Just imagine the scene – a Lancaster Bomber swoops low over a small town and as it does the crowds below are thrilled with the sound of those iconic Merlin Engines which become louder as the large Bomber speeds away.  The Scene from a War time film you would say – and it well could have been.

I actually filmed the Lancaster as it swooped low right above the main street but I cannot seem to upload it here

 In fact this happened yesterday at 40’s Weekend held in in the beautiful town / village of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.

This is very close to Coningsby where  the Lancaster has its home – so it would not have far to come.

ABOVE:  The Iconic Petwood Hotel at Woodhall Spa – Home of the Officers Mess of 617 Squadron – The Dambusters – in Wartime

American Vehicles at the Petwood Hotel

ABOVE – The  famous  Kinema In The Woods over this weekend was showing among other Films – The Dam Busters and Lancaster Skies

Maybe because the cast have just finished filming ‘Treasure Hunt’ one of the stars Martita Hunt is obviously feeling hungry – and celebrates with an ideal meal.

This film which also starred Jimmy Edwards was made by Romulus Films and this picture appeared in a magazine towards the end of 1952.

Her role in Great Expectations (1946) would be her most famous .   As Miss Havisham, she had reprised her role from a  1939 stage adaptation.   Her performance in the film met with great acclaim – in a film which was wonderfully well cast throughout – her performance was at the very top of the list.

On critic wrote that she dominated the film’s early scenes, playing Miss Havisham as a  shabby figure, dressed in crumbling lace and linen.

She appeared in so many films and stage plays throughout her career – She was memorable as Queen Eleanor in Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men.

There was a wonderful scene in this film actually Sherwood Forest ( Burnham Beeches)  where her party were ambushed by soldiers posing as Robin’s outlaws – and when she climbs from her carriage, she, in regal style, speaks to one of the ‘outlaws’ and says ‘ Down on Your Knees you treacherous dog’

At this point Robin  and the real outlaws speed onto the scene and rescue the Royal party.

This film, has really good  performances from Debra Paget as a princess,  Michael Rennie as the villain, and a handsome young Jeffrey Hunter.

The film is a  colourful adventure – the sort of thing we all loved in those days – and maybe still do.

There was also a very good supporting cat of classically-trained actors such as Michael Ansara, Edgar Barrier, Wally Cassell, Jack Elam and Dona Drake not normally found – you would think – together in one “B” film ;

This is the film that made Debra Paget a star, and rarely has an actress dominated a film so completely. From the moment she is first revealed–practicing an exotic dance, no less–to the the last scene of the film, Debra Paget remains the apple of the camera’s eye. Whether dancing seductively before spellbound soldiers, bargaining with duplicitous courtiers, or swinging a scimitar she brings the film’s  character to life with a cinematic charisma that is  spellbinding.

While the film is generally remembered as a showcase for Debra Paget’s performance  and impact, it is in fact a fine all-round action film.

Jeffrey Hunter and Michael Rennie are effective as the story’s hero and villain, and their rivalry builds to it’s inevitable conclusion. There’s never a dull moment either, and between the marauding soldiers under Rennie’s banner,  and a bunch of  heroic thieves, the story moves on at a pace.

 A

BOVE – with Jeffrey Hunter Princess of the Nile 1954

An excellent adventure from the days of classic Hollywood, Princess of the Nile is as enchanting as it is exciting and a colourful showcase for the wonderful talents of Debra Paget.

Debra  Paget should have had a longer career. She appeared in some well known  films such as  “The Ten Commandments,” “Love Me Tender,” “White Feather,” “Demetrius and the Gladiators,” and the list goes on – I had almost forgotten ‘Broken Arrow’ with James Stewart.

White Feather – again with Jeffrey Hunter ABOVE

As all of us – of a certain age – know here in England we had quite a lot of Comics that came out weekly – Dando, Beano, Eagle to name just a few and some of them were film themed – maybe some came from the USA but we still got them.

The ABOVE comic – Eagle – was one of the best and in truth a little ‘up market’ on the others of the day. Well drawn and imagined with a variation of stories throughout.

ABOVE – Just seen this Rod Cameron comic – I can’t remember this one at all. I wouldn’t have thought he would be in a comic. He seemed a bigger star but maybe they just cashed in on  the success of these publications.

Casey Ruggles ABOVE. There was no film connection here. This character to my knowledge did not appear in a film but I have included it here because – with a name like that – he really should have done. It is a name that seems ‘made to measure’ for the many B Westerns of that era.

ABOVE – Lash Larue – Now here is someone who had the most famous and popular of all the ‘film themed’ comics for quite a few years. He invented a style and developed it in a range of films that did well at the Box Office and when these comics came out they proved to be one of the most successful ones – if not THE most successful.  They are still very collectable today.

ABOVE: Wild Bill Pecos  – Again a very good name but no films

That great actor of Stage and Screen – Freddie Jones has died. He was 91 years old and had been appearing in a main role in Emmerdale on TV for some years. In fact he was acting up until the end almost

He made many film, stage  and TV appearances – however I remember him mostly as the mad bomber on the cruise ship in the film ‘Juggernaut’ in 1974 with Richard Harris and Omar Sharif.

A number of bombs have been planted on an ocean liner. The man who has planned and put all this into place is played by the great Mr Freddie Jones and it is the best portrayal of a psychopath I have ever seen in films.

Freddie Jones in Juggernaut” is the madman’s madman. Clever,conscience – free and ruthless. He brings to the part a quiet confidence – a masterclass in emotional detachment and studied indifference.

When I had first seen the film  – and when I see it again now – the character and the performance that Freddie Jones gives is the one we remember long after we have forgotten the other actors. When I think of Juggernaut – I immediately think ‘Freddie Jones.’

An interesting picture here of Richard Todd with his first wife Catherine and two children Peter and Fiona.

They look to be on holiday – possibly Ibiza where he owned a holiday property in the days before the island became popular – they all look happy here.

On the other hand it could be during the filming of ‘Don’t Bother to Knock’ in 1961 but looking again the two children look older than they would have been in 1961 when this film was made,  although they don’t look too warm here.    If it was during the filming of Don’t Bother to Knock then this would be at West Wittering in Sussex.

As only Fiona of the above is still alive, it may be something that we will never know.

It is funny that when doing an article for this Blog, how a picture like the one above leads to speculation as to where it was taken, a nd then linking that to a film and after that coming up with a NEW Cinema IN Sheffield   – with its very first film ‘Don’t Bother to Knock’  – as below:

The ABC Sheffield was opened on May 17th 1961 with Richard Todd in “Don’t Bother to Knock”. It was the most modern cinema of its day, fully equipped with 70mm facilities and full six track stereophonic sound system with a 60ft wide screen (one of the largest in the UK). For the opening week, a Hammond portable organ was installed and was played by Albert Brierley.

Built in a stadium style with a large stalls area and more steeply raked lounge area with more luxurious seats at the rear, the total seating capacity was 1,327. The yellow house tabs spread half way along the side walls and were illuminated with concealed fluorescent lighting, while the silver screen tabs were illuminated with flood lights along the deeply curved stage edge and coloured lighting up the sides.

ABOVE A scene from Don’t Bother to Knock’

This film opened in Sheffield at the New ABC Cinema – and as Richard Todd said the audience reaction was very good – but at a previous London showing the Press hammered the film. Coupled with that Richard Todd who had produced the film decided on  a Summer release – it turned out to be a lovely summer and the crowds did not go to the cinema – certainly not to see this one.

He had turned down an Easter release which is usually good for film takings – so it just makes you think ‘stick to what you are best at’

Richard Todd may have been a gifted actor and a successful and, I would say, a lucky one – however this ability and luck did not seem to follow him into the world of business

BECAUSE OF YOU 1952

An injured soldier, Jeff Chandler, falls for nurse Loretta Young and the two soon wed and have a lovely daughter. Sounds typical with a poor girl marrying a rich, handsome businessman like Jeff. However she hides a dark secret – Loretta was in jail as no one believed her innocence in the participation of a robbery.

She never told Jeff about her former life. Years later, the guy who led her down this path, suddenly shows up one afternoon and kidnaps her with the child. After another robbery, there is a high speed chase and the guy is killed instantly. Loretta and daughter survive the wreck physically-but there are plenty of emotional problems as a result. An enraged Jeff accuses Loretta of being a tramp and immediately files for divorce and gains full custody of the child.

Loretta takes a job as an entertainer for children’s parties. Her sister-in-law takes her in but  since this is years later, the child does not know that Loretta is her mother. Unexpectedly, Jeff comes home and there are fireworks.

The  film is really well  done with Chandler showing that he was a good actor. His emotional outbursts are believable. Loretta Young is subdued but as always turns in a competent performance.

About making the film, Loretta Young said she found Jeff Chandler very attractive and he told her that he was falling in love with her. She further stated that the relationship never progressed beyond hand-holding outside their love scenes, “but I think until he died, we both felt it. If I’d see him on the street I’d walk the other way because I didn’t want to spark anything.”

HORIZONS WEST 1952 In Technicolor from Universal

This was a British Film made in Colour – and I say this because, as we all remember, at that time it was a big attraction when a film was in Technicolor.

The title in a way is intriguing and appealing and yet it is difficult to discern what it is until you either read about it or see the film

The film starred John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Kieron Moore

 The film is splendidly English with villagers taking on the might of the Royal Air Force over nesting birds. Against this background “Conflict of wings” portrays the people of the beautiful county of Norfolk at odds with the Authorities over the potential damage to their bird sanctuary.

The RAF personnel are cast as the not very bad bad guys using an area frequented by nesting birds as a firing range.

The film makes its point and has  excellent performances in the British tradition and a wonderful support cast including ex – RAF pilot Humphrey Lestocq – at the time  as already mentioned on the Blog. on BBC children’s’ TV “Whirligig” with Mr Turnip.

“H.L.” as he was known, had a  career in film acting and Radio. P

lane enthusiasts  will love the shots of the Vampires and Meteors.   

If you love that quintessentially English county of Norfolk the scenery of its beautiful northern coast will enchant you.  “Conflict of wings” is rural England and its inhabitants coming together  

A Vampire Jet roars overhead

ABOVE – John Gregson and Harry Fowler with a Meteor Jet

  ABOVE – Actors again with a  Meteor Jet ABOVE – Niall MacGinnis and Muriel Pavlow play a scene together 

Roy Disney – the man behind the curtain

 No story of Walt Disney World would be complete without a tribute to the forgotten Disney. Roy was Uncle Walt’s older brother

While Walt Disney was undoubtedly one of the most creative people to live in our time, Roy O. Disney was the man behind the scenes that made the dreams come true. He had a gift for getting Walt’s nutty projects financed and getting Walt to finish them.

Walt was always more of a  showman. He loved attention. He was  full of energy. From the time Walt was in high school he was a performer along with an artist. Roy was the quiet one.

Walt Disney died in 1966 and the Disney company almost died with him. Walt’s dream of a “Disney World” was in disarray. There was no one left at Disney who could drive the project. Up until then every project had been driven by Walt and the company was leaderless.

Then came Roy to the rescue.

Like a lot of comic book hero’s Roy Disney led a life in the shadows. The shadows of a brilliant genius.

Walt Disney was a man with lots of dreams, he just didn’t have any real money sense. After his first company went bankrupt (his last company without Roy) he moved to California and hooked up with his older brother. Roy was able to get some financing and the brothers pooled their resources and had $750.00 to work on Walt’s newest project  – and the rest as they say is history.

Roy spent his whole life making Walt’s dreams come true. He died just a couple of months after the opening of Walt’s Last Dream, Walt Disney World.

Roy O. Disney was the lesser known of the Disney brothers and that’s a shame. He made dreams come true for millions and especially for his younger brother.

A regular reader of this Blog David, made the comments below about the early days of BBC Television in late 1952 when he remembers his family getting a television set :

‘The programmes didn’t actually start in those days until gone 2 in the afternoon. In the mornings there were test films to enable television engineers to set up the sets, the most memorable of which was the BBC fit a surpressor to your car film. I remember watching Andy Pandy and throughout 1952 and 1953, I remember watching The Quatermass Experiment; Victory at Sea and Heidi with eleven years old Julia Lockwood.’

We got our first TV set very early in 1952 – and what David says is quite right – the Television service was a limited one.  As David also pointed out the morning transmissions were mainly

Test Cards and Test Transmissions.

However, then came a very clever move by Walt Disney – an early classic piece of marketing and promotion.  In March of 1952 Walt Disney released ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ starring Richard Todd and Joan Rice and he had taken the decision of making a 15 to 20 Minute film called The Riddle of Robin Hood – which showed the actual making of the film – going to locations, studio scenes and work on the sets coupled with actual scenes from the film. 

Walt Disney then had that released to the BBC for them to use free of charge – and in fact they did use it by showing it again and again in the test transmission times – and I recall very well seeing this as it came on in the mornings or afternoons at regular intervals.

 Carmen Dillon with her c olleague looking closely at the model of the set for Nottingham Square

ABOVE: Another picture on the set of the Nottingham Square sequence as one of the horses is being led away – possibly after the action had been filmed

Lawrence E. Watkin who wrote this, and more scripts for Walt Disney. Here he is  making notes for his finished script

ABOVE – Perce Pearce and Walt Disney talk about The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men 1952 – and puzzle over certain aspects

ABOVE: On a trip to Sherwood Forest and Nottingham, Richard Todd poses by a giant oak tree

ABOVE: Richard Todd rehearses the Quarter Staff fight – this time with Paddy Ryan I think

The BBC had not known what to do with the film so just kept showing it.  It was – and is – a very good little film.  I managed to acquire a 16 mm print of this and transferred it to DVD.

As regards the film The Riddle of Robin Hood I do have the 16mm original film which is shot totally in Black and White and it lasts just 13 minutes with commentary.   Scenes from the film are used throughout the film but they are much less impressive without that fabulous 50s technicolor. However the behind the scenes detail is as follows:- Walt Disney in his Studio office chatting with Perce Pearce and Lawrence Watkin Some still shots of their visit to Nottingham with Richard Todd.
Fascinating brief shots of Richard Todd and another of the Merrie Men in an open car being driven to the set.

Then 2 more Merrie men on cycles and then a lady on a motor cycle who could be Martita Hunt, all riding over a make shift bridge, close to the spot I think where the dog attacked the Sheriff as he attempted to escape. Also shows the dog being trained with its master.

Also the camera and crew filming Peter Finch running through the stream just prior to the dog. Richard Todd in costume practices the quarter staff fight with an expert. Joan Rice leaves her house in Denham and cycles to the studios Studio shot of Ken Annakin and again with him directing the scene where King Richard goes off to the crusades.

Then a shot of the large colour camera on wheels with Guy Green being pushed along as it films the climatic scene where Richard Todd holds a knife to Peter Finch as they approach the drawbridge. I have been very lucky with this item which is very rare and possibly not shown in the UK in recent time. I wonder if it was made for general viewing because if it came out in advance of the film it would give away some of the scenes even though very briefly and also in Black and White it wouldn’t show the film off anything like so well. I

t is though fascinating because of the ‘behind the scenes’ shots. I love the film. It was beautifully made and acted. The sets by Carmen Dillon, who is shown in this film I forgot to mention with Walt Disney (must have been at Denham) showing how a drawbridge shot would be done with a model castle and camera, the sets were terrific. The sets where Robin meets Little John and then Friar Tuck are astonishing in their beauty and detail and she designed them.