The Spy in Black - A 1939 Film Directed by William Powell and Written by Emeric Pressburger- Their First Collaboration - Starring Valerie Hobson

 The Spy in Black - A 1939 Film Directed by William Powell and Written by Emeric Pressburger- Their First Collaboration - Starring Valerie Hobson - Run Time 91 Minutes 

Available on YouTube 

The Spy in Black is based on the 1917 novel of the same name by Joseph Storer Clouston. The film stars Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw.

The film is set during World War I and tells the story of Captain Ernst Hardt (Veidt), a German U-boat commander who is sent to the Orkney Islands to gather intelligence on the British fleet. He meets with two double agents, Ashington (Shaw) and his wife, Mary (Hobson), who provide him with false information. Hardt is eventually captured by the British and forced to reveal his true mission.

The Spy in Black was a critical and commercial success, and it is now considered to be one of the finest British films of the pre-war era. It is praised for its suspenseful plot, its atmospheric cinematography, and its strong performances.

The film was released in the United States under the title U-Boat 29. It was not as successful in the US as it was in the UK, but it has since become a cult classic.

The Spy in Black is an important film in the history of British cinema. It is a well-made and suspenseful thriller that is also notable for its stylish visuals and its exploration of the theme of deception in wartime.

"Valerie Hobson (14 April 1917 – 13 November 1998) was a British actress whose film career spanned the 1930s to the early 1950s. She was best known for her roles in films such as Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Great Expectations (1946), and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949. In 

1954, Hobson married John Profumo, a British government minister. They had one son together, David. Profumo's career was ended in disgrace in 1963 when it was revealed that he had lied to the House of Commons about an affair he had had with Christine Keeler, a 19-year-old showgirl. Hobson stood by Profumo throughout the scandal, and they remained married until her death in 1998.  

After the Profumo scandal, Hobson retired from acting and devoted herself to her family and to charity work. She was a tireless supporter of Toynbee Hall, a settlement house in the East End of London, and she worked closely with her husband to raise funds for the organization.

Hobson was a complex and fascinating woman. She was a successful actress, a devoted wife and mother, and a tireless philanthropist. She was also a victim of circumstance, and her life was forever changed by the Profumo scandal. However, she never lost her dignity or her sense of humor, and she remained a popular and respected figure until her death" from Bard

I greatly enjoyed The Spy in Black 

I Know Whers I'm Going - A 1945 Film Directed by William Powell and Emeric Pressburger- 91 minutes

 Available on YouTube 

I Know Where I'm Going! is a 1945 British romantic drama film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Wendy Hiller as Joan Webster, a young Englishwoman who travels to the Hebrides to marry a wealthy industrialist, but is stranded by bad weather on the Isle of Mull, where she meets and falls in love with a naval officer, played by Roger Livesey.

The film is a classic example of the Powell and Pressburger partnership, combining stunning cinematography, lyrical dialogue, and a powerful emotional core. It is also a celebration of Scottish culture and landscape, with many scenes shot on location in the Hebrides.

I Know Where I'm Going! was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and is now considered to be one of the greatest British films ever made. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

The film is a charming and witty exploration of love, fate, and the importance of following one's heart. It is also a beautiful showcase for the Scottish Highlands, with stunning cinematography that captures the rugged beauty of the landscape.

Here are some of the things that make "I Know Where I'm Going!" a great film:

It is a beautifully made film, with stunning cinematography and evocative use of music.

The characters are complex and well-developed. Joan is a strong and independent woman, but she is also vulnerable and insecure. Torquil is a charming and romantic man, but he also has a dark secret.

The story is heartwarming and uplifting. Joan's journey is one of self-discovery and personal growth. She learns to follow her heart and to live her life to the fullest.

The sequence in a storm are very thrilling, brilliantly done,  the central male character is a British Navy officer on a short leave, I hope he makes it back to his island,

Mel Ulm 

The Tales of Hoffmmann- A 1951 Film directed and written by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

 

After watching The Red Shoes by the Archers, William Powell and Emeric Pressburger I was very eager to experience their 1951 work, Tales of Hoffmann 

You can watch Tales of Hoffmann on the link below

https://www.plex.tv/

"The Tales of Hoffmann is a 1951 British Technicolor comic opera film written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger working under the umbrella of their production company The Archers. It is an adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's 1881 opera The Tales of Hoffmann, itself based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann.

The film stars Robert Rounseville as Hoffmann, Moira Shearer as Olympia, Ludmilla Tchérina as Antonia, and Robert Helpmann as Lindorf/Coppélius/Dapertutto. It also features Pamela Brown, Ann Ayars, and Léonide Massine. Only Rounseville and Ayars sang their own roles.

The film is a visual feast, with stunning sets and costumes designed by Hein Heckroth. The opera's music is beautifully performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.

The film tells the story of Hoffmann, a poet who falls in love with three women: Olympia, a mechanical doll; Antonia, a singer who is dying of consumption; and Giulietta, a courtesan. Hoffmann's love for these women is doomed, as they are all under the spell of the evil sorcerer Dapertutto.

The Tales of Hoffmann is a complex and multilayered film, with elements of fantasy, romance, and tragedy. It is a visually stunning and musically beautiful film that is a must-see for fans of opera and classic cinema.

The film was a critical and commercial success, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Costume Design, Color. It is considered one of the greatest films ever made, and is ranked #12 on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list.

Here are some of the things that make The Tales of Hoffmann a great film:

• The stunning visuals: The film is a feast for the eyes, with gorgeous sets and costumes designed by Hein Heckroth.

• The beautiful music: The opera's music is beautifully performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.

• The complex and multilayered story: The film is a complex and multilayered story, with elements of fantasy, romance, and tragedy.

• The performances: The performances by the cast are all top-notch, especially Robert Rounseville as Hoffmann and Moira Shearer." From Bard

I have watched Tales of Hoffmann several times.  In times when my spirits are low the sheer beauty of the film helps me.

Soon I will post on The Black Narrcisus, followed by as many other William and Powell films as I can find online.

The Elusive Pimpernel- 1950- A Film Directed, Produced and Written by William Powell and Emeric Pressburger- Set in Paris and London Following The French Revolution

 

This is in participation in Paris in July, 2023- hosted by Words and Peace 

The Elusive Pimpernel- 1950- A Film Directed, Produced and Written by William Powell and Emeric Pressburger- Set in Paris in London Following The French Revolution 

On YouTube 

The Elusive Pimpernel is loosely based on a 1909 novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy, about an English aristocrat who saved French nobility from the guillotine during the reign of terror following the Revolution. An exciting and enjoyable movie.

(Baroness Emma Orczy - September 23, 1865 Tarnadors, Hungary- November 12, 1947 Henley-on-Thames, England)

The Elusive Pimpernel is very different in several ways from The Red Shoes, also by William Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Both make powerful use of color, focus on close camera work and marvelous conversations. David Nivens plays the Scarlet Pimpernel and Margaret Leighton his wife..

During the French Revolution, the Scarlet Pimpernel, who is really Sir Percy Blakeney in disguise, risks his life to rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine and take them across the English Channel to safety. As cover, Sir Percy poses as a fop at Court, and curries favour with the Prince of Wales by providing advice about fashion, but secretly he leads The League, a group of noblemen with similar views.

Chauvelin, the French ambassador to England, wants to find out who the Pimpernel is, so he can be brought to French justice. He blackmails Blakeney's French wife Marguerite into helping him by threatening to have her brother Armand (an associate of the Pimpernel) arrested and tortured. She intercepts a letter intended for the Pimpernel and gives it to Chauvelin, unaware that she has betrayed her husband. When she discovers the truth, she sets out to warn him of his great peril.

The scenes of the French mobs sacking palaces and cheering on executions are masterful. The common French people are ugly and debased. The doomed aristocrats are beautiful, courageous and dignified. A scene where a mob invaded Versiles was perfect. The directors know how to show people running (Victoria Page running down the stairs at the close of The Red Shoes came to my mind.)

The opening of the movie is hilarious. The ending is gratifying. The movie, right after World War Two might have been a shot at France. The portrayal of "the old guard" in the steam bath scene is not real flattering either. There is romance, beautiful women (and some really ugly ones in the mob scenes in Paris). The French Revolution leaders like Jean-Paul Marat are treacherous, they also full of hate.

I will next post upon Madame Pimpernel, 1940, set in Paris during World War Two. It was released in America as Paris Undercover.