picture frames
classic british thrillers full frame
the british cinematograph films act of 1927 was passed to give motion pictures made in the united kingdom an edge over hollywood imports . however technically crude these low budget quota quickies provided on the job training for some of the biggest stars of the golden age of british cinema . the phantom light 1935 michael powell directed this creepy quota quickie before his success with the academy award r winning black narcissus and the red shoes and the cult classic peeping tom . the disappearance of two lighthouse keepers stationed on the desolate coast of wales is linked to the specter of a rogue beacon that lures freight ships to their destruction on the rocks . gordon harker alfred hitchcocks the ring and binnie hale love from a stranger star as bickering sleuths who must solve the mystery of the phantom light or become its next victims red ensign 1935 this fact based expose of corruption and sabotage in the british shipping industry is another early work from acclaimed director michael powell . with englands commercial fleet in decline idealistic shipbuilder david barr leslie banks the most dangerous game conceives a radical new design to revolutionize the industry . denied capital to proceed by his firms board of directors barr funds the project himself attracting the support of a beautiful heiress and the attention of a ruthless rival who will stop at nothing even murder to obtain barrs top secret design . the upturned glass 1947 before he was a multiple academy award r nominee james mason lolita starred as a surgeon turned sleuth in this absorbing revenge thriller . after sparing the eyesight of a young patient dr. michael joyce falls in love with the girls grateful mother emma wright rosamund john whose husband has been absent for years . when her man returns unexpectedly emma reluctantly ends the affair only to be killed in a mysterious fall . using his surgical skills to trace the killer michael begins his own investigation but has no intention of handing the murderer over to the police .