The Green Man (1956)

A classic in its own style, time and place, and an essential highpoint of any Basil Dearden season.

The Green Man (1956) is splendid if not classic British comedy two act farcical assassination Basil Dearden black comedy about international terrorism with a zany lady orchestrazia, starring Alistair Sim, George Cole, Jill Adams, Avril Angers, Terry Thomas LOL, Dora Bryan, John Chandos, Colin Gordon, Cyril Chamberlain, Doris Yorke, Vivienne Wood, Arthur Brough, Marie Burke, Peter Bull, Willoughby Goddard, Arthur Lowe, Michael Ripper and Terence Alexander.

Waterloo Road (1945)

Waterloo Road (1945) is a wartime flashback and voiceover absent without leave soldier versus civvy philandering conscription-dodger tale of British pluck and courage and directed by Sidney Gilliat with Trümmerfilm overtones and starring John Mills, Alistair Sim, Joy Shelton and Stuart Granger.

Waterloo Road (1945) presents itself, at first glance, as an agreeably told anecdote of domestic turbulence during the Second World War, yet such phrasing obscures the severity of its intervention.

Stage Fright (1950)

Stage Fright (1950) is an Alfred Hitchcock British female seeker hero theatre-land murder mystery starring Jane Wyman, Richard Todd, Alistair Sim and wow yes fans, it is Marlene Dietrich.

After the triumphs of his American films, Alfred Hitchcock returned to his roots with Stage Fright (1950), set largely in the theatrical world of post-war London. Based on Selwyn Jepson’s novel Man Running, the project marked Hitchcock’s attempt to merge his fascination with the stage with his penchant for suspense. The screenplay, adapted by his wife Alma and playwright James Bridie, promised a compelling tale of murder, deception, and performance, but the resulting film revealed both creative successes and notable flaws.