Black Narcissus 1947  N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast: Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons, David Farrar, Flora Robson, Sabu, Kathleen Byron, Esmond Knight, Judith Furse, Jenny Laird, May Hallatt, Shaun Noble, Eddie Whaley Jr., Nancy(2) Roberts
When five nuns, led by Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr), set up a mission in the Himalayas, they are beset with the problems of isolation and inclement weather. Hoping to lessen their problems, they enlist the aid of a British agent, Mr. Dean (David Farrar). Photography is excellent. Oscars were received for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration and Cinematography.
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A Canterbury Tale 1944  N/R, 124 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast: Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price, Sergeant John Sweet, Esmond Knight, Charles Hawtrey, Hay Petrie, George Merritt, Edward Rigby, Freda Jackson, Betty Jardine, Eliot Makeham
Along the road to Canterbury, "Land Girl" Alison Smith (Sheila Sim), U.S. Army Sgt. Bob Johnson (Sergeant John Sweet), and British soldier Peter Gibbs (Dennis Price) become involved with a local prankster, "Glue Man," when he dumps glue on Alison's hair. The mysterious local magistrate (Eric Portman) helps as the trio tries to track down "Glue Man." In the process, they learn about the past and present English countryside, which ultimately leads to answers to their own personal troubles.
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Contraband 1940 N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama / Romance
Director: Michael Powell
Cast: Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie, Joss Ambler, Raymond Lovell, Esmond Knight, Charles Victor, Phoebe Kershaw, Harold Warrender, John Longden, Eric Maturin, Leo Genn, Peter Bull
During the World War II blackout in London, Capt. Andersen's (Conrad Veidt) Danish freighter is delayed in port by British customs agents. Two passengers–Mrs. Sorensen (Valerie Hobson) and Mr. Pidgeon (Esmond Knight)–manage to sneak off the ship, and Andersen rows to shore in search of them. He roams through London's dark streets, finally finds them, and learns that they are both secret agents. Pidgeon escapes, but Andersen stays with Mrs. Sorensen and figures out that she is trying to uncover a Nazi spy ring operating out of a Soho nightclub basement. They are captured by the spies, but Andersen escapes–determined to recruit help and to return and perform a rescue while capturing the spies.
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 Hamlet 1948   N/R, 153 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Laurence Olivier
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Jean Simmons, Felix Aylmer, Norman Wooland, Terence Morgan, Peter Cushing, Stanley Holloway, John Laurie, Esmond Knight, Anthony Quayle, Niall MacGinnis, Harcourt Williams, Christopher Lee
This film represents Laurence Olivier at his best starring as the melancholy Dane, Prince Hamlet. Soon after his father's death, Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie), marries her brother-in-law Claudius (Basil Sydney). Now his father's ghost returns to speak to Hamlet and tells him that his own brother Claudius murdered him. He wants Hamlet to be kind to Gertrude but to kill Claudius. Hamlet vows to avenge his death and fakes madness to accomplish that goal. His acts lead to the end of several lives–including Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet's chief counselor Polonius (Felix Almer) and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Jean Simmons) who loves Hamlet, and, finally, Hamlet. There was a well-deserved Best Actor Oscar presented to Olivier. The film also won Oscars for Best Picture, Art Direction/Set Decoration, and Costume Design. Olivier also received a nomination for Best Director, and Simmons was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
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Henry V 1944 N/R, 153 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Laurence Olivier
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Robert Newton, Leslie Banks, Renee Asherson, Esmond Knight, Leo Genn, Felix Aylmer, Ernest Thesiger, Robert Helpmann, Ralph Truman, Griffith Jones, Morland Graham, Nicholas Hannen, Roy Emerton, Freda Jackson
No one can beat Sir Laurence Olivier when it comes to directing and acting in Shakespearean plays. In this film, he does both and scores a brilliant production hit. This version of "Henry V" centers on the 1415 battle of Agincourt where the English defeated the French. The film was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor. Olivier received an honorary Oscar for his achievement as actor, producer, and director for the film.
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 The Man in the Iron Mask 1976  TV, 105 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Mike Newell
Cast: Richard Chamberlain, Patrick McGoohan, Louis Jourdan, Jenny Agutter, Ian Holm, Ralph Richardson, Vivien Merchant, Brenda Bruce, Esmond Knight, Godfrey Quigley, Emrys James, Denis Lawson
Alexandre Dumas' classic novel comes to TV in this good, but not the best, rendition of the twin brothers (both played by Richard Chamberlain)–one of whom is the King of France. The other, the rightful heir to the throne, is raised by the Three Musketeers, led by D'Artagnan (Louis Jourdan), and wears an iron mask to protect his identity.
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 Peeping Tom 1960 N/R, 109 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Michael Powell
Cast: Karl Boehm, Moira Shearer, Anna Massey, Maxine Audley, Brenda Bruce, Martin Miller, Nigel Davenport, Esmond Knight, Shirley Anne Field, Michael Goodliffe
While this film was denounced when first shown, it now has a cult following. The gruesome story is about a psychopathic killer (Karl Boehm) who photographs his victims immediately prior to murdering them–he gets his kicks out of viewing the helpless terror on their faces.
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 The Prince and the Showgirl 1957 N/R, 117 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Laurence Olivier
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier, Sybil Thorndike, Richard Wattis, Jeremy Spenser, Esmond Knight, Maxine Audley, Paul Hardwick, Rosamund Greenwood, Andreas Malandrinos
While in London for the 1912 coronation of George V, a Balkan prince (Laurence Olivier) falls for an American showgirl (Marilyn Monroe) who aids his reconciliation with his son.
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The Red Shoes 1948 N/R, 132 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance / Musical
Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer, Leonide Massine, Robert Helpmann, Albert Bassermann, Ludmilla Tcherina, Esmond Knight, Jean Short, Gordon Littman, Julia Lang, Austin Trevor, Irene Brown, Eric Berry, Jerry Verno
In this fine film, capturing the true essence of the ballet world, Victoria Page (Moira Shearer) must decide between her love for dancing and the chance to stay with the man, composer Julian Craster (Marius Goring), who she loves. An Oscar nomination was received for Best Picture, and the film won two Oscars (Art Direction/Set Decoration and Musical Score).
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The River 1951 N/R, 99 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Jean Renoir
Cast: Nora Swinburne, Esmond Knight, Arthur Shields, Radha, Suprova Mukerjee, Thomas E. Breen, Patricia Walters, Adrienne Corri, Richard Foster, June Hillman
This film is based on Rumer Godden's novel about English children growing up in Bengali, India, near the Ganges River. Teens Harriet and Valerie (Patricia Walters and Adrienne Corri) fall for handsome American Capt. John (Thomas E. Breen) who, in turn, is attracted to another teen, half-Indian Melanie (Radha). Tragedy strikes, and the teens strive to cope with this cycle of life.
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Robin and Marian 1976 PG, 112 min.
Genre: Drama / Adventure / Romance
Director: Richard Lester
Cast: Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson, Robert Shaw, Ian Holm, Denholm Elliott, Kenneth Haigh, Esmond Knight, Ronnie Barker, Bill Maynard, Veronica Quilligan, Peter Butterworth, John Barrett, Kenneth Cranham
Robin Hood (Sean Connery) and Little John (Nicol Williamson) return home to England after many years in exile. Robin resumes his relationship with Marian (Audrey Hepburn) who is now a nun. Meanwhile, the Merry Men convince Robin to continue his fight with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robert Shaw)–much to the dismay of Marian. Lots of "updating" of the classic story.
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Sink the Bismarck! 1960 N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Cast: Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, Carl Mohner, Laurence Naismith, Karel Stepanek, Geoffrey Keen, Michael Hordern, Maurice Denham, Michael Goodliffe, Esmond Knight
This film is based on the true World War II assignment of the British Navy to locate and sink the German battleship Bismarck. It is filled with intrigue and excitement as the British zero in on their target.
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold 1965 N/R, 112 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Martin Ritt
Cast: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, Peter van Eyck, Sam Wanamaker, George Voskovec, Rupert Davies, Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, Bernard Lee, Robert Handy, Esmond Knight, Niall MacGinnis, Beatrix Lehmann, Tom Stern
Alec Leamas (Richard Burton) is a disillusioned British spy in Berlin and tries to ruin the career of a dangerous spy, Hans-Dieter Mundt (Peter van Eyck), who serves the Secret Service of East Germany. Leamas' method is to infiltrate the East German organization. This is a good account of John Le Carre's book, and Burton received an Oscar nomination.
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Uncle Silas 1947 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: The Inheritance
Director: Charles(1) Frank
Cast: Jean Simmons, Derrick DeMarney, Derek Bond, Katina Paxinou, Esmond Knight, Sophie Stewart, Manning Whiley, Marjorie Rhodes, John Laurie, Guy Rolfe
A corrupt uncle has plans for his young niece's inheritance in this story set in the Victorian era.
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Waltzes from Vienna 1933  N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Strauss' Great Waltz
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Fay Compton, Jessie Matthews, Edmund Gwenn, Esmond Knight, Frank Vosper, Cyril Smith, Robert Hale, Hindle Edgar, Marcus Barron, Charles Heslop
In the 1800s, Vienna was center stage for the world's music. This is the story of Johann Strauss and his relationship with his dominating father who did not see the greatness of his son's music.
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| 1. Black Narcissus (1947)
2. A Canterbury Tale (1944)
3. Contraband (1940)
4. Hamlet (1948)
5. Henry V (1944)
6. The Man in the Iron Mask (1976)
7. Peeping Tom (1960)
8. The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
9. The Red Shoes (1948)
10. The River (1951)
11. Robin and Marian (1976)
12. Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
13. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
14. Uncle Silas (1947)
aka: The Inheritance
15. Waltzes from Vienna (1933)
aka: Strauss' Great Waltz
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