Beryl and the Croucher

Last updated

"Beryl and the Croucher" is a short story by the British writer Thomas Burke which was part of his 1916 collection Limehouse Nights . A washed-up boxer, known as "the Croucher" for his distinctive fighting style, having fought his last fight sinks into dissipation and crime in the East End of London. His only hope to recover his former sense of self-worth is a former lover named Beryl.

Contents

Adaptation

In 1949 the story was turned into a film No Way Back directed by Stefan Osiecki and starring Terence de Marney, Eleanor Summerfield and Jack Raine. The plot was moved to a contemporary setting and was part of the Spiv cycle of films of the late 1940s. [1]

Related Research Articles

Empress Matilda Claimant to the English throne during the Anarchy (1102-1167)

Empress Matilda, also known as the Empress Maude, was one of the claimants to the English throne during the civil war known as the Anarchy. The daughter of King Henry I of England, she moved to Germany as a child when she married the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. She travelled with her husband into Italy in 1116, was controversially crowned in St Peter's Basilica, and acted as the imperial regent in Italy. Matilda and Henry V had no children, and when he died in 1125, the imperial crown was claimed by his rival Lothair of Supplinburg.

The Anarchy Civil war in England between 1135 and 1154

The Anarchy was a civil war in England and Normandy between 1135 and 1153, which resulted in a widespread breakdown in law and order. The conflict was a succession crisis precipitated by the accidental death by drowning of William Adelin, the only legitimate son of Henry I, in the sinking of the White Ship in 1120. Henry's attempts to install his daughter, the Empress Matilda, as his successor were unsuccessful and on Henry's death in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the throne with the help of Stephen's brother, Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester. Stephen's early reign was marked by fierce fighting with English barons, rebellious Welsh leaders and Scottish invaders. Following a major rebellion in the south-west of England, Matilda invaded in 1139 with the help of her half-brother Robert of Gloucester.

<i>Get Carter</i> 1971 Mike Hodges film starring Michael Caine

Get Carter is a 1971 British crime film written and directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland, John Osborne and Bryan Mosley. Based on Ted Lewis' 1970 novel Jack's Return Home, the film follows the eponymous Jack Carter (Caine), a London gangster who returns to his home town in north-east England to discover more about his brother Frank's supposedly accidental death. Suspecting foul play, and with vengeance on his mind, he investigates and interrogates, regaining a feel for the city and its hardened-criminal element.

George Formby English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian

George Formby, was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he sang light, comical songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's highest-paid entertainer.

Crouch End Human settlement in England

Crouch End is an area of North London, approximately five miles (8 km) from the City of London in the western half of the borough of Haringey. It is within the Hornsey postal district (N8).

The Squeeze is a 1977 British gangster thriller, directed by Michael Apted, based on a novel by Bill James. The screenplay was written by Minder creator Leon Griffiths.

Thomas Burke was a British author. He was born in Clapham Junction, London.

Brian Croucher English actor and director

Brian Croucher is an English actor and director perhaps best known for his role as Ted Hills, which he played from 1995 to 1997, in the soap opera EastEnders. Since the death of Blake's 7 co-star Paul Darrow in June 2019, Croucher is the oldest surviving cast member of that series.

Squire (character)

Squire is the name of three fictional characters, they are comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Percival Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Young All-Stars #21, and was created by Roy Thomas and Michael Bair. Cyril Sheldrake debuted as the Squire in Batman #62, and was created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. Beryl Hutchinson debuted as the Squire in JLA #26, and was created by Grant Morrison and Howard Porter.

Chris Chibnall British television writer

Christopher Antony Chibnall is a British television writer and producer, best known as the creator and writer of the award-winning ITV mystery-crime drama Broadchurch and showrunning the long-running BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who. Chibnall has written five episodes of the series under previous showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, and was also the head writer for the first two series of the spinoff Torchwood. In 2016, the BBC announced that Chibnall would succeed Moffat to become the showrunner of Doctor Who.

Time Gentlemen, Please! is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Eddie Byrne.

<i>10 Rillington Place</i> 1971 film by Richard Fleischer

10 Rillington Place is a 1971 British crime drama film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Hurt and Pat Heywood. It was adapted by Clive Exton from the book Ten Rillington Place by Ludovic Kennedy.

<i>Suspended Alibi</i>

Suspended Alibi is a 1957 black and white British crime film directed by Alfred Shaughnessy and starring Patrick Holt, Honor Blackman and Lloyd Lamble. The film was produced by Robert Dunbar for Act Films Ltd. It was reissued in the United States as Suspected Alibi.

No Way Back is a 1949 British crime film directed by Stefan Osiecki and starring Terence De Marney, Eleanor Summerfield and Jack Raine. The screenplay concerns an injured boxer who sinks into bad company when his fighting career comes to an end leading to a spiral of crime. It was made at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames.

<i>No Orchids for Miss Blandish</i> (novel)

No Orchids For Miss Blandish is a 1939 crime novel by the British writer James Hadley Chase. The novel was influenced by the American crime writer James M. Cain and the stories in the pulp magazine Black Mask. Chase reportedly wrote the book as a bet to out-do The Postman Always Rings Twice. The 1948 novel The Flesh of the Orchid by the same author is a sequel to this novel.

James Wilson was a British cinematographer.

Limehouse Nights is a 1916 short story collection by the British writer Thomas Burke. The stories are set in and around the Chinatown that was then centred on Limehouse in the East End of London. It was a popular success and features several of Burke's best-known stories such as The Chink and the Child and Beryl and the Croucher.

<i>Sing as You Swing</i>

Sing as You Swing is a 1937 British musical film directed by Redd Davis and starring Charles Clapham, Bill Dwyer and Claude Dampier. It was made as a quota quickie and features turns from a variety of radio and revue stars with little background narrative.

<i>Gaolbreak</i>

Gaolbreak is a 1962 British crime film directed by Francis Searle and starring Peter Reynolds, Avice Landone and Carol White.

References

  1. Chibnall & Murphy p.60

Bibliography