Old British films.

[John Green]

Paul Gambaccini and Rod Taylor's 'TV's Greatest Hits', rightly (and of necessity) acknowledges the popularity of films on television. They were all part of what we were watching.
These now seem to make up the majority of Network's releases, possibly because of the heavier BBFC fees for TV series), and luckily both Network's own notes and BBC Genome can fill us in on transmission dates. Thanks to the latter, it seems quite likely that the (in this case US) film I've just watched, It happened Tomorrow' (Dick Powell begins receiving tomorrow's newspaper today, allowing him to make a killing in the gee-gees etc.) is one I last saw in 1962. Coo!

[Stephen Byers]

Thanks to Stephen Poppitt for this alert:

Rare Jimmy Clitheroe film - Freeview Ch.81 Fri 29 Jan 7am

This is to warn you that this week sees a film premier -

The first ever showing on British television of 'Old Mother Riley in
Society' (1940, b/w) will occur on Friday 29th January, at 7.10am, starring
Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane, John Stuart, and Jimmy Clitheroe. Running time
is about 80 minutes plus commercials.

This is screening on Talking Pictures TV, on Freeview channel 81.

In this very rare film, the fifth in the Old Mother Riley series, Kitty
marries a wealthy suitor and Mother Riley leaves their home, fearing her
humble origins will spoil her daughter’s future. Look out for Jimmy
Clitheroe, making his film debut.

Having appeared in panto with Lucan and McShane at Christmas 1939, Jimmy was
offered a guest role in Arthur Lucan's next film, which began shooting in
February 1940. This was Jimmy's first film role. He was just 18 years old,
as of December 1939, but on screen he looks about 10.

The picture was released at the height of the Phoney War, in April 1940.
Jimmy would go on to make two more wartime pictures, with George Formby in
1942, and Dame Vera Lynn in 1943, then continued in films after the war with
Frank Randle.

The Old Mother Riley picture is almost the only film he made, of those which
survive, that has not been released on DVD.

Stephen Poppitt
Jimmy Clitheroe - The Kid Himself
ClitheroeKid.ihostfull.com

====

[John Green]

I saw a reference on their newsletter to 'lost' or rare Old Mother Riley films and have to admit that I was a bit sceptical!

[John Green]

I've been enjoying 'Death Goes to School' starring Gordon Jackson and a (strangely-uncredited) Sam Kydd as a pair of detectives.

One of the reviews on IMDB reads:

"...this movie was taken from a book written by the author Stratford Davis - and it didn't do her justice. Yup, a little background. The male name Stratford Davis was actually the pen name of a female with the birth name Maisie Sharman who wrote several books under the male name just so she could be published during the thirties. She later penned several more books under the name Miriam Sharman (last name was real until she married a Bolton in Hampshire, and then went under the name Miriam Bolton for several screenplays for the BBC). The reason I know this trivia about a little known author is simply because she was my great-aunt on my maternal Grandfather's side." www.imdb.com/title/tt0045674/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

I've tried searching Genome and IMDB for information about these screenplays, but without success. Anyone know more?

[Stephen Byers]

Jan 25, 2021 18:17:41 GMT John Green said:

I've been enjoying 'Death Goes to School' starring Gordon Jackson and a (strangely-uncredited) Sam Kydd as a pair of detectives.

One of the reviews on IMDB reads:

"...this movie was taken from a book written by the author Stratford Davis - and it didn't do her justice. Yup, a little background. The male name Stratford Davis was actually the pen name of a female with the birth name Maisie Sharman who wrote several books under the male name just so she could be published during the thirties. She later penned several more books under the name Miriam Sharman (last name was real until she married a Bolton in Hampshire, and then went under the name Miriam Bolton for several screenplays for the BBC). The reason I know this trivia about a little known author is simply because she was my great-aunt on my maternal Grandfather's side." www.imdb.com/title/tt0045674/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

I've tried searching Genome and IMDB for information about these screenplays, but without success. Anyone know more?

Loads of references ...

uk.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas&p=%27Death+Goes+to+School%27

====

[John Green]

Ah. I was thinking more of Ms. Bolton (etc).

It's fun that while DGTS pre-dates the first Trinian's film by a year, one of the detectives does a sketch of a Trinian's-style schoolgirl (inspired by Searles's cartoons,no doubt) , and they find a packet of fags in a schoolbag!

[John Green]

I'm currently watching 1952's Child's Play with Anneka Wills et al. (There's also a Talking Pictures interview with AW as a bonus, as well as an extra film), but I can't find a mention of it on IMDB, even when I go through her filmography in case it's listed under an alternate title. Is it not listed on the site?

[darrenlee]

Here's Anneke's IMDB page

www.imdb.com/name/nm0932613/

referring to Child's Play (1954)

www.imdb.com/title/tt0045623/

in the first line, and here's the 'trivia' page talking about 1952/1954

www.imdb.com/title/tt0045623/trivia

Oh, I just noticed you mis-spelled Anneke; maybe that was your problem.

[John Green]

No, I get it right at least 9 times out of 10!

Where I went wrong was:

Clicking 'More title matches' rather than 'Exact title matches'.
Taking Renown's '1952' on the back of the DVD as the release date, rather than 1954.
Searching at 2.00 a.m. !

Thanks for the links!

Added: I see it had a US release (in 1957), under its original title. So much for my idea that IMDB had it listed under an alternate title, something I've been finding quite a bit of lately e.g. To Dorothy a Son became Cash on Delivery.

Ah, The inner-sleeve notes state "Made in 1952, but released in 1954". Which still leave the newspapers in the film seeming to give a date of August 1953. Unless someone was anticipating a bit? (Or I need to sit closer to the screen).

[John Green]

Interesting Guardian review of Stars in Your Eyes new.networkonair.com/stars-in-your-eyes

"its plot about the uneasy relationship between the stage and TV resonates at a time when the latter, rather than wooing away audiences, is doing an increasingly sophisticated job of keeping the flame of theatre alive in lockdown. And the film’s rousing finale, where the cast rally for a live TV broadcast from the theatre, is reminiscent of a time when extravaganzas at the London Palladium weren’t one-offs like the BBC’s recent musicals celebration but a staple for Sunday night living-rooms." www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/feb/16/stars-in-your-eyes-1950s-musical-salutes-stage-stars-defiance-crisis

[John Green]

Money Talks (Network) is a British comedy set in the Jewish community in the East End, and has as one of its stars Kid Berg 'The Whitechapel Windmill'.

An average sort of film, another version of the Brewster's Millions and The Producers.
My favourite bit was the poster for the big theatrical number:


"Sol E. Sax presents 'Sax Appeal'.

With Arthur Mow. Fanny Adams. The Two Nuts (Dough and Wall). Hammond Egges. Jas.Riddle."

Favourite Lines? "That's alright. There's no need to rub it in; they all know I'm not a Jew". (This in reply to a put-down in, I think, Yiddish).

The film has stereotypes, certainly, but as one IMDB reviewer suggests, seems to be aiming at an affectionate self-deprecating sense of humour.

[John Green]

The trailer for Little Big Shot (Network) is different. At the beginning, there's a specially-shot sequence in which an aged-up Rpnald Shiner is fiddling with a TV which is showing scenes from two earlier films.
"That was my son, says Shiner, "I expect you saw him in Worm's Eye View and Reluctant Hero. 'Course, I was a crook...I wanted him to be one...Did he half get himself in a mess? Anyway, you'll be able to see for yourselves; he's coming here in Little Big Shot".

"A sparkling comedy in the best Shiner tradition" says the blurb. You've been warned!

Oddly, IMDB describe the film as "A boy tries to get himself a police record to impress the gang of criminals headed by his father." Shiner was 49 when the film was released. And the opening scene is of Shiner senior's funeral. Which makes the trailer even odder, unless the suggestion is that it's only in hell that anyone would want to stay at home watching television, when there are cinemas?

[John Green]

Playboy of the Western World is being released on 10 May: networkonair.com/coming-soon/3309-playboy-of-the-western-world-the

I haven't read the play, but there's what looks like a huge spoiler in the listing.

[John Green]

Just Like A Woman released 7 June: networkonair.com/coming-soon/3315-just-like-a-woman
Wendy Craig and Francis Matthews star as a bickering couple going through an acrimonious separation in this swinging, offbeat comedy from producer Bob Kellett and idiosyncratic writer/director Robert Fuest. Also starring John Wood, Dennis Price, Miriam Karlin, Peter Jones and Clive Dunn, Just Like a Woman is presented here as a brand-new restoration from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio.

Lewis and Scilla's rocky marriage finally breaks apart – a situation made worse by the fact that Scilla is a key part of the television show that Lewis produces. But while Lewis copes by picking up a passing starlet, Scilla indulges her passion for bathrooms by getting one custom-designed by an ex-Nazi architect!