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Raffles (1939 Film)
''Raffles'' is a 1939 American crime comedy film starring David Niven and Olivia de Havilland, and is one of several film adaptations of an 1899 short story collection by E. W. Hornung, ''The Amateur Cracksman''. Plot A.J. Raffles, the celebrated cricketer, is welcomed in the parlours and country estates of high society. This circumstance he uses to his advantage in his secret career as "The Amateur Cracksman", a master burglar and safecracker who remains always one step ahead of Scotland Yard. An old school friend, Bunny Manders, reintroduces Raffles to his sister, Gwen, with whom Raffles had been infatuated a decade ago. Raffles falls in love with her all over again, and she with him. When Bunny confides a crushing gambling debt over which he is considering suicide, Raffles assures him the money can be obtained. He plans to accept a weekend invitation to the country house of Lord and Lady Melrose; Lady Melrose's famous jewelry can easily solve Bunny's problem. However, another ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sam Wood
Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as ''A Night at the Opera (film), A Night at the Opera'', ''A Day at the Races (film), A Day at the Races'', ''Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film), Goodbye, Mr. Chips'', ''The Pride of the Yankees'', and ''For Whom the Bell Tolls (film), ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'''' and for his uncredited work directing parts of ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind''. He was also involved in a few acting and writing projects. As a youth, Wood developed an enthusiasm for physical fitness that persisted into his senior years and influenced his interest in making sports-themed films. Wood advanced from making largely competent yet routine pictures in the 1920s and 1930s to directing several highly regarded works during the 1940s at the peak of his abilities, among them ''Kings Row'' (1942) and ''Ivy (1947 film), Ivy'' (1947). Wood ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour elsewhere) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions (also known as minor, petty, or summary offences) and regulatory offences. Typically, misdemeanors are punished with monetary fines or community service. Distinction between felonies and misdemeanors A misdemeanor is considered a crime of lesser seriousness, and a felony one of greater seriousness. The maximum punishment for a misdemeanor is less than that for a felony under the principle that the punishment should fit the crime. One standard for measurement is the degree to which a crime affects others or society. Measurements of the degree of seriousness of a crime have been developed. In the United States, the federal government generally considers a crime punishable with incarceration for not more than one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gentlemen And Players (short Story)
"Gentlemen and Players" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in August 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included in the collection '' The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot While Raffles is out during a Gentlemen v Players cricket match at Lord's, a young cricketer named Crowley approaches Raffles. Raffles learns that Crowley's father, Lord Amersteth, is looking for cricketers, such as Raffles, to play on Crowley's team in games celebrating Crowley's twenty-first birthday at his father's estate, Milchester Abbey, in Dorset. Raffles persuades Lord Amersteth to also invite Bunny to play. Bunny, who secretly cannot play cricket, is horrified, but accepts. Raffles returns to the field to bowl, and plays excellently. Afterwards, Raffles reveals that he int ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gibson Gowland
Gibson Gowland (4 January 1877 – 9 September 1951) was an English film actor. Biography Gowland was born in Spennymoor, County Durham. He started work as a sailor and later became the mate on a ship. For several years from the age of 25 he went to South Africa, where he hunted for big game, prospected for diamonds and also organised a theatrical company in Johannesburg, and acted in it. He prospected in Canada, where he made his debut on the legitimate stage. Gowland went to the United States from Britain by way of Canada in 1913 where he met Beatrice Bird, also from Great Britain, whom he married. They moved to Hollywood, working as bit players. In 1914 he acted in D.W. Griffith's ''The Birth of a Nation'', followed by ''Intolerance''. In 1916, his son, actor and photographer Peter Gowland, was born. Often cast as a villain, his only starring role (out of 63 films) was in ''Greed'' (1924), directed by Erich von Stroheim, based on the Frank Norris novel ''McTeague'', and c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Finlayson (actor)
James Henderson Finlayson (27 August 1887 – 9 October 1953) was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson had many trademark comic mannerisms and is known for his squinting, outraged, "double take and fade away" head reaction, and characteristic expression "d'ooooooh", and as the best remembered comic foil of Laurel and Hardy. Finlayson was known by a variety of nicknames. According to Laurel and Hardy scholar Randy Skretvedt, he "called himself Jimmy, was known around the lot as Jim and is usually referred to today as 'Fin'"Skretvedt, p. 77 – as a truncated version of his surname, as author John McCabe presented it in his 1961 book biography ''Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy ''. Early life and stage career Born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland to Alexander and Isabella (née Henderson) Finlayson, James worked as a tinsmith before pursuing an acting career. As part of John Clyde's company, he played the part of Jamie Ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leonard Carey
Leonard Carey (25 February 1887 – 11 September 1977) was an English character actor who very often played butlers in Hollywood films of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He was also active in television during the 1950s. He is perhaps best known for his role as the beach hermit, Ben, in Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...'s ''Rebecca (1940 film), Rebecca'' (1940). One of his biggest roles was as "Dusty" in the film, ''Moon Over Her Shoulder'' (1941) with John Sutton. Other memorable appearances included roles in ''The Awful Truth'' (1937), ''Heaven Can Wait (1943 film), Heaven Can Wait'' (1943), Hitchcock's ''Strangers on a Train (film), Strangers on a Train'' (1951), ''Snows of Kilimanjaro'' (1952) and ''Thunder in the East'' (1953). Carey retired ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leyland Hodgson
Leyland Hodgson (5 October 1892 – 16 March 1949), also known as Leland Hodgson, was an English-born American character actor of the 1930s and 1940s. Born in London on 5 October 1892, Hodgson entered the theater in 1898. In his early 20s, Hodgson was part of a touring theater company, spending his time in the British areas of the Far East, before entering the stage in Australia. In 1930 he would move to the United States, where he would make his film debut in the Oscar-nominated film, ''The Case of Sergeant Grischa'' in 1930. Over his almost twenty-year career, he would appear in over 130 films, mostly in supporting or smaller roles. He is best known for his work on the Sherlock Holmes franchise of the late 1930s and 1940s, beginning with 1939's '' The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. He would die of a heart attack on 16 March 1949, shortly after completing the filming of '' That Forsyte Woman'', which would be released later that year. He was interred at Grand View Memorial ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Margaret Seddon
Margaret Seddon (November 18, 1872 – April 17, 1968) was an American stage and film actress. Biography She appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1951. Her most memorable role was perhaps as one of The Pixilated Sisters, a comedic stage act with actress Margaret McWade. In 1936, they reprised their roles in the film '' Mr Deeds Goes to Town''. On Broadway, Seddon performed in ''Modern Marriage'' (1911) and ''The Things That Count'' (1913). She was born in Washington, D.C., and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Selected filmography * '' The Dawn of a Tomorrow'' (1915) - Polly * '' The Old Homestead'' (1915) - Rickety Ann * ''Miss Robinson Crusoe'' (1917) - Aunt Eloise * '' The Girl Without A Soul'' (1917) - Henrietta Hateman * '' The Land of Promise'' (1917) - Miss Pringle * ''The Unveiling Hand'' (1919) - Mrs. Bellamy * ''The Country Cousin'' (1919) - Mrs. Howitt * ''The Miracle of Money'' (1920) - Patricia Hodges * ''Wings of Pride'' (1920) - Mrs. Prentice * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gilbert Emery
Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle (June 11, 1875 – October 28, 1945), known professionally as Gilbert Emery, was an American actor who appeared in over 80 movies from 1921 to his death in 1945. He was also a playwright, author of seven Broadway plays from 1921 to 1933. Early years Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle was born June 11, 1875, in Naples, New York, to William L. and Hariette (Gilbert) Pottle. He prepared for college at Naples High School and at the Normal School in Oneonta, New York. He graduated from Amherst College in the class of 1899. Career Pottle started out as a short story writer, using the name Emery Pottle, and he later wrote plays. From 1899 to 1900 he was an instructor in English and public speaking at Beloit Academy in Wisconsin. In 1900 he was a reporter for the ''Morning Sun'' in New York City; from 1900-1901 he worked for the '' Evening Post''; and from 1901-1903 he worked for '' Criterion Magazine''. He was an instructor in English at Columbia University ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Godfrey (director)
Peter Godfrey (16 October 1899 – 4 March 1970) was an English actor and film director. Founder of the experimental Gate Theatre Salon in 1925, with his first wife Molly Veness, he staged London's first expressionistic production in the following year. He went into partnership with Velona Pilcher in 1927 and together they opened the Gate Theatre Studio in Villiers Street, Charing Cross. Eventually moving to Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, he established a career as a film actor and director. Life and career Godfrey began his career as a conjuror, clown, actor and director in repertory theatres around the United Kingdom. However, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the standard repertory plays, being himself attracted to the experimental works of American and Continental directors, and the avant-garde playwrights of the 1920s. To stage such plays, he and his wife, the actress Molly Veness, rented a room in Floral Street, Covent Garden, which they were forced to run as a pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lionel Pape
Edward Lionel Pape (17 April 1877 – 21 October 1944) was an English born stage and screen actor. His acting career begun in his native UK with eventual migration to the US. He appeared on the Broadway stage in over 20 productions between 1912 and 1935. The beginning of his screen career goes back to the silent film era.''Who Was Who on Screen'', p. 360 2nd edition c.1977 by Evelyn Mack Truitt Between the 1930s and early 1940s, he played supporting roles and bit parts in over 50 Hollywood movies. He played in numerous films of directors like John Ford, Ernst Lubitsch and George Cukor. Pape portrayed Katharine Hepburn's butler in '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1940) and appeared as the oppressive coal mine owner in ''How Green Was My Valley'' (1941). Partial filmography *''The Pursuing Shadow'' (1915) - Viscount Acheson *''Evidence'' (1915) - Bertie Stavely *''Flame of Passion'' (1915) *''The Pearl of the Antilles'' (1915) - Murray Carson *'' The Sporting Duchess'' (1920) - Ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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