Bright Star 2009  PG, 110 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Jane Campion
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Fox, Paul Schneider, Edie Martin, Thomas Sangster, Gerard Monaco, Claudie Blakley, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Samuel Roukin, Amanda Hale, Lucinda Raikes, Samuel Barnett, Jonathan Aris, Olly Alexander
Based on a true story, this movie is about the love affair of 23-year-old Frances "Fanny" Brawne (Abbie Cornish) and John Keats (Ben Whishaw) who are neighbors living in London in 1818. They appear to have little in common because Fannie loves fashion and dressmaking, while John is a struggling poet. But, when Fanny tries to help John's family when his brother Tom (Olly Alexander) is dying from tuberculosis, John thanks her by teaching her poetry. Despite objections from John's writing partner Charles Armitage Brown (Paul Schneider), they begin a romance that is doomed when John dies of tuberculosis in 1821 at the age of 25. The Film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costumes.
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The Demi-Paradise 1943  N/R, 115 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
aka: Adventure for Two
Director: Anthony Asquith
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Penelope Dudley-Ward, Marjorie Fielding, Margaret Rutherford, Leslie Henson, Guy Middleton, Felix Aylmer, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Miles Malleson, Joyce Grenfell, George Thorpe, Michael Shepley, Edie Martin, Everley Gregg, Jack Watling
When Russian inventor Ivan Dimitrievitch Kouzneisoff (Laurence Olivier) travels to England prior to World War II to work on the production of his new propeller device, he finds that the British do not trust him. Lady Ann (Penelope Ward), the granddaughter of shipping magnate Mr. Runalow (Felix Aylmer), is charmed by Ivan and tries to impress him with British culture. Romance blooms, but then Ivan returns to Russia. One year later, war has begun, and Ivan returns to England to help with technical work on his propeller design. He sees Britain in a new light when Russia and England are allies against the Nazis and learns to adjust to a new way of life.
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Genevieve 1953 N/R, 86 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Henry Cornelius
Cast: John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More, Kay Kendall, Geoffrey Keen, Michael Medwin, Reginald Beckwith, Joyce Grenfell, Arthur Wontner, Leslie Mitchell, Fred Griffiths, Charles Lamb, Michael Balfour, Patrick Westwood, Edie Martin
Two couples–Alan and Wendy McKim (John Gregson and Dinah Sheridan) and Ambrose Claverhouse and Rosalind Peters (Kenneth More and Kay Kendall)–compete in the Vintage Car Club's rally between London and Brighton. As the 50+ mile race ensues, competition between the couples increases, and the men even use sabotage methods to come out ahead in the race. Comedy reigns as problems are encountered during the race in this delightful story. Great performances, excellent writing, and beautiful landscapes make this film worth watching.
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The History of Mr. Polly 1949 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Anthony Pelissier
Cast: John Mills, Sally Ann Howes, Megs Jenkins, Finlay Currie, Betty Ann Davies, Gladys Henson, Diana Churchill, Edward Chapman, Shelagh Fraser, Dandy Nichols, Juliet Mills, Moore Marriott, David Horne, Edie Martin, Doris Hare
Based on H.G. Wells' novel, this story involves Alfred Polly's (John Mills) change of lifestyle after he leaves his domineering wife (Betty Ann Davies) and wanders the countryside. He finally takes a job as a handyman at a country inn and, at long last, finds true happiness.
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 The Ladykillers 1955   N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Alexander Mackendrick
Cast: Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Katie Johnson, Jack Warner, Philip Stainton, Fred Griffiths, Sam Kydd, Frankie Howerd, Kenneth Connor, Edie Martin, Ewan Roberts, Harold Goodwin
Marcus (Alec Guinness) is the leader of an inept gang of thieves planning a robbery. The gang rents apartments in elderly Mrs. Wilberforce's (Katie Johnson) London house and tells Mrs. Wilberforce that they are musicians. The ploy does not work, and when she learns the truth about them the gang decides to kill her. Bad idea–and they are thwarted by the doddering Mrs. Wilberforce.
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The Lavender Hill Mob 1951 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Charles Crichton
Cast: Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Alfie Bass, Marjorie Fielding, John Gregson, Edie Martin, Clive Morton, Audrey Hepburn, John Salew, Ronald Adam, Arthur Hambling, Gibb McLaughloin, Sydney Tafler, Marie Burke
A very unlikely duo forms a partnership to rob a gold bullion shipment. Henry Holland (Alec Guinness) is the quiet bank clerk who teams up with Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway) in this very funny story about amateurs doing well in the criminal world. Guinness was nominated for an Oscar, and an Oscar was won for Best Writing
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The Titfield Thunderbolt 1953 N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Charles Crichton
Cast: Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne, John Gregson, Godfrey Tearle, Hugh Griffith, Gabrielle Brune, Sid James, Reginald Beckwith, Edie Martin, Jack MacGowran, Ewan Roberts
After the British Rail abandons its passenger train service, villagers take over the train and compete against the local bus company.
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| 1. Bright Star (2009)
2. The Demi-Paradise (1943)
aka: Adventure for Two
3. Genevieve (1953)
4. The History of Mr. Polly (1949)
5. The Ladykillers (1955)
6. The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
7. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
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