodes of ''The Saint (TV series), The Saint'' in the 1960s, making him the only individual (other than Charteris himself) to be connected to both the Hollywood film and British series of ''The Saint''. Carstairs directed many British comedies including many of Norman Wisdom's films. Death Carstairs died of heart att ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
