''Lightning Conductor'' is a 1938 British

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

and starring

Gordon Harker William Gordon Harker (7 August 1885 – 2 March 1967) was an English stage and film actor. Harker was one of the sons of Sarah Elizabeth Harker, née Hall, (1856–1927), and Joseph Harker (1855–1927), a much admired set painter for the ...

, John Lodge and Sally Gray. The screenplay concerns a London

bus driver A bus driver, bus operator, or bus captain is a person who drives buses for a living. Description Bus drivers must have a special license above and beyond a regular driver's licence. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus st ...

who becomes embroiled in a plot by foreign agents to steal secret documents. It was made at Pinewood Studios.

Cast

as Albert Rughouse * John Lodge as Anderson * Sally Gray as Mary *

Ernest Thesiger Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger, CBE (15 January 1879 – 14 January 1961) was an English stage and film actor. He is noted for his performance as Doctor Septimus Pretorius in James Whale's film ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935). Biography ...

as Professor *

George Moon George Moon (19 March 1909 – 17 December 1981) was an English stage, film and television actor. During the late 1950s he appeared as Ginger Smart in the television series ''Shadow Squad'' and its sequel ''Skyport''. Moon's largest tele ...

as George * Steven Geray as Mortley * Charles Eaton as Royle * Arthur Hambling as Bus Inspector * Roy Findlay as Dakers

Critical reception

Allmovie noted a "breezy British action comedy...No mere programmer, The Lightning Conductor is exceptionally well cast, with such reliables as John Lodge, Sally Gray, Ernst Thesiger and Steven Geray going through their usual expert paces." and ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' called it "a suspenseful comedy with some good characterizations."

References

External links

* 1938 films 1930s spy comedy films 1930s comedy thriller films British spy comedy films British comedy thriller films 1930s English-language films Films directed by Maurice Elvey Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films set in London Films produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan British black-and-white films 1938 comedy films Films scored by Percival Mackey 1930s British films {{1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub