greatest-ever-made's - Rented List
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Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)The Blood on Satan's Claw / Satan's Skin / The Devil's Skin / The Devil's Touch
Set in a remote village in 17th Century England, farm labourer Ralph Gower (Barry Andrews) accidentally stumbles across a devilish skull whilst ploughing a field. Ralph reports his findings to the Judge (Patrick Wymark) but when they return, the skull has vanished. Very soon the children of the village start acting strangely, led by Angel Blake (Linda Hayden) they form a murderous coven and when mysterious growths of hair (called the Devil's Skin) start appearing on their bodies, all hell breaks loose...literally! - Director:
- Piers Haggard
- Cast:
- Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden, Barry Andrews
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Widely considered one of Britain's greatest filmmakers, Humphrey Jennings has long been celebrated as one of cinema's true poets. This, the second of three volumes which brings together his entire directorial output, features five films made between 1941-1943 which show Jennings at the peak of his tragically short but outstanding career. From the rousing call to arms of "The Heart of Britain" and "Words for Battle" to the poetic evocation of daily life in "Listen to Britain", and the powerfully resonating drama of "Fires Were Started" and "The Silent Village", the films included in this set offer a lyrical portrait of the nation at war and a moving celebration of Britishness.
Films Comprise:
- The Heart of Britain (1941)
- Words for Battle (1941)
- Listen to Britain (1941)
- Fires Were Started (1943)
- The Silent Village (1943)- Director:
- Humphrey Jennings
- Cast:
- Laurence Olivier, Edward R. Murrow, Chesney Allen
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James Cagney takes the lead in this biopic of silent horror film star Lon Chaney, star of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Born to deaf, mute parents, Chaney, mildly successful as a mime and juggler in vaudeville, employs and later marries his assistant Cleva Creighton (Dorothy Malone). But Cleva's disgust on discovering Chaney's parents are deaf mutes is soon compounded when she gives birth to their son, believing he too will be deaf. With Chaney's vaudeville career taking off, Cleva, psychologically frail, walks out on her husband and son, forcing a cash-strapped Chaney to place his son in a home. Determined to get his son back, Chaney travels to Hollywood and immerses himself in as much work as he can find, soon building a reputation for himself as a respected and talented artist. Now remarried, and with his life back on track, Chaney's world is turned upside down once more when Cleva reappears demanding the return of her son. - Director:
- Joseph Pevney
- Cast:
- James Cagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer
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Ann Carter (Deanna Durbin) is a small town girl who dreams of becoming a professional singer. Luck smiles on her when she goes to visit her stepbrother Martin (Pat O'Brien) in New York City. It turns out that he's found a job as the butler for a famous composer Charles Gerard (Franchot Tone). However, there's just one problem Charles refuses to audition anyone in his house. Undeterred, Ann manages to get a job as the maid in his luxury penthouse, secretly hoping that by innocently singing as she dusts and cleans her beautiful voice will get her noticed. It does get her noticed and her own stepbrother decides to fire her! Meanwhile, Charles has also been attracted to Ann's singing and to the young lady herself... - Director:
- Frank Borzage
- Cast:
- Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien
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The Criminal (1960)Concrete Jungle
Ex-con Johnny (Stanley Baker) used his time in prison wisely - to plan the biggest robbery of his career. The robbery goes smoothly and Johnny goes to bury the money in a field until the heat is off, as agreed with friend and racketeer Mike Carter (Sam Wanamaker) and the rest of the gang. In a moment of weakness, Johnny pockets five hundred odd pounds from the haul. Coupled with a tip-off from his ex-girlfriend (Jill Bennett) this proves to be his undoing and Johnny is soon back in prison. The rest of the gang try in vain to get the location of the money out of him without success until Mike hits upon the idea of a break-out using Johnny's new love Suzanne (Margit Saad) as bait. - Director:
- Joseph Losey
- Cast:
- Stanley Baker, Sam Wanamaker, Grégoire Aslan
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Witness in the City (1959)Un témoin dans la ville
Industrialist Pierre Verdier (Jacques Berthier) kills his mistress Jeanne Ancelin (Françoise Brion) by throwing her off a train. Her husband, Ancelin, decides to take revenge on his wife's murderer, who has been acquitted by justice. He waits for him in his house and hangs him. He leaves the place unseen, at least this is what he thinks. But unfortunately for him, Lambert (Franco Fabrizi), a taxi driver has witnessed him. Ancelin has no option but to get rid of him... - Director:
- Édouard Molinaro
- Cast:
- Lino Ventura, Sandra Milo, Franco Fabrizi
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The ruthless Solly Caspar (Ted de Corsia) is fighting to retain control of Bay City's criminal activities when Frank Jansen (Kent Taylor), an honest man and mayoral hopeful, begins a strong anti-crime campaign. Caspar tasks his right-hand man Ben Grace (John Payne) to dig up some dirt on the candidate and ruin his chances of election. Meanwhile, a love triangle involving Ben, Dorothy (Arlene Dahl) and June (Rhonda Fleming) may be the downfall of Frank's career... - Director:
- Allan Dwan
- Cast:
- John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl
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Restless Breed (1957)The Restless Breed
When lawyer Mitch Baker's (Scott Brady) father is killed by gun-runners, he pursues the villains who escape into Mexico. Gang leader Jim Simmons (Rhys Williams), beyond the reach of the American law, is confident that his henchmen can get rid of Mitch - but he's mistaken... Mitch plays the waiting game in the border town of Mission, Texas, where he attracts the interest of Angelita (Anne Bancroft), a young Indian woman. The sheriff warns Mitch not to take the law into his own hands, but he's determined to avenge his father's death - his way. - Director:
- Allan Dwan
- Cast:
- Scott Brady, Anne Bancroft, Jay C. Flippen
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A U.S. naval engineer (Joseph Cotten) on assignment in Turkey is targeted for murder by Nazi agents. To save his life, the head of the Turkish secret police (Orson Welles) smuggles him out of the country on a cargo ship. But the Nazis are one step ahead. They already have at least one assassin on board the ship, disguised as one of the passengers... - Director:
- Norman Foster
- Cast:
- Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dolores del Rio
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The legendary Jane Russell scorches the screen as outlaw Belle Starr in this spectacular 1952 RKO Trucolor Western. When the infamous Dalton Boys fall out with the sharp shooting Belle Starr (Jane Russell), she decides to form her own outlaw gang and quickly becomes the scourge of the Oklahoma Territories with a big bounty on her beautiful head. Disguising herself as a widowed showgirl, she hides away at the Birdcage gambling parlour and saloon, intending to rob the place at the first opportunity. But what Belle hasn't reckoned on is falling in love with the saloon owner Tom Bradfield (George Brent) - or the Dalton Boys riding into town looking for revenge... - Director:
- Allan Dwan
- Cast:
- Jane Russell, George Brent, Scott Brady
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Two beachcombers with a yacht join woman-with-a-past Rita (Virginia Mayo) on a quest for black pearls on a secret island. Arrived, they find another white man has made himself high priest; but George (Lance Fuller), the latter's handsome son, is fair game for Rita, who lands in the guise of a missionary! The inevitable conflict over the pearls brings violence and corruption to the quiet island. - Director:
- Allan Dwan
- Cast:
- Virginia Mayo, Dennis Morgan, David Farrar
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Eddie Ginley (Albert Finney) is a comedian turned private eye who gets into hot water when he meets a fat man (George Silver) and a femme fatale (Janice Rule). Armed with only rapid-fire banter and a sharpened instinct, Ginley must save the dame from a drug smuggling ring before the joke's on him. Paying homage to Bogart, Chandler and Hammett, 'Gumshoe' puts a clever spin on the classic detective tale. - Director:
- Stephen Frears
- Cast:
- Albert Finney, Billie Whitelaw, Frank Finlay
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Pinocchio (2022)Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
A classic tale is reborn through the inspired imagination of cinematic dream-weaver Guillermo del Toro, directing alongside Mark Gustafson. Realised through boundary-pushing, breathtakingly intricate stop-motion animation, this dark rendering of the fable of the puppet boy and his maker - which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature - daringly transfers the story to Fascist Italy, where the irrepressible Pinocchio gradually learns what it means to be human through his experiences of war, death, and sacrifice. This 'Pinocchio' imbues the oft-told tale with a bold new resonance about living with courage and compassion. - Director:
- Guillermo Del Toro
- Cast:
- Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann
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Juno and the Paycock (1930)The Shame of Mary Boyle
One of Hitchcock's first, this film tells the dramatic story of life in revolution torn Ireland and the lives of the cash strapped Doyle family. Like most of their neighbours, life had been tough and many sacrifices had to be made to keep body and soul together. But the Doyle's were in for a pleasant surprise when told of a large inheritance due to come their way. Elated by their sudden wealth and their standing in the community the family's existence moved up a couple of rungs, and they began to live the life of the idle rich, even though the inheritance had still to be confirmed. But it only takes one slip twixt cup and lip to destroy not only what you had, but also what you thought you had! Life can suddenly turn very cruel, making it even more difficult than it was before. - Director:
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast:
- Sara Allgood, Edward Chapman, Barry Fitzgerald
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Vivien Leigh and Conrad Veidt star in this dashing spy thriller set in Sweden during the First World War. Spring 1918. The supposedly neutral country of Sweden has been heavily infiltrated by spies from France, Britain and Germany. In Stockholm, high society is alive with intrigue, espionage and murder. No one is who - or what - they claim to be. Madeleine Goddard runs an elite fashion boutique - a job that often takes her to Paris. She is also a high-ranking German spy. Vying for her affections are an English secret agent and the charming aristocratic German deserter Baron von Marwitz. When her spy cell appears to have been compromised, Madeleine is sent to Paris to discover the fate of other agents. As her affair with von Marwitz deepens, she must decide which is more important to her ....love or duty. - Director:
- Victor Saville
- Cast:
- Conrad Veidt, Vivien Leigh, Joan Gardner
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