The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

What did they do in PnP films?

---

77 Park Lane (1931)

Philip Connor

Some Day (1935)

Curley Blake

What Men Live by (1939)

?

Contraband (1940)

Mr. Pidgeon - the talent scout/agent on Capt Andersen's ship who doesn't like to talk to the other passengers.
When the Customs men come aboard they ask him about his job. He says how he travels between England and America looking for new acts. "That must be tough" says one of the Customs men. "Oh, Per Ardua Ad Astra" says Mr Pidgeon.
[Through adversity to the stars - the motto of the RAF]

The Silver Fleet (1943)

Von Schiffer
This was Esmond's first role after getting out of hospital and he was almost totally blind. Notice the way he messily eats to portray the Nazi as uncouth.

A Canterbury Tale (1944)

Seven-Sisters Soldier/Village Idiot/Narrator (Not US version)
That's Esmond doing the Chaucerian narration to the opening of the film.
It's also him in the lecture talking to Sergent Bob Johnson, asking about a cousin in "Butt City".
Then he's seen again as the village idiot to the strains of the cuckoo song.

Black Narcissus (1947)

The Old General
"Do you see that crate? Sausages! They will eat sausages. Europeans eat sausages wherever they go."

The End of the River (1947)

Dantos
A touch of the mean & nasty's from a very nice man.

The Red Shoes (1948)

Livingstone 'Livy' Montagne
A playboy baronet conductor - not really based on Sir Thomas Beecham of course <G>

Gone to Earth (1950)

Abel Woodus
Love that accent.

The Wild Heart (1952)

Abel Woodus
Most of Esmond's rôle was retained in the hacked version.

Peeping Tom (1960)

Arthur Baden
The director of the film-in-film. It makes sense (within the film) that the director was almost totally blind.

The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972)

Doctor
The doctor who comes to see John after he's turned yellow.

---

Back to index