Frank Launder — Playwright (19)

Movie

Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It (1941) IMDb TMDB
Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It
director: Walter Forde actor: Gordon Harker / Alastair Sim …
Third and final film in the 'Inspector Hornleigh’ series of comedy-thrillers. Inspector Hornleigh (Gordon Harker), disappointed at not being handed an important spy case, is assigned by Scotland Yard to an army barracks to investigate the mundane thefts of supplies from the stores. This accidentally leads Hornleigh and Sergeant Bingham (Alastair Sim) to a nest of fifth columnists when his dim-witted assistant carelessly talks to a girl in the cafeteria – and that night, news of Hornleigh and Bingham’s arrival is embarrassingly transmitted back to Germany.

Movie

Seven Sinners (1936) IMDb TMDB
Seven Sinners
Ed Harwood, a wisecracking private investigator from New York, discovers a crime at a hotel in Nice during a carnival. The unraveling of the mystery which lies behind will lead him and Caryl Fenton, a female insurance agent, who will become his companion, first to Paris, then to London, later through the English countryside and finally to Southampton, in search of a criminal train wrecker.

Movie

Ring of Spies (1964) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Ring of Spies
other title: 003 contro Intelligence Service
The film is based on the actual events of the Portland Spy Ring trial in the U.K. A disgruntled Navy Clerk is transferred to a secret research establishment and is subsequently black-mailed/paid by Czech intelligence to procure secrets for them. He seduces the secretary who controls the most secret documents, and they enjoy the fruits of their treachery until the British authorities begin to close in on them.

Movie

The Rake's Progress (1945) IMDb TMDB
The Rake's Progress
director: Sidney Gilliat actor: Rex Harrison / Lilli Palmer …
other title: Der letzte Sündenfall
Vivian Kenway, a young Englishman from an aristocratic background, flunks out of Oxford, and decides to use his considerable charm to achieve his goal of, apparently, making dissipation his career. His derelictions include seduction, betrayals of sweethearts, family and friends, and Marriage for money. All this with no signs of remorse or redemption, since his life as a completely unprincipled rake is quite enjoyable...for him, at least. Then, World War II breaks out and he is given a chance to die a heroic death for flag and country. Maybe.

Movie

The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) IMDb TMDB
The Happiest Days of Your Life
other title: Das doppelte College / ¡Aquellos días tan felices!
Nutbourne College, an old established, all-boys, boarding school is told that another school is to be billeted with due to wartime restrictions. The shock is that it's an all-girls school that has been sent. The two head teachers are soon battling for the upper hand with each other and the Ministry. But a crisis (or two) forces them to work together.

Movie

The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) WikiData IMDb TMDB
The Belles of St Trinian's
director: Frank Launder actor: Alastair Sim / Joyce Grenfell …
other title: As Belas de St. Trinian / Die Schönen von St. Trinians …
The unruly schoolgirls of St Trinian's are more interested in men and mischief than homework and hockey. But greater trouble than ever beckons when the arrival at the school of Princess Fatima of Makyad coincides with the return of recently expelled Arabella Fritton, who has the kidnap of a prize racehorse on her mind.

Movie

The Young Mr. Pitt (1942) WikiData IMDb TMDB
The Young Mr. Pitt
director: Carol Reed actor: Robert Donat / Robert Morley …
other title: Il nemico di Napoleone / The Young Mr Pitt …
In 1783 England, King George III appoints William Pitt only 24 years old, as PM. When members of Parliament refuse to take Pitt seriously, he calls for a general election and wins. Pitt works to reform England, focusing on rebuilding the navy while across the sea in France, Napoleon Bonaparte begins his conquest of Europe.

Movie

Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
director: Frank Launder actor: Terry-Thomas / George Cole …
other title: Blue Murder at St Trinian's / Blue murder at St. Trinians
With their headmistress under lock and key in her majesty's prison, the St Trinian's girls find themselves under the protection of the army. However, when the sixth form take a fancy to winning a trip to Italy through means fair or foul, the army discover this is one battle they can't win. Let loose in Europe, it is not long before St Trinian's have succeeded in endangering European relations.

Movie

The Green Man (1956) IMDb TMDB
The Green Man
other title: Assassino di fiducia / Seks bomber …
Unknown to everyone but his shady Middle Eastern bosses, watchmaker Hawkins is actually a professional hired assassin with a predilection for killing his targets with bombs. After disposing of a dictator and millionaire, Hawkins is assigned to kill a politician who is heading to a remote hotel, The Green Man, for a secret tryst with his secretary. There, however, Hawkins' plot is discovered by vacuum salesman William Blake, who determines to stop him.

Movie

The Blue Lagoon (1949) WikiData IMDb TMDB
The Blue Lagoon
director: Frank Launder actor: Jean Simmons / Donald Houston …
other title: Incantesimo dei mari del Sud / Die blaue Lagune …
In the Victorian period, two British children survive a shipwreck in the South Pacific. After days afloat, they are marooned on a lush tropical island in the company of kindly old sailor. Together they survive solely on their resourcefulness and the bounty of their remote paradise.

Movie

Night Train to Munich (1940) WikiData IMDb TMDB
Night Train to Munich
director: Carol Reed actor: Margaret Lockwood / Rex Harrison …
other title: Expresso de Munique / Train de nuit pour Munich …
Czechoslovakia, March 1939, on the eve of World War II. As the German invaders occupy Prague, inventor Axel Bomasch manages to flee and reach England; but those who need to put his knowledge at the service of the Nazi war machine, in order to carry out their evil plans of destruction, will stop at nothing to capture him.

Movie

We Dive at Dawn (1943) WikiData IMDb TMDB Skybridge
We Dive at Dawn
director: Anthony Asquith actor: John Mills / Eric Portman …
other title: La tigre del mare / Plongée à l'aube …
A gripping tale of WWII naval warfare in the Baltics, starring John Mills as Lt. Freddie Taylor, a British submarine Captain. The crew of the Sea Tiger are summoned from leave on shore with their families, and sent on a secret mission to intercept the Nazi battleship Brandenburg. In the ensuing battle the British submarine is damaged by a German destroyer. The submarine is leaking fuel so badly that the crew won't be able to make it back to Britain before running out somewhere along the Danish coast. When it seems that their only option may be to blow up the submarine and try to escape to Denmark, seaman James Hobson hatches a plan...

Movie

I See a Dark Stranger (1946) WikiData IMDb TMDB
I See a Dark Stranger
director: Frank Launder actor: Deborah Kerr / Trevor Howard …
other title: Agente nemico / L'Étrange Aventurière …
Proud Irishwoman Bridie Quilty journeys to Dublin while World War II rages across Europe. During her travels, she encounters J. Miller, who recruits her as a Nazi spy. She acquires the necessary information that leads to the breakout of a German spy who holds key information about the Allies' newest offensive plans. However, the arrival of British officer David Baynes and his romancing of Bridie lead to unexpected consequences.

Movie

The Lady Vanishes (1938)
The Lady Vanishes
★ 7.5 (11 ratings) director: Alfred Hitchcock actor: Margaret Lockwood / Michael Redgrave …
other title: La signora scompare / En kvinde forsvinder …
On a train headed for England a group of travelers is delayed by an avalanche. Holed up in a hotel in a fictional European country, young Iris befriends elderly Miss Froy. When the train resumes, Iris suffers a bout of unconsciousness and wakes to find the old woman has disappeared. The other passengers ominously deny Miss Froy ever existed, so Iris begins to investigate with another traveler and, as the pair sleuth, romantic sparks fly.