Actor Charles Laughton (1899)

The legal mystery thriller film, Witness for the Prosecution (1957), was directed by Billy Wilder. Despite objections from his private nurse Miss Plimsoll, senior barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts agrees to defend Leonard Vole. He is recovering from a heart attack and his doctor had warned against taking on criminal cases. Vole is accused of murdering Emily French, a wealthy widow who had named him as her main beneficiary after falling in love with him. When speaking with Vole’s German wife Christine, Sir Wilfrid notices her cold and self-possessed demeanor. However, she does provide an alibi for her husband, although ...

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952) is an American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedic duo, along with Charles Laughton who reprises his role as the infamous pirate from the 1945 film. On their way to the Death’s Head Tavern where they work, Oliver ‘Puddin’ Head’ Johnson and Rocky Stonebridge run into Lady Jane. She enlists their help in delivering a love note to Bruce Martingale, the tavern singer. Inside, they come face to face with Captain Kidd himself who is dining with fellow pirate Captain Anne Bonney. ...

O. Henry’s Full House (1952), released by Twentieth Century Fox, is an American anthology film featuring five different stories. Each story is based on a work by renowned author O. Henry. Narrator John Steinbeck presents a prologue providing insight into O. Henry’s life and mentions some of his other works that were not included in the film. Notably, A Retrieved Reformation tells the tale of reformed safecracker Jimmy Valentine. 1. The Cop and the Anthem (

The iconic legal thriller, The Paradine Case (1947), helmed by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock and produced by David O. Selznick, takes place in England and contains elements of film noir. The story revolves around Maddalena Anna Paradine, a stunning and enigmatic young Italian woman who stands accused of poisoning her wealthy retired colonel husband, who is also blind. As the trial unfolds, it becomes unclear whether Mrs. Paradine is a devoted wife unjustly suspected or a cunning femme fatale with ulterior motives. To aid in her defense, her solicitor Sir Simon ...

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), an American historical adventure drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, tells the story of William Bligh’s command of the Royal Naval merchant vessel HMS Bounty in 1787. As a brutal tyrant, Bligh is known for administering harsh punishments to any officers or crew members who lack discipline or defy his authority. After recruiting a new crew from a local pub, the Bounty sets sail from Portsmouth on a two-year voyage to transport breadfruit from the Polynesian islands to Jamaica. Fletcher Christian, the ship’s executive officer, is both strong and ...

Directed by Erle C. Kenton, Island of Lost Souls (1932) is an American science fiction horror film produced and distributed by Paramount Productions. Based on H.G. Wells’ 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, the film follows the story of Edward Parker, a shipwrecked traveler who is rescued by a freighter transporting animals to an isolated South Seas island owned by Dr. Moreau. While onboard, Parker witnesses the mistreatment of M’ling, a passenger with beast-like features, by the drunken captain. In retaliation, Parker is thrown overboard into Mr. ...