Nicks` Cabinet of Curios

Earlier today I got to see a film I`ve wanted to see for some time, Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard.  Released around 1939/1940 (sources vary) , the film is based on the Nigel Morland book of the same name. Nigel Morland is one of a number of pseudonyms used by Carl Van Biene (1905-1986). My impression is that the film must have seemed quite dated even at the time. Mary Clare is excellent as the Mrs Pym of the title but the rest of the cast are a mixed bag. Most of the cast are elderly, which makes me think it was made after WW2 broke out.     The dialogue, some of it written by Morland/Van Biene himself, has some flashes of wit, and the story is quite intriguing. Despite it`s shortcomings I would say it is a good film overall.  As far as I know this is the only Mrs Pym film, which seems a shame. It was also Mary Clares` only leading role in a film which is very surprising to me.  A lot of people won`t want to persevere with this one, b...

This is a film still from another film I`ve seen recently, Portrait of Alison (US title Postmark for Danger) a British film from 1956. Based on a Francis Durbridge story, this is definitely one of the best and most accomplished films of it`s type that I`ve seen.  Look out for it !

Another Richard Dalby Xmas book - not sure, but I think I may have them all now. 

I know nothing about Ray Martel except for the fact that he is one of my favourite singers. I am not actually certain which of his stage names is actually his real name. At one time ran a record label called `Ray` , which might make you think his name was Ray, but there again his songwriting and production credits always seem to go to M Robinson.  As I`ve mentioned, I`m not posting reviews at present, but my next post after this will be some of his music so you can give it a try for yourself.  Magnet was a specialist reggae label founded in Stoke Newington (London) in 1971. It released tracks by a number of different artists.  On the face of it, it doesn`t look as if they had licensing agreements with Jamaican producers to release their tracks in the UK.  It may be that artists financed their own recordings and then Magnet paid them to release them, in the same way Greensleeves did in later years.   Every release that I know of on the Ra...

This very stylish poster advertises a 1952 film I saw recently (though not for the first time). John Bentley, Patricia Dainton and Valentine Dyall also appeared together in Paul Temple Returns the same year. Salute the Toff was filmed `back-to-back` with Hammer the Toff, but has a slightly different cast (Carol Marsh instead of Patricia Dainton). You may remember Carol Marsh as Rosie in Brighton Rock, which by sheer chance is another film I`ve seen again recently. 

Another addition to my Richard Dalby Xmas books collection ! Must be getting near to having the full set now !