I am reminded of this film, because all this next week a production of the famous JB Priestley play will be performed at the Hull New Theatre.

Like all of us who admire the films of the fifties era, I am drawn to the 1954 version with Alistair Sim in wonderful form as the mysterious Detective.  

ABOVE – The events are unfolding

Quite a cast in this though – Alistair Sim above towards the end of the film

ABOVE – An early scene in the film – the sequence of events start to unfold

Based on the J.B Priestly play it focuses on the rich and privileged Birling family and concentrates on a single night in their mansion in 1912. On this night they are about to celebrate their daughter Sheila’s (Eileen Moore) engagement to wealthy businessman Gerald Croft (Brian Worth) when they are abruptly interrupted by a mysterious Inspector Poole (Alastair Sim).

He arrives out of nowhere and quickly darkens the atmosphere as he begins to tell the sad story of the death of a young girl,  Eva Smith (Jane Wenham), who the head of the family Arthur (Arthur Young) had once employed in his factory.

ABOVE – Jane Wenham as Eva Smith

As he unfolds his story it is like he is unzipping a banana as he systematically goes through the events of the girl’s life and as he does, each episode implicates one of the family – maybe not directly but certainly indirectly and each one, we learn, bears a responsibility for her death.

I had thought that Renee Ray was in this – but it was actually Jane Wenham. Had it been Renee Ray I was going to make the point that nearly 20 years earlier, she had appeared in a film with a remarkably similar storyline – ‘The Passing of The Third Floor Back’ made in 1935 with Conrad Veidt playing  a mysterious stranger who arrives, and takes a modest room at a block of flats – very run down – in fact rather than flats they are rooms let out by a cruel and greedy Landlord.  With all kinds of stories going on in there of a sometimes unpleasant nature, the mysterious stranger connects with them and brings calm and decency back – overthrowing evil – and then he disappears.

This is a film I ask you all to see – Remember  it is ‘The Passing of the Third Floor Back’ – if you like An Inspector Calls you will like this  one

ABOVE – Conrad Veidt the mysterious stranger arrives

ABOVE: Renee Ray gazes up at him in awe – She knows that someone has arrived to help them

Actually although Renee Ray was not in the film ‘An Inspector Calls’  she had played in the stage play on Broadway and scored a success there

All right, this is not a film from the Fifties I know, although I bet a number of readers will know why I have turned to this one.  Yes – It featured the very last film appearance of Joan Rice who has been discussed on this Blog many times – mainly with her big roles in ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ and ‘His Majesty O Keefe’ – certainly big films in the early fifties.

In this one she played the wife of Dennis Price – and also in it was James Hayter who had played Friar Tuck in the Robin Hood film – he had also toured in plays in the Theatre with Joan.

Joan Rice and Dennis Price  ABOVE – chatting in the Studio waiting to go on set and join the action

Joan Rice talking to Dr Frankenstein ( Ralph Bates ) at the Castle – and in doing so sealing her own fate.

Joan Rice comes to a violent end at the hands of the Monster after she had been to Frankenstein’s Castle and told Dr. Frankenstein that she would be going to the Police about her husband’s disappearance.

He advised her to walk home using the short cut through the woods – and then quickly released the Monster who murders her there.

The ABOVE picture is the last we would ever see on the Cinema Screen of this lovely actress – who achieved lasting fame with us film fans for her starring appearances in those two big films that she starred in.     At that time she had been at the very top of the tree.

I watched most of this film yesterday evening on Talking Pictures Television – and really liked it even though it was played largely ‘tongue in cheek’ by the characters.  Ralph Bates as Dr Frankenstein must merit  a mention – he had a big part with lots of dialogue – but he pulled it off really well.    It had quite an abrupt and surprising ending, leaving us all a little bit ‘in the air’

Good film though – with some good studio sets – large enough to have a coach and horses and other riders and horses gallop through

ABOVE with Ralph Bates

ABOVE – Veronica Carlson and Kate O Mara – signed autographs

I should have said earlier that the film had Veronica Carlson and Kate O Mara as Dr Frankenstein’s (  Ralph Bates ) love interest

I remember very little about this film but I quite liked the title.

My Dad took us to see it when we sere all on holiday at our close relatives in St. Albans where we went each year at this time – and loved it there.

ABOVE: Gaumont Cinema St Albans – remember as a child seeing ‘Trouble in the Glen’  there

I think it was showing at the Gaumont -near the station which is no longer there.

Produced and directed by Otto Preminger – Well that puts us off to a bad start –  and starring Dana Andrews,  this is a terrific 20th-Century Fox film. Dana Andrews is excellent as Mark Dixon, the tough guy who seems to hold  our sympathy. Watch out for  a very young Neville Brand.

Gene Tierney is once again teamed with Dana Andrews – they had been together in ‘Laura’ a few years before this. Gene Tierney  had two daughters, Antoinette Daria Cassini (October 15, 1943 – September 11, 2010) and Christina “Tina” Cassini (November 19, 1948 – March 31, 2015),

In June 1943, while pregnant with Daria, Tierney contracted rubella (German measles), likely from a fan ill with the disease.Daria was born prematurely in Washington, DC, weighing three pounds, two ounces (1.42 kg) and requiring a total blood transfusion.

The rubella caused congenital damage-  Daria was deaf, partially blind with cataracts, and severely mentally disabled. She was institutionalised for much of her life.

Gene Tierney’s friend Howard Hughes paid for Daria’s medical expenses, ensuring the girl received the best. Gene Tierney never forgot his act of kindness.    Daria Tierney died in 2010, at the age of 66.

 She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

I loved her in ‘Heaven Can Wait’ 1943 – filmed in that beautiful Technicolor of the time – never bettered – where she was top billed along with Don Ameche

Darryl F. Zanuck, founder of 20th Century-Fox, said she was unquestionably the most beautiful woman in movie history – not many would argue with that.

Now here is a name and a face from the early days of Television – Peter Haigh.

My main memory of him is as presenter of Picture Parade

Picture Parade was the first real attempt to review new cinema releases on television.     Peter Haigh was teamed up with the British film star Derek Bond, Haigh worked hard to make it popular, incorporating interviews with the likes of John Wayne, Anna Neagle and Joan Crawford.

He later presented ‘Movie Go Round’ on Radio – The Light Programme.

He also played in a number of very popular Television series – ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’  ‘ The Benny Hill Show’ and ‘ Charlie Drake’ and even played a Magistrate in the film  ‘Witchfinder  General’ a few years later in 1968 along with Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy,  Patrick Wymark,  Rupert Davies and lower down the cast list Wilfrid Brambell. In this film he played the Lavenham Magistrate.

In 1957 he married the lovely film star Jill Adams and they had a daughter.

I will always remember Jill Adams for ‘The Green Man’ ABOVE here with George Cole and Terry-Thomas – a real classic in my book.

In it she was due to marry her rather stuffy fiancé played brilliantly as always by the wonderful Colin Gordon

ABOVE – Jill Adams with fiancé – soon to be ex fiancé – in The Green Man

– who will ever forget Colin Gordon  as the Tax Inspector in P.A.Y.E an episode of  ‘Steptoe and Son’ – actually his very last screen appearance.

Diana Dors was an extremely good actress who could hold her own in any company. She seemed to have that appealing self confidence in a lovely way – it is a trait that can be off-putting but not in this girl’s case

I like her early films such as ‘A Boy a Girl and a Bike’ and  ‘Diamond City’,  ‘Dance Hall’ and one of my real favourites ‘Holiday Camp’

She was also in Oliver Twist in 1948  ABOVE – in the company of such stars as Alec Guinness and Robert Newton

Diana Dors in her early years, looking lovely.

A chance to play opposite Burt Lancaster in 1952

Diana Dors had met Burt Lancaster in London – in his suite at Claridges – in the early  50s and he had offered her the part of Dalabo in his forthcoming film His Majesty O Keefe which was turned down by her then husband Dennis Hamilton – who was her business manager  – in favour of a Summer Season at Blackpool as it turned out.

I am a great  fan of Joan Rice who took the part – and was very good in it, but I also am an admirer of Diana Dors

It appears that Burt Lancaster asked to see Diana at his suite at Claridges in London and indeed she did have this meeting alone with Burt but with her husband lurking somewhere below. She later tested for the part by darkening her skin a little, donning  a sarong, and wearing a black wig but Dennis would not let her take this part. It wouldn’t be much of a guess as to why.

I am pleased however that Joan Rice was successful – but can’t help but wonder what the film would have been like with Diana in that role – but more than that the effect it would have had on her future because she may well have seized the opportunity of such a big film as this. Her self confidence – which Joan Rice did not have at that time – would have opened doors in Hollywood – an opportunity that I am quite sure Diana would have grasped

Her husband thought better of her spending months in Fiji on a South Sea Island with Burt Lancaster.

Later on – in 1957  she did get to play opposite none other than the great Victor Mature in a film made here in England ‘The Long Haul’ which for fans of trucks and vehicles of that era is a must.

She got on very well with Victor Mature – you can imagine that she would, as somehow they seemed similar types both blessed with a great screen appeal.

Two Film Stars that I really like ABOVE – Diana Dors and Victor Mature

I keep coming back to this film – made by Walt Disney at Denham Film Studios

These Front of House Stills are really striking with their colour – however I think the two below must have been from a later release

 From the later release of this film BELOW – Wonderful Colour

BELOW –  Front of House Still from the 1950 release

BELOW –  Front of House Still from the 1950 release.

BELOW – A later scene in the film

BELOW – The same scene from the opposite angle

These Front of House Stills are really striking with their colour

ABOVE – Peter Ellenshaw with a brilliant Matte Painting from the film.

Set at the turn of the last century in 1900, a couple buy a large house which has been on the market for 40 years, but when a young lady joins them as a companion she becomes possessed by the ghost of a tragic former occupant. This is not a horror film as such, rather a drama with a supernatural element.

There’s little more plot to it than that, but the aim of the director isn’t to terrify the viewer but rather to evoke a certain mood of nostalgia and mystery.

The film is of interest because we see an array of famous faces of the era, including Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price, although the real treat is James Mason’s performance as an elderly Yorkshire gentleman.

Apparently when he first read the script, he liked it and wanted to do it. The film was not a financial success but in my view it should have been – my own take on this, as with many other British films of the time is that we were not good at marketing and promoting them particularly to the US market which was the one to aim for.

A Scene during filming ABOVE

Ernest Thesiger – ABOVE –  He played  the mysterious Dr. Marsham in this film although the picture is not of this film. He had a very distinctive face.

He really was an interesting and unusual person who didn’t seem to fit any particular norm – but he is a fascinating character.

An accomplished  stage actor as well as a film actor in more than 60 performances both in Hollywood and England

He was wounded in action in the First World War.

He was an accomplished watercolour artist and embroiderer (and even published a book entitled ‘Adventures in Embroidery’).

He was a great friend (and crochet partner) of Queen Mary and is even said to have based his later appearance on her.

In this film ‘ A Place of One’s Own’  he plays Dr. Marsham a mysterious doctor who appears at the end of the film

Now this was a really good Western which was on TCM this afternoon. I cannot remember ever seeing it but it was impressive with great action scenes at the climax to the film,

Gary Cooper was in fine form – and managed to get into and more particularly, get out of some quite scary scrapes

Springfield Rifle 1952

This may be something of a forgotten  Western  but it is a must-see for Gary Cooper fans.  Gary Cooper plays his usual character of a man intent on  redeeming himself, but this is not a typical Western.

It is a good Civil War film. Film fans will also see a  a young Fess Parker.

The film is full of twists and turns with  lots of battle scenes which all add up to a good old-fashioned, fun action film.

Below – Some action scenes from the film

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952

Springfield Rifle 1952 Gary Cooper ABOVE

Springfield Rifle 1952

Lon Chaney Jr on horseback is shot as he enters the water

He then falls into the water

He has come to a sticky end ABOVE

Springfield Rifle 1952 – ABOVE ‘Baddie’ Paul Kelly who played Lt Col. John Hudson is finally captured after this scene and much more action.

Springfield Rifle 1952 The final frames of the film with Gary Cooper back in uniform

Springfield Rifle 1952

One incredible scene as the film approaches the dramatic action packed ending, is where a Covered Wagon driven by Gary Cooper hits a large rock, tips over and crashes down a steep slope / cliff. Gary Cooper jumps clear – and then the other man on the Wagon crashed down the hill with the wagon which on looking at this sequence a number of times, looks as though it very narrowly misses him. As it is done in one take it would not be possible to fake this.

The Stuntman seems to get away with it – I have taken a few pictures from this one shot scene – see what you think – to me it looks highly dangerous and I am so pleased that the man seemed to escape being hit.

Springfield Rifle 1952 –

I had wondered at first if the stunt was done by Jack Mahoney but, by then he was into acting and doing the highly successful ‘The Range Rider’ TV Series which was very popular in England.

The stuntmen who appeared in Springfield Rifle were  Ben Corbett, John Epper, Ted Mapes, George Ross, Jack Woody and Jack N.Young – so it would be one of these that did that jump.

Astonishing and very brave.

Who could forget this excellent BBC Television series in the mid 1950s – Bruce Seton was Fabian  in our eyes – such was the impact of the show.

I must admit I loved this series – particularly the Opening Sequence – when Bruce Seton as Fabian, sitting in the back seat of a speeding Humber Hawk said in a terse voice ‘This is Fabian – Of Scotland Yard’

Great stuff !!

ABOVE – Bruce Seton as Fabian of Scotland Yard

ABOVE – Bruce Seton in Scenes from an episode of  Fabian of Scotland Yard

However one piece of interesting information  has come to light – he re-married after a divorce within an hour

Now it appears the character actor from Edinburgh, who died in 1969, could hold the record for the shortest time between divorce and remarriage in Scotland.

Records of births, marriages and deaths, published online for the first time today, have uncovered the extraordinary love story of the dashing actor – and soldier – 1940 who married for a second time just an hour after being divorced in a Scottish court on St Valentine’s Day.

Bruce Seton married his second wife, actress Antoinette Cellier – Picture above –  in a special ceremony in Edinburgh – having only an hour before been granted a divorce in the Court of Session from his first wife, Tamara Desni, an actress of Russian descent. According to the National Records of Scotland, this may be the shortest time ever between a divorce and remarriage in Scotland.

Bruce Seton and his wife Antoinette Cellier did have a daughter Lydia Antoinette Seton born in November 1941

For his Wartime Service Bruce Seton was awarded the US Medal of Freedom

He  was also one of the founder members of the Lord’s Taverners in 1950 – so obviously a cricket fan like me

This Film was showed in the UK on Retro Movies yesterday and I saw quite a lot of the climax to it.

Barbara Payton is the mistress of a southern plantation -In the film’s prologue she and husband Craig Stevens are entertaining two old friends from West Point,  Guy Madison and Barbara’s secret love interest James Craig.

She is planning to run away with James that night, but news of the firing on Fort Sumter brings everybody’s plans to a halt as the men go off to war on their respective sides. Go forward to four years later and Stevens is in prison, but circumstance has brought Madison and Craig back to the neighbourhood.

Craig is given a rough assignment, bring a pair of cannons to the top of a hollow ridge called Devil’s Mountain and rain fire and destruction down on Sherman’s supply train on the railway tracks below. Guy has the unenviable duty of blasting him off the mountain. Of course neither knows the other is in command on the other side.

This film seems to get pretty good reviews from people who have seen it