Stranger in the City | |
---|---|
Directed by | Robert Hartford-Davis |
Written by | Robert Hartford-Davis |
Produced by | Robert Hartford-Davis Julius Robinson |
Starring | Sydney Bromley Jimmy Charters Arthur Howell Robert Vossler |
Cinematography | Roy Pointer |
Edited by | Derek York |
Music by | Steve Race and his Orchestra |
Production company | Caesar Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 22 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Stranger in the City is a 1961 British short documentary film directed and written by Robert Hartford-Davis. [1] [2] The film has a music score but no dialogue. It is notable for its contemporary views of London including the Soho music venue The 2i's Coffee Bar.
The film depicts selected unrelated events as a London day progresses. In early morning three tramps awake and eat breakfast; a wealthy businessman phones from his Rolls Royce as his chauffeur drives through the city; a chef prepares breakfast; an acting class is underway; a fire-eating street entertainer amuses the crowd; striptease at The Keyhole Club; a life-drawing class in a cafe; a visit to the 2i's Coffee Bar; police radio cars are on the streets; the tramps retire.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A day in London is depicted in a mixture of (badly) acted and unposed scenes. Though the everyday life of the capital's millions is scarcely touched upon, the ground covered is familiar to filmgoers, perhaps most of all the supposedly "off-beat" material – pick-up girls, a strip-club. Only a practice class at an acting school and a study in tramps' table manners are even momentarily striking." [3]
Kine Weekly wrote: "An unusual look at aspects of London life during one day. The film is without commentary, with music creating the necessary 'atmosphere' for various situations; some pathetic, some amusing and some suggestive. Fair." [4]
The Wrong Arm of the Law is a 1963 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins, Lionel Jeffries, John Le Mesurier, Bill Kerr and Nanette Newman. The final screenplay was written by John Antrobus, Ray Galton, and Alan Simpson – from an original draft script by John Warren and Len Heath, based on a story by Ivor Jay and William Whistance Smith – and made by Romulus Films. It reunited Sellers, Jeffries, and Cribbens who appeared together in the 1960 film comedy Two-Way Stretch – also written by John Warren and Len Heath – where similarly Sellers and Cribbens played crooks (incarcerated) against Jeffries as on officer of the law, in that case as their chief prison officer.
School for Scoundrels is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Hamer and starring Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Janette Scott and Alastair Sim. It was inspired by the Gamesmanship series of books by Stephen Potter. The film has been remade twice: in Bollywood as Chhoti Si Baat (1975) and in Hollywood as School for Scoundrels (2006).
Carry On Cowboy is a 1965 British comedy Western film, the eleventh in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). It was the first film to feature series regulars Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw. Series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale, Charles Hawtrey and Joan Sims all feature, and Angela Douglas makes the first of her four appearances in the series. Kenneth Williams, usually highly critical of all the Carry on films he appeared in, called the film "a success on every level" in his diary, taking pride in its humour and pathos. The film was followed by Carry On Screaming! (1966).
The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis starring Michael Bentine, with support from a cast of British character actors including Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry-Thomas and Ian Hendry. It was written by Hartford-Davis and Bentine.
They Came to a City is a 1944 British black-and-white film directed by Basil Dearden and starring John Clements, Googie Withers, Raymond Huntley, Renee Gadd and A. E. Matthews. It was adapted from the 1943 play of the same title by J. B. Priestley, and is notable for including a cameo appearance by Priestley as himself.
The Ringer is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Herbert Lom, Donald Wolfit, Mai Zetterling, Greta Gynt, William Hartnell, and Denholm Elliott. The screenplay was by Lesley Storm and Val Valentine. It was Hamilton's directorial debut and the third English-language sound version of Edgar Wallace's 1929 play based on his 1925 novel The Gaunt Stranger. The previous adaptations were in 1928 (silent), 1931, 1932 (Germany-Austria), and 1938.
Street Corner is a 1953 British drama film directed by Muriel Box and starring Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan, Anne Crawford, Rosamund John and Barbara Murray. It was written by Muriel Box and Sydney Box. While it is not quite a documentary, the film depicts the daily routine of women in the police force from three different angles. It was conceived as a female version of the 1950 film The Blue Lamp.
Cuckoo Patrol is a 1967 British musical comedy film directed by Duncan Wood and starring Freddie Garrity, Victor Maddern, John Le Mesurier and Kenneth Connor. The screenplay was by Lew Schwarz. It was produced in 1965 but held back for two years.
Dancing with Crime is a 1947 British film noir film directed by John Paddy Carstairs, starring Richard Attenborough, Barry K. Barnes and Sheila Sim. A man hunts down the killer of his lifelong friend.
Jackpot is a 1960 British second feature crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Betty McDowall and Eddie Byrne. It was written by Tully and Maurice J. Wilson based on a story by John Sherman.
Stranger from Venus is a 1954 independently made UK second feature ('B') black-and-white science fiction film, directed by Burt Balaban and starring Patricia Neal, Helmut Dantine and Derek Bond. The screenplay was by Hans Jacoby from a story by Desmond Leslie. It was produced by Balaban and Gene Martel.
Jumping for Joy is a 1956 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Frankie Howerd, Stanley Holloway, Joan Hickson and Lionel Jeffries. It was written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies. It tells of the comic adventures of an ex-worker at a greyhound racing track.
The Steel Key is a 1953 British second feature thriller film directed by Robert S. Baker and starring Terence Morgan, Joan Rice and Raymond Lovell.
The Breaking Point is a 1961 second feature British crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Peter Reynolds, Dermot Walsh, Joanna Dunham and Lisa Gastoni. The screenplay was by Peter Lambert based on the 1957 novel by Laurence Meynell.
Morning Call is a 1957 British thriller film, directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Greta Gynt and Ron Randell. It was written by Bill Luckwell and Paul Tabori from a story by Leo Townsend. It was distributed in the U.S. by Republic Pictures.
The Man in the Back Seat is a 1961 British second feature crime film, directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Derren Nesbitt and Keith Faulkner. It was written by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice based on an Edgar Wallace story.
Never Back Losers is a 1961 British 'B' crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Jack Hedley, Jacqueline Ellis and Patrick Magee. It was written by Lucas Heller based on the 1929 novel The Green Ribbon by Edgar Wallace. It was one of the Edgar Wallace Mysteries series, produced at Merton Park Studios in the early 1960s.
Three Sundays to Live is a low budget 1957 second feature ('B')} film noir British film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Kieron Moore and Jane Griffiths. It was written by Brian Clemens and produced by The Danzigers.
Always a Bride is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan and Ronald Squire. It was written by Peter Jones and Smart.
Motor Patrol is a 1950 American film directed by Sam Newfield.