The Masters  
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]

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Still Wanted After All These Years

There are quite a few of the rarer titles by Powell and/or Pressburger that are still on my Wanted list.

Rewards will be offered for any of the following that are marked as Wanted in any format, even if truncated or dubbed into another language (a different language to that it was made in).

I saw a lot of the rarer films in the season at the NFT in March 2000. I saw those again and some others at San Sebastian in September 2002.

Film Title
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger
Notes
Status
Carmen (1926) Stills photographer     Got it
The Magician (1926) Assistant director
Actor: "Man with balloon"		     Got it
Mare Nostrum (1926)
Our sea 		Grip     Got it
Camels to Cannibal (1927) Actor     Wanted
The Garden of Allah (1927) Assistant director
Actor: "Tourist"		   Held hostage by Ted Turner! (as part of the MGM library)
Apparently has been shown on TCM in the past		 Wanted
Morgane la sirène (1927)
Morgane, the Enchantress 		Stills photographer     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 1: (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 2:
A Nasty Jar (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 6: (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 9:
Cold Feats (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 10:
Fauny Business (1927)		 Actor: "Tourist / Faun"     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 11:
Scents and Nonsense (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Riviera Revels
Travelaugh No. 12:
That Son of a Sheik (1927)		 Actor     Wanted
Champagne (1928) Stills photographer     Got it
The First Born (1928) Stills photographer     Got it
A Knight in London (1928) Editor     Got it
Blackmail (1929) Assistant cameraman     Got it
The Manxman (1929) Stills photographer     Got it
Abschied (1930)
Farewell 		  Writer   Got it
Caste (1930) Writer
Assistant director?		   Missing, believed lost Wanted
The Compulsory Husband (1930) Actor: "Man"     Wanted
Die Große Sehnsucht (1930)
The Great Desire 		  Writer   Wanted
Der Weiße Teufel (1930)
The White Devil 		Stills photographer   Got it. Thanks to Natalie Clarke Got it
77 Park Lane (1931) Writer     Wanted
Dann schon lieber Lebertran (1931)
I'd Rather Have Cod Liver Oil 		  Writer Missing, believed lost Wanted
Das Ekel (1931)
The Scoundrel 		  Writer   Wanted
Emil und die Detektive (1931)
Emil and the Detectives 		  Writer (uncredited)   Got it
Der Kleine Seitensprung (1931)
The Little Escapade 		  Writer German language version Wanted
Ronny (1931)   Writer German language version Wanted
Ronny (1931)   Writer French language version Wanted
Two Crowded Hours (1931) Director
Writer		     Wanted
...und es leuchtet die Pußta (1932)
...and the Plains are Gleaming 		  Writer   Got it
La Belle aventure (1932)
The Beautiful Adventure 		  Writer French language version Wanted
C.O.D. (1932) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Eine von uns (Gilgi) (1932)
One of us 		  Writer   Wanted
Entre noche y día (1932)
Between night and day 		Writer     Wanted
His Lordship (1932) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Hotel Splendide (1932) Director
Actor: "Bugging device engineer"		   Seen at NFT March 2000 Wanted
Lumpenkavaliere (1932)   Editor   Wanted
My Friend the King (1932) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Le Petit écart (1932)
The Little Escapade 		  Writer French language version Wanted
The Rasp (1932) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Rynox (1932) Director
Writer		   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Das Schöne Abenteuer (1932)
The Beautiful Adventure 		  Writer German language version Wanted
Sehnsucht 202 (1932)
Desire 202 		  Writer   Got it
The Star Reporter (1932) Director
Cinematographer		   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Une jeune fille et un million (1932)
A Young Girl and a Million 		  Writer   Wanted
A Vén gazember (1932)
The Old Rogue 		  Writer   Got it
Wer zahlt heute noch? (1932)
Who Bothers to Pay Nowadays? 		  Writer   Wanted
Born Lucky (1933) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Incognito (1933)   Writer   Wanted
Perfect Understanding (1933) Writer     Got it
Une femme au volant (1933)
Woman at the Wheel 		  Writer   Wanted
The Fire Raisers (1934) Director
Writer		   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Mon coeur t'appelle (1934)
My Heart is Calling 		  Writer   Got it
Something Always Happens (1934) Director   Seen at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 Got it
The Girl in the Crowd (1935) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Lazybones (1935) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
The Love Test (1935) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Monsieur Sans-Gêne (1935)
The Satyr 		  Writer   Wanted
The Night of the Party (1935) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Oh, Daddy! (1935) Writer      
Parisienne Life (1935)   Writer (scenario) English language version Wanted
The Phantom Light (1935) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
The Price of a Song (1935) Director
Producer		   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Red Ensign (1935) Director
Writer		     Got it
Some Day (1935) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
La Vie Parisienne (1936)
Parisian Life 		  Writer (scenario) French language version Wanted
The Brown Wallet (1936) Director   Missing, believed lost Wanted
Crown Vs. Stevens (1936) Director   Seen at NFT March 2000 Got it
Her Last Affaire (1936) Director   Seen at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 Wanted
The Man Behind the Mask (1936) Director   Missing, believed lost
Limited versions exist		 Got it
US version
"Behind the Mask"
1hr 6min
One Rainy Afternoon (1936)   Writer US version of Monsieur Sans-Gêne (1935) Got it
Port-Arthur (1936)   Writer? French language version Wanted
Sous les yeux d'occident (1936)
Under the Eyes of the East 		  Writer?   Got it
The Edge of the World (1937) Director
Writer
Actor: "Mr. Graham"		     Got it
The Great Barrier (1937)   Writer   Got it
The Challenge (1938)   Writer   Got it
The Lion Has Wings (1939) Director     Got it
The Silent Battle (1939)   Writer?   Wanted
Smith (1939) Director   Recently rediscovered
Seen at Canterbury '04 and elsewhere		 Got it
Spy for a Day (1939)   Writer   Wanted
The Spy in Black (1939) Director Writer   Got it
What Men Live by (1939) Writer     Got it
Contraband (1940) Director
Writer		 Writer   Got it
The Thief of Bagdad (1940) Director     Got it
An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941) Director
Writer
Producer
Cinematographer
Narrator (introduction)		     Got it
Atlantic Ferry (1941)   Writer   Got it
Breach of Promise (1941)
Adventure in Blackmail (1943) 		  Writer   Got it
49th Parallel (1941) Director
Producer		 Writer   Got it
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Director
Writer
Producer
Actor: "Despatching Officer"		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Rings on Her Fingers (1942)   Writer   Got it
Squadron Leader X (1942)   Writer   Wanted
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
The Silver Fleet (1943) Producer Writer
Producer		   Got it
The Volunteer (1943) Director
Writer
Producer
Actor: "Photgrapher at Buckingham Palace"		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
A Canterbury Tale (1944) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Wanted for Murder (1946)   Writer   Got it
Black Narcissus (1947) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
The End of the River (1947) Producer Producer
Writer		   Got it
The Red Shoes (1948) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer
Actor: "Man on station"		   Got it
The Small Back Room (1949) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Gone to Earth (1950) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Aila, Pohjolan tytär (1951) Producer     Wanted
The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
The Wild Heart (1952) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Twice Upon a Time (1953)   Director
Writer
Producer		   Wanted
Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1955) Director   Seen at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 Got it
On ToH DVD
The Battle of the River Plate (1956) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Ill Met by Moonlight (1957) Director
Writer
Producer		 Director
Writer
Producer		   Got it
Men Against Britannia (1957)   Writer   Wanted
Miracle in Soho (1957)   Writer
Producer		   Got it
Luna de miel (1959)
Honeymoon 		Director
Writer
Producer
Actor: (voice) Guide Describing the Lovers of Teruel		     Got it
Peeping Tom (1960) Director
Producer
Actor: "Prof. Lewis"		     Got it
The Defenders (1961)
TV Series
Ep: The Sworn Twelve		 Director     Wanted
The Queen's Guards (1961) Director
Producer		   Seen at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 Got it
The Nurses (1962)
TV Series
Ep: A39846		 Director     Wanted
Espionage (1963)
TV Series
Eps: The Frantick Rebel
A Free Agent
Never Turn Your Back On A Friend		 Director     Wanted

Got Never Turn Your Back
Behold a Pale Horse (1964)   Writer (novel)   Got it
Herzog Blaubarts Burg (1964)
Bluebeard's Castle 		Director   Seen at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 Got it
Limited version
Operation Crossbow (1965)   Writer   Got it
The Story of Making the Film "They're a Weird Mob" (1966) Himself     Got it
On DVD of TaWM
They're a Weird Mob (1966) Director
Producer		 Writer
Production supervisor		   Got it
Sebastian (1968) Producer     Got it
Age of Consent (1969) Director
Producer		     Got it
The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972) Director Writer
Producer		   Got it
Isn't It Shocking? (1973) Actor: "Michael"     Got it
Return to the Edge of the World (1978) Actor: "Presenter"     Got it
At the Cinema Palace: Liam O'Leary (1983) Actor     Wanted
Pavlova: A Woman for All Time (1983) Editor
Western version supervisor		     Got it
Tears, Laughter, Fear and Rage: Rage (1987) Actor     Wanted
Tears, Laughter, Fear and Rage: Tears (1987) Actor     Wanted
New York Stories (1989) Actor: "Himself, at party"     Got it

Then there are the films that were cut for the American or other markets. Most have now been fully restored thanks to the work of people like Martin Scorsese. But, to see exactly what was cut, I'd be very interested in the cut versions of any of the following :-

Title What was cut/changed? Runtime
Mins 		Status
Blackmail (1929) Silent version ran for 75 mins.
Sound version (with added footage) ran for 86 mins. 		Sound:86 / Silent:75 Got both versions
on German DVD
The Spy in Black (1939)
U-Boat 29 (1939) 		Unknown UK:86 / USA:75 Got both versions
But haven't compared them fully
Contraband (1940) Cut: Start of scene at restaurant
White negro caberet 		UK:92 / USA:80 Cut version wanted
49th Parallel (1941)
The Invaders (1941) 		Cut: Scene in Wolstenholm mentioning the missionary.
Attack on car driver. 		UK:123 / USA:104 Cut version wanted
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Unknown UK:102 / USA:82 Cut version wanted
Squadron Leader X (1942) Unknown UK:99 / USA:90 Both versions wanted
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
Colonel Blimp (1945) 		Changes: Tale told in "straight line" not "flashback"
Cut: Where to begin?
Sequence with dispatch riders & Spud's
troop at farm.
Spud's attack on Bathers Club 		UK:163 / USA:140
or even 120 		Got UK & US (140 min) versions
The Silver Fleet (1943) Unknown UK:88 / USA:81 Cut version wanted
A Canterbury Tale (1944) Cut: Opening sequence of pilgrims heading towards Canterbury.
Falcon turning into Spitrire. Boys river battle.
Other minor cuts
Added: Intro with Kim Hunter in NYC
Final scene with Kim in Canterbury
Various bits of commentary by John Sweet
mainly to cover & explain the cuts 		UK:124 / USA:95 Got both versions
Looking for better copy of US version
A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Stairway to Heaven 		It is reported that:
Early US releases cut the scene with
the naked shepherd (goat herd?) boy.
This would spoil the Elysian Illusion. 		UK:104 / USA:? Cut version wanted
Black Narcissus (1947) It is reported that:
The 'Madness of Sister Ruth' with its classic
scene of all-stops-out, sex-starved insanity was
removed from the original US version to avoid
offending the Catholic Legion of Decency.
UK:100 / USA:? Cut version wanted
Gone to Earth (1950) Totally hacked into The Wild Heart (1952)
Lots cut out so that the story doesn't make sense.
Lots of explanations added.
Silly scene with stuffed toy fox added. 		UK:110 / USA:82 Got both versions
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1955) Unknown UK:13 (cut from 30) Both versions wanted
The Battle of the River Plate (1956) Unknown UK:119 / USA:106 Cut version wanted
Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
Night Ambush (1958) 		Unknown UK:104 / USA:93 Got both versions
But haven't compared them fully
Peeping Tom (1960) There's so much that might attract a censor's scissors.
But what was cut for the US version?
The shot showing Milly's bare breasts is only a
quick flash in the UK version. 		UK:101 / USA:86 Cut version wanted
Herzog Blaubarts Burg (1964)
Bluebeard's Castle 		The version shown at San Sebastian, Sept 2002 was sung in German but had English subtitles explaining what was happening. The version I have has no English subtitles & has a time clock running. Germany: 60 Subtitled version wanted
Pavlova: A Woman for All Time (1983)
Anna Pavlova 		Cut for the "western version", despite a few complaints from the director. Russia: 155 /
UK: 133 		Longer version wanted

Even if you can only confirm (or deny) that the different versions do exist or tell me what the differences are, please contact me.

Finally there are the films where only the cut version seems to be available.
I'd be very interested in the full version of any of the following :-

Title What was cut? Runtime
Mins 		Status
The Manxman (1929) A 90 minute version is reported. Does it exist? UK:90 / USA:80 Cut version wanted
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1955) A 30 min version is reported. Does it exist? UK: 13 (DE: 60?) Fuller version wanted
Luna de miel (1959)
Honeymoon (1962) 		A 109 minute version is reported. Was this an original Spanish release? UK:90 / ?:109 Fuller version wanted
Got it
Age of Consent (1969) Extended scene in New York
Some of Helen's nude scenes
Original music (by Peter Sculthorpe) 		UK/Aus:103 / USA:96 Fuller version wanted
Got it

Note: (running times on TV)
Because of the different frame rates between projected film (24 frames per second) and that on TV (25 frames per second) a film shown on TV (or recorded onto video/DVD/LD etc.) will have a slightly shorter running time to that shown in most sources for the film as the film is being shown a fraction faster. To check, take the running time given for the cinematic release, multiply by 24 & divide by 25. If that's not the same as the running time on TV (to within a minute or two) then there have probably been cuts made.