denry's - Rented List
-
An immensely popular British crime film, Basil Dearden's 'The Blue Lamp' was scripted by ex-policeman T.E.B Clark, the writer who arguably did the most to define Ealing Studio's post-war identity. The film marked the first appearance of the character of Jack Warner (Jack Warner) - later to be immortalized in 'Dixon of Dock Green'. The story follows two London policemen whose daily routine is interrupted by a botched robbery and subsequent murder hunt. - Director:
- Basil Dearden
- Cast:
- Jack Warner, Dirk Bogarde, Jimmy Hanley
- Formats:
-
-
The Rainbow Jacket tells the story of a shamed jockey who is banned from racing after taking a bribe. Undeterred by his misfortune he takes on a young protégé and decides to train him up as the next champion. But as financial ruin rears its ugly head will they give in to corruption or finally beat the odds? - Director:
- Basil Dearden
- Cast:
- Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Edward Underdown
- Formats:
-
-
Heroine Blanche Fury (Valerie Hobson) is an impoverished governess who marries into wealth and sets herself up as the mistress of a vast estate. Enter Heathcliffe-like stable boy Philip Thorn (Stewart Granger), who intends to run the estate and eventually claim Blanche as his own. After a torrid, bodice-ripping romance between Blanche and Philip, the story segues into a no-names-please reenactment of the infamous 19th-century 'Rush Murder'. - Director:
- Marc Allégret
- Cast:
- Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger, Michael Gough
- Formats:
-
-
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)Love Lies Bleeding / Meaningful Glances / Strange Love
This dark melodrama based on the John Patrick story, Love Lies Bleeding, stars Barbara Stanwyck as the wonderfully wicked Martha Ivers, a wealthy and domineering woman who controls a small town after inheriting a large family fortune. She lives with her weakling husband, a district attorney running for mayor, played by Kirk Douglas in his feature film debut - a role that's an unusual departure from his later work. What no one in the town knows, however, is that Stanwyck and Douglas are bound by a dark secret involving murder. gripping and suspenseful, this film noir also stars Van Heflin as Martha's old love who returns to town after an 18-tear absence, whom Douglas thinks is there for one reason: blackmail. - Director:
- Lewis Milestone
- Cast:
- Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott
- Formats:
-
-
Miles Ravencourt (Laurence Harvey) is an amoral aristocrat who needs to pay off his gambling debt and plans to carry out the robbery of a mail van. So he enlists the help of 3 troubled men, all equally desperate for money: American ex-GI Joe (Richard Basehart) who hopes to use his share of the haul to bring his British wife to the US professional boxer Mike (Stanley Baker) who finds himself unable to work in his chosen profession when his hand is broken, while his life savings are stolen by his disreputable brother in law and American airman Eddie (John Ireland) has left his wife upon discovering that she is unfaithful. - Director:
- Lewis Gilbert
- Cast:
- Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, Richard Basehart
- Formats:
-
-
A sunny day, a quiet road, rural France: the genre defying scene is set for unsettling, atmospheric terror...Young English nurses Jane (Pamela Franklin) and Cathy (Michele Dotrice) are on a cycling holiday, unaware that another tourist girl was brutally slain in the same region two years earlier. They happen upon a mysterious man, Paul (Sandor Eles), who seems interested in them. Cathy is intrigued by the man, but suspicious Jane wants to continue on the journey. The two split apart after arguing the point, but, when Jane returns to the village where they're staying, her friend is nowhere to be found. Frantic, she searches for Cathy. Will she find her in time? - Director:
- Robert Fuest
- Cast:
- André Maranne, Pamela Franklin, Michele Dotrice
- Formats:
-
-
The story of 'Diamond City' takes place in the South African diamond fields during the latter half of the 19th Century and indeed much of the filming took place on the actual land where the events actually took place. Stafford Parker (David Farrar) is a self appointed peace-keeper in Hopetown, nearest settlement to the diamond fields. It is 1870, and when news spreads of a big find Stafford Parker hurries off to see the old chief, in whose land the find was made. Stafford asks the old chief (Norris Smith) to grant him the concession to work the new diamond fields as the sole agent. Whilst they are talking, the old man's nephew arrives with a counter proposal from his employer, the unscrupulous rum-dealer and illicit diamond buyer, Muller (Niall McGinnis). Stafford gets the concession but has to convince Muller to accept his authority in a fist fight. Muller appears to agree to Stafford registering the claims and administering the town, however he continues to plot and scheme. When... - Director:
- David MacDonald
- Cast:
- David Farrar, Honor Blackman, Diana Dors
- Formats:
-
-
Forever England (1935)Born for Glory
John Mills stars as the young, illegitimate son of a naval officer who heroically and singlehandedly plots the destruction of a German Warship in World War One- Director:
- Walter Forde
- Cast:
- Betty Balfour, John Mills, Barry MacKay
- Formats:
-
-
Henry St. James believes he has the perfect set up. As the captain of an international ferry going between Gibraltar and Morocco, his job is pleasant and easy. His life could even be described as boring but for one fact: he's managing two lives - and women - on either end of the ferry line. When he ports in Gibraltar, his wife Maud has dinner ready for him at their cosy home. When in Morocco, he enjoys dining out and dancing the bolero with fiery sexpot wife Nita. Things of course can't be this good for too long and soon this carefree captain's paradise starts to unravel as the women want to break out of their assigned roles. - Director:
- Anthony Kimmins
- Cast:
- Alec Guinness, Yvonne De Carlo, Celia Johnson
- Formats:
-
-
It is 1651. The English Civil War has officially been over for two years, but the country is still split by the conflict between the royalists, who want to see King Charles II on the throne, and the Roundheads, followers of Oliver Cromwell. The Roundheads' most feared adversary is a Royalist known to them only as The Moonraker (George Baker). His courage, skill with a sword, and quick wits have kept him at liberty despite all their best efforts. Cromwell has become increasingly perturbed by The Moonraker's activity and demands an all-out campaign to capture him. But the elusive Moonraker has other ideas...An unforgettable tale of adventure, swordplay, double agents and passionate romance in the best swashbuckling tradition. - Director:
- David MacDonald
- Cast:
- George Baker, Sylvia Syms, Marius Goring
- Formats:
-
-
A rare musical/comedy outing for James Stewart, then at the peak of his career. Stewart plays James Hamilton Haskell, a former music store worker who joins his uncle's health food business and befriends a band along the way. His uncle hates music, his hatred not being helped by the fact that the band practice next door to his factory. Based on a popular radio show of the time 'Pot O'Gold', the film gave both James Stewart and Paulette Goddard the opportunity of displaying their singing talents. - Director:
- George Marshall
- Cast:
- James Stewart, Paulette Goddard, Horace Heidt
- Formats:
-
-
Griffiths the Hearse, the only undertaker in town, hides his money by secretly sewing his cash into his wife's unmentionables. Unbeknown to him, his wife is plotting to run away with Evans the Milk. As the 'elopement' day approaches Mrs Griffiths decides it's time to swap the old for the new in every way, and replaces her old corsets. And so the farce begins... Griffiths realises his wife has disappeared and rushes off in pursuit of her - and her undergarments. When he catches up with her, he retrieves what he believes to be the precious girdle, but his money is still missing. In a fury he accuses the milkman of theft. Out to clear his name, Evans must get his hands on the original underwear. As Griffiths and Evans race to find the lost girdle, chaos ensues. Will Griffiths get his money back? Or his wife? Does he even want his wife back? And who's taking care of the milk round? - Director:
- Montgomery Tully
- Cast:
- Esmond Knight, Maudie Edwards, Meredith Edwards
- Formats:
-
-
"Expresso Bongo" takes the lid off the seedier side of showbiz! Cliff Richard plays Bongo Herbert, a young singer, playing for peanuts in Soho's sleazy clubs with its striptease snows, clip joints and teenage dens. He becomes an overnight success when taken up by wide boy showbiz agent Johnny (a brilliant performance from Laurence Harvey) but at what price? Cliff's first role is packed with punch and the great soundtrack includes the hit single Voice in the Wilderness and I've Never had It So Good. His co-stars include Yolande Donlan, as man-crazy American singer Dixie Collins and Sylvia Syms cast against type as a dancer in a strip show. - Director:
- Val Guest
- Cast:
- Laurence Harvey, Sylvia Syms, Yolande Donlan
- Formats:
-
-
Connie Dickson (Veronica Lake) plans to marry a sheep rancher, but her father teams up with land baron Frank Ivey (Preston Foster) to drive the man out of town. Fiery Connie, determined to fight Ivey to the bitter end, takes over her ex-fiance's land and hires Dave Nash (Joel McCrea) to run the ranch as her ramrod. Dave, a reformed drunk, insists on doing everything by the book. Little does he know that Connie has taken matters into her own hands, and gone behind his back. Armed with his cowboy code of honour, Dave manoeuvres a dangerous world of greed, lies, and murder in this old fashioned tale featuring two of Hollywood biggest stars of the 1940's. - Director:
- André De Toth
- Cast:
- Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Don Defore
- Formats:
-
-
Truman (Stanley Baker) is a tough Liverpool detective on the trail of a notorious arsonist known as 'The Firefly'. However he is unimpressed when forced to accept the post of Juvenile Liaison Officer and does not relish his new role until he meets Cathie Murphy (Anne Heywood). Truman becomes suspicious of Cathie's brother Johnnie (David McCallum) the leader of a local gang and as their relationship develops Johnnie's behaviour becomes more erratic. After Johnnie is embarrassingly ejected from The Grand Hotel the police are on his trail and arrive just as the hotel is ablaze. Johnnie escapes in a van killing his accomplice in the process. With the police in pursuit, Johnnie acquires a gun and takes a group of schoolchildren hostage. The priest tries to convince Johnnie to give himself up before tragedy strikes. - Director:
- Basil Dearden
- Cast:
- Stanley Baker, Anne Heywood, David McCallum
- Formats:
-