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The Siege Of Pinchgut
''The Siege of Pinchgut'' (released in the US as ''Four Desperate Men'') is a 1959 British thriller filmed on location in Sydney, Australia, and directed by Harry Watt. It was the last film produced by Ealing Studios, and was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival where it was nominated for the Golden Bear Award. Plot An ambulance drives through Sydney, having been hijacked by escaped convict Matt Kirk and his three accomplices, Matt's brother Johnny, Italian Luke and Bert. The four men manage to avoid detection at Sydney Hospital, and head out through Sydney Harbour in a purchased vessel, intending to go north. However the boat breaks down before they can get through Sydney Heads and the men decide to take refuge in Fort Denison (also known as Pinchgut), unaware it is occupied by caretaker Pat Fulton, his wife and daughter Ann. Kirk and the others take the Fultons hostage and decide to wait until the following night before leaving again. A boatload of touris ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Watt (director)
Harry Watt (18 October 19062 April 1987) was a Scottish documentary and feature film director, who began his career working for John Grierson and Robert Flaherty. His 1959 film ''The Siege of Pinchgut'' was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival. Biography He was born in Edinburgh, the son of a Scottish Liberal MP. He studied at Edinburgh University but failed to complete his degree. He enlisted in the Merchant Navy and worked in a number of industrial jobs. Documentaries In 1932, Watt joined the Empire Marketing Board Film Unit under John Grierson and began working on documentaries. He was an assistant on ''Man of Aran'' (1934). In 1936 Watt became a director for the London unit of the American newsreel series ''March of Time'', where his films included ''England's Tithe War'' (1936). Watt then joined the GPO Film Unit where he made his reputation as a documentarian with ''Night Mail'' (1936) which received much acclaim. He followed it with ''The Saving ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fort Denison
Fort Denison, part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, is a protected national park that is a heritage-listed former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island located north-east of the Royal Botanic Garden and approximately east of the Opera House in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island is also known as Mattewanye or Muddawahnyuh in the Eora language, and as Pinchgut Island. The site contains time gun, navigational aids and tide gauge facilities. Correctional and military facilities were designed by George Barney and built from 1840 to 1862 by William Randle. The property is owned by the Office of Environment & Heritage, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. In 1978 the former fortress was listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate, and is currently used as a national park, nature reserve, tourist facility, and as a function sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glyn Houston
Glyn Houston (23 October 1925 – 30 June 2019) was a Welsh actor best known for his television work. He was the younger brother of film actor Donald Houston. Early life Glyndwr Desmond Houston was born at 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, Glamorgan, Wales. He served in the army during the Second World War, and was briefly a stand-up comedian performing for soldiers during the war. He made his first film appearance in ''The Blue Lamp'' in 1950. Career In the 1970s Houston played Lord Peter Wimsey's valet Bunter opposite Ian Carmichael in television adaptations of several of Dorothy Sayers tales. His performance was praised in ''The New York Times''. Later, he had a role as a literary agent in the 1980s British sitcom '' Keep It in the Family''. He appeared in a number of films including ''The Great Game''. Other credits included ''My Good Woman'' (1973–1974), ''A Horseman Riding By'' (1978), ''Inspector Morse'', ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', ''Minder'' and ''Doomwatch'', as well as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barry Foster (actor)
John Barry Foster (21 August 1927 – 11 February 2002) was an English actor who had an extensive career in film, radio, stage and television over almost 50 years. He was best known for portraying the title character in the British crime series ''Van der Valk'' (1972–1992) and Bob Rusk in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Frenzy'' (1972). Early life Foster was born on 21 August 1927 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, the son of a toolsetter. His family moved to Hayes, Middlesex when he was a few months old. He received his formal education at Southall County School. After leaving school, Foster trained as a plastics organic chemist at the local EMI Central Research Laboratories, while unsuccessfully submitting ideas to advertising agencies. Having been "called to the Colours" under the National Service Act 1948, Foster served with the Royal Air Force. He subsequently trained as an actor, having won a scholarship to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He arrived there ag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Martin Boddey
Albert Martin Boddey (16 April 1907 – 24 October 1975) was a British film and television actor. He was a founder member of the Lord's Taverners charity. Boddey started acting when he was nearly 40, often portraying irritable authority figures such as police officers or magistrates. Selected filmography * '' A Song for Tomorrow'' (1948) - Major * ''The Third Man'' (1949) - Russian Military Policeman (uncredited) * ''Landfall'' (1949) - Civilian (uncredited) * ''The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery'' (1950) - 2nd Plainclothesman (uncredited) * ''Cairo Road'' (1950) - Maj. Ahmed Mustafa * '' State Secret'' (1950) - Clubman * ''The Dancing Years'' (1950) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Seven Days to Noon'' (1950) - Gen. Willoughby * '' Cage of Gold'' (1950) - Adams * '' The Franchise Affair'' (1951) - Insp. Hallam * '' The Adventurers'' (1951) - Chief Engineer * '' Laughter in Paradise'' (1951) - Store Shopwalker * ''Cloudburst'' (1951) - Desk Sergeant * ''Valley of Eagles'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Vernon
Richard Evelyn Vernon (7 March 1925 – 4 December 1997) was a British actor. He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles. Prematurely balding and greying, Vernon settled into playing archetypal middle-aged lords and military types while still in his 30s. He is perhaps best known for originating the role of Slartibartfast in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''. Other notable roles included Edwin Oldenshaw in ''The Man in Room 17'' (1965–67), Sir James Greenley, alias "C" in ''The Sandbaggers'' (1978–80) and Sir Desmond Glazebrook in ''Yes Minister'' (1980–81) and its sequel series ''Yes, Prime Minister'' (1987). Early life Vernon was born in Kenya in 1925 to British parents. Vernon and his parents moved to Britain in 1937 where Vernon attended Reading School and Leighton Park School (both in Reading, Berkshire). During the Second World War served in the Royal Navy. He trained as an actor at the Central S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grant Taylor (actor)
Ronald Grant Taylor (6 December 1917 – 1971) was an English-Australian actor best known as the abrasive General Henderson in the Gerry Anderson science fiction series ''UFO'' and for his lead role in ''Forty Thousand Horsemen'' (1940). Early life Taylor was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in England, but moved to Australia with his parents as a child. For a time he worked as a professional boxer in Melbourne under the name of Lance Matheson. According to a later newspaper report, he had 70 bouts, lost eight and drew 11. He reportedly also served in the merchant marine. Acting debut Cinesound Productions were looking for someone with wrestling skills to play the part of a gorilla in '' Gone to the Dogs'' (1939), so Taylor auditioned. He did not get the part but met Alec Kellaway who persuaded him to join Cinesound's Talent School. Ken G. Hall said that one of the problems of the Australian industry of this time was they "were consistently short of trained juveniles and ingenues" ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenneth J
Kenneth is an English given name and surname. The name is an Anglicised form of two entirely different Gaelic personal names: ''Cainnech'' and '' Cináed''. The modern Gaelic form of ''Cainnech'' is ''Coinneach''; the name was derived from a byname meaning "handsome", "comely". A short form of ''Kenneth'' is '' Ken''. Etymology The second part of the name ''Cinaed'' is derived either from the Celtic ''*aidhu'', meaning "fire", or else Brittonic ''jʉ:ð'' meaning "lord". People :''(see also Ken (name) and Kenny)'' Places In the United States: * Kenneth, Indiana * Kenneth, Minnesota * Kenneth City, Florida In Scotland: * Inch Kenneth, an island off the west coast of the Isle of Mull Other * "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?", a song by R.E.M. * Hurricane Kenneth * Cyclone Kenneth Intense Tropical Cyclone Kenneth was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in Mozambique since modern records began. The cyclone also caused significant damage in the Comoro Islands a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gerry Duggan (actor)
Gerald Joseph Duggan (10 July 191027 March 1992) was an Irish-born Australian character actor who appeared in many well-known films. He was also a stage and television actor. He never achieved stardom, but was a familiar face in small roles in film and television. His trademarks were his Irish brogue, pronounced lisp and prominent jaw. Early life Gerry Duggan was born in Dublin in 1910. When he was 16 he moved to New York, where he had his early exposure to theatre acting. In the 1930s he moved to Australia, where he settled, although he worked internationally. Career He was almost 50 when he made his first film, ''The Siege of Pinchgut'' (1959). This was a British production made in Australia, and was the last film from Ealing Studios. Duggan was nominated for the BAFTA Most Promising Newcomer Award for his role as Pat Fulton. He lost to the 13-year-old Hayley Mills in '' Tiger Bay''. He played the title role in the 1986 children's television series ''Professor Poopsnagle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barbara Mullen
Barbara Mullen (9 June 19149 March 1979) was an American born actress well known in the UK for playing the part of Janet McPherson, the housekeeper in ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook''. Although the role of Janet brought her fame in later years, she already had made her mark in the theatre. Mullen's parents were Pat and Bridget. Pat was from a fishing family on Inishmore island off the coast of County Galway, Ireland. He met his first wife, Bridget in South Boston, Massachusetts, where she had emigrated from Galway with her late husband, Patrick Crowe. Mullen was born in Boston. She made her stage debut as a dancer at the age of three. When her father returned to Aran, later contributing to the making of ''Man of Aran'', the classic documentary film by Robert J. Flaherty, her mother stayed in the U.S. to bring up the 8 children. Mullen sang and danced in various theatres all over the U.S. and then moved to the UK in 1934, where she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alan Tilvern
Alan Tilvern (5 November 1918 – 17 December 2003) was an English actor. He was known for usually playing "tough-guy" roles. Life Tilvern was born 5 November 1918 in Whitechapel, in the East End of London, to Jewish-Lithuanian parents, who changed their name from Tilevitch. War and film career After leaving school, he became a barrow boy in Brick Lane. In the Second World War, he served in the Army but was invalided out before its end in 1945. A year later, he began an acting career (''Danger by My Side'' being a good example), that lasted until the late 1980s. He is possibly best known for his role as R. K. Maroon in his last film, ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'' is a 1988 American live-action/animated comedy mystery film directed by Robert Zemeckis, produced by Frank Marshall and Robert Watts, and loosely adapted by Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman from Gary K. Wolf's 1 ...''. Death Tilvern died on 17 December 2003, at the age of 85. He wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carlo Giustini
Carlo Giustini (born 4 May 1923), sometimes credited as Carlo Justini, is an Italian retired actor. Life and career Born in Viterbo, the son of a railway employee, Giustini debuted at twenty years old in ''The Materassi Sisters'', after having been chosen through an audition. In the postwar years he was very active in the sentimental and adventurous genres, in which he usually played secondary and supporting roles. He was also cast in several international productions, mainly thanks to his perfect English. He retired from acting shortly after having appeared in two sci-fi films directed back-to-back by Antonio Margheriti in 1965, '' Wild, Wild Planet'' and '' War of the Planets''. Selected filmography * ''La donna della montagna'' (1944) - Un giovane montanaro * ''The Materassi Sisters'' (1944) - L'amante della principessa russa * ''Fantasmi del mare'' (1948) - Sergente Banti * '' Anthony of Padua'' (1949) - Padre di Ferdinando * '' Alarm Bells'' (1949) - Marco * '' Children ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
