Actor John Mills (1908)

Based on Raymond Chandler’s 1939 novel, The Big Sleep (1978) is a neo-noir film. Set in 1970s England, the story follows private detective Philip Marlowe as he is summoned to the lavish estate of General Sternwood. The general enlists Marlowe’s help to expose his blackmailer. During his time at the mansion, Marlowe crosses paths with the general’s spoiled daughter Charlotte and her spirited sister Camilla. As he delves into the case involving homosexual pornographer Arthur Geiger, Marlowe meets Agnes Lozelle, a worker at Geiger’s establishment, and Joe Brody, a man who has caught Agnes’ ...

The British thriller film, The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), directed by Don Sharp, follows the story of a retired British Intelligence officer, Colonel Scudder. In 1914 London, Imperial German spies are lurking everywhere. As important British politicians fall victim to mysterious assassinations, Scudder realizes that his life and his enigmatic black notebook are at risk. Seeking help, he turns to Richard Hannay, a mining engineer visiting Great Britain for a short time before returning to the Union of South Africa. Ironically enough, Hannay is staying in the same building as Scudder’s flat. Scudder reveals a plot ...

The British film, The History of Mr. Polly (1949), was based on H.G. Wells’ comic novel of the same name and directed by Anthony Pelissier. After losing his job at a draper’s shop where his father had arranged for him to apprentice, Alfred Polly struggles to find work elsewhere. Upon receiving news of his father’s passing, he returns home and inherits £500. While pondering his future, a family friend named Mr. Johnsen suggests investing in a shop, an idea that doesn’t sit well with Polly. During a leisurely bike ride in the countryside, he has a ...