Movies on this page:
The Man in Grey
Captain Boycott
The Magic Bow
Blanche Fury
Saraband for Dead Lovers
Woman Hater
Adam and Evelyen
The Man in Grey
One
1943-Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger
Dir-Leslie Arliss
This is the earliest Granger movie I've seen, it has been quite a while and I don't remember much about it at all except for it had James Mason. Plus there was something to do with a duel between Mason and Granger. (short version)
(PG) Gainsborough British
Added to this Clarissa has a former school friend
(Margaret Lockwood) whose aim in life is become rich
even if means leaving Clarissa to die of pneumonia
after she comes home drenched from farwelling Granger
who is returning to the West Indies to claim his
estates.
Told with great style, this is a really superb
melodrama, and Granger really gives a great
performance. Also he is youthful and good looking.
Has some marvelous scenes such as Granger playing a
scene from Othello where he is about to strangle
Desmononda (played by Lockwood) and when Mason finds
out that Lockwood has let his wife die, he whips her
to death with his riding crop.
It has a happy ending of sorts, as Granger, playing a
descendent of Rokeby, meets Calvert, playing a
descendant of Clarissa, at an auction during World War
2 and they fall in love.
Not to be missed.
This is a really great movie, one to be enjoyed over
and over again. It is a romantic drama set initially
in London during World War 2, then in flashback in the
mid 19th Century. Stewart Granger, in his very first
starring role is Rokeby a young dispossessed English
West Indian Landowner and currently actor and
librarian, who falls in love with Clarissa Richmond
(Phyllis Calvert) the wealthy wife of an arrogant and
thoroughly nasty aristocrat known as The Man In Grey
(played with superb brooding viciousness by James
Mason).
Love Story (PG) Rank Organization
In my view this is essential Granger viewing. Set in
Cornwall during World War 2, Granger is a RAF fighter
pilot who is going blind through a wound to his eyes.
He meets Margaret Lockwood, a concert pianist, who has
been told she has only a short time to live.
The magic of Stewart Granger and Margaret Lockwood,
combined with the beautiful setting, plus Richard
(Warsaw Concerto) Addin a really haunting Cornish
Rhapsody, make this truly an affair to remember.
This again is a movie to be enjoyed endlessly with
it- great cast, and moving story.
Should I tell the ending. Ok Granger undergoes eye
surgery and Lockwood is cured of her disease to
perform the Cornish Rhapsody at the Albert Hall in
London and then embrace a cured Stewart.
As good as any similar style movie produced by
Hollywood. You will love it.
1943
Waterloo Road
1944
(PG) Gainsborough
British
So keen were movie makers to have Stewart Granger in a
film after the success of The Man in Grey that he
made Waterloo Road and Love Story at the same
time. As good as Love Story is, Waterloo Road is
awful. In Waterloo Road John Mills in a soldier
home on leave who finds his girl friend involved with
a slimy, over dressed, black marketer played by a
suitably embarrassed cockney speaking Stewart Granger.
The climax of the movie has Mills (small in stature to
say the least) bashing up poor old tall muscular well
built Stewart. It looks ludicrous and as Stewart
admitted later he felt embarrassed.
You will be to if you watch this nonsense.
Fanny By Gaslight
(PG)
Gainsborough
British
Overwhelmed by the success of The Man in Grey
Gainsborough planned a sort of sequel. This is it and
is based on a best selling novel by Michael Sadler.
With Calvert, Mason and Granger again the cast, this
is an entertaining Victorian era romantic drama.
Calvert is the illegitimate daughter of a Cabinet
Minister who finds unhappiness with the evil, nasty
Mason, then happiness with her Father's assistant and
up and coming politician Stewart Granger.
While not in the class of The Man in Grey Stewart
Granger does well, furthering his image as Britain top
romantic movie star. Not great but satisfying.
Caesar and Cleopatra
(PG)
Rank
British
This was Britain's first post war attempt to enter the
American market with a big block buster movie,
boasting a galaxy of stars. With Vivien (Gone With The
Wind) Leigh and Claude (Casablanca) Rains and a line
up British stars including Stewart Granger it was
thought this would be a major attraction.
Unfortunately this turned out to be one long ponderous
bore. Just over 2 hours long it seems to run for
eternity.
Granger first appears half way through the movie on a
chariot to sell carpets to Cleopatra. After that he
loiters around the film looking handsome and eager,
but clearly not knowing what he is doing there.
The best moment in the movie comes at the end when
Caesar set sails for Rome, receiving a fond farewell
from Vivien and Stewart. You too will give him a fond
farewell when you realize the end of the film is near.
Probably the only attraction this film has is, if you
look at the extras, you will find many well known
British stars such as Michael Rennie as a Roman
Soldier. Doing this will help you stay awake.
Caravan
(PG)Gainsborough British
This is one of my all time favorite movies, and not
just for Stewart Granger. This the perfect cure all
for a bad day. As soon as the credits come on with the
Spanish Gypsy singer on the balcony you know for the
next 117 minutes you are going to see one of the most
enjoyable and entertaining movies ever made.
Stewart is a struggling author, Richard Darrell, who
wants to marry his childhood sweetheart, Oriana (Anne
Crawford) and drag her away from the lecherous
attentions of the aristocratic and villainous Dennis
Price who also wants her. Rescuing a wealthy Spanish
merchant from thieves, Darrell is given a commission
to carry diamonds back to Spain by the merchant and
thus make his fortune. Also the Spanish merchant has
his book published.
Unfortunately, Price has Stewart attacked and left for
dead in Spain where he is rescued by a passionate
gypsy dancer (Jean Kent) who falls desperately in love
with him while looking after him in a cave.
The highlight of the film is where Stewart meets the
gypsy dancer in a night club in Malega before setting
off across the mountains with the diamonds. The
atmosphere, the passion and drama are truelly great.
The whole cast is just superb, but none more so that
Granger who is perfect for the part, looking dashing,
romantic and every inch the man to triumph in the end.
This he does as his Gypsy love dies saving his life by
dying with a dagger plunged into her breast and Price
is smothered in quicksand.
And you guessed it. Granger and his lady love embrace
in the last scene. Sheer escapism, but what enjoyment.
The Magic Bow
I haven't seen this one. (S&P) Magic Bow drags on and on. SG does a good job pretending to play the violin.
(PG) Gainsborough British
Forbidden to marry French Aristocrat Phyllis Calvert,
who is instead given to the villainous French
nobleman, Dennis Price, by Napoleon, Granger sets out
to be the greatest violinist of his day, thus making
him worthy of Calvert. This is despite the love of a
fiery italian girl (Jean Kent).
No need to guess who wins. Granger, of course.
However the story is told with such great style, and
Granger, with his long wild hair do is more than a
match for Dennis Price, Napoleon etc. The famed Yehudi
Menuhin actually plays the violin for the movie, but
so good did Granger look that he received compliments
from professional violinists.
A must see.
Captain Boycott
This movie, set in Ireland, is about a group of farmers and their struggle against unfair treatment by Captain Boycott.
(S&P)Captain Boycott - SG's last British Film, quite good, but the appearances of both the incomparable Alistair Sims and Cecil Parker (Boycott) and a cameo by Robert Donat are the standouts - and that horse is to die for!
(PG) Rank British
Robert Donat makes a cameo appearance as the famed
Irish Politician Parnell. Granger complicates the
issue by falling in love with an English supporter.
Kathleen Ryan, then all sorts of complication take
place.
Well produced and filmed in Ireland, this is an
interesting and enjoyable movie.
Blanche Fury
In this Gothic romance a young woman, Blanche, goes to the estate of the Furys. The caretaker of the estate is Granger, an illegitimate half-brother of the owner of the estate, so he will never be able to inherit. This makes him very bitter, yet he is also interested in Blanche.
However he eventually kills Blanche's daughter (who has a better claim on the estate) and makes it look like an accident. She is called as a witness in the trial and he is sentenced to be hung.
This is a very good movie, slow moving in some parts, but it is mysterious and keeps you wondering at Granger's intentions.
(S&P)
Blanche Fury - shows that SG can play the villain as well as the hero. The way he arches his eyebrow is absolutely insidious. "Beware Fury's Ape!"
(PG) Rank British
Granger's brooding presence dominates this beautiful
and dramatic movie shot in superb Technicolor. A
really enjoyable drama which pounds ahead with
dramatic pace, this is hard to beat as an example of
the English romantic melodrama.
Clearly worth watching. For Granger fans, this is hard
to beat.
Saraband for Dead Lovers
I've just started watching this one and so far it isn't living up to some of his others of this time period. The count (Granger) falls in love with a woman married to a prince and she with him. One thing that bugs me about this movie has to do with the color and lighting- it isn't very good (I don't believe it is only my TV).
(PG) Ealing Studios Britian
One film that did bring considerable critical acclaim
was Saraband For Dead Lovers. The story of the ill
fated lover affair between the German Princess Sophia
Dorothea of Hanover (and wife of the soon to be King
George I of England) and the Swedish Count Philip Von
Konigsmark. This is a truly superb movie.
Beautifully produced with top rate production values,
filmed in magnificent Technicolor, and a perfect cast,
this is the argument against the view that Granger was
only a box office attraction. He was justifiably proud
of this movie, and his flawless performance is
testimony to this. While looking dashing and handsome,
Granger portrays a rough mercenary soldier with
initially few morals and only an interest in power,
money and love without complications.
Joan Greenwood as Sophia Dorethea compliments Granger
perfectly with her gentleness and courage. That such a
man could change is believable and Granger is most
convincing.
The bad news for Granger fans is that he is stabbed in
the back while dueling and then killed by his aging
mistress Flora Robson while attempting to escape with
the Princess.
Essential Granger viewing. As an aside MGM told
Stewart Granger that it was this performance which
persuaded them to offer him a contract to come to
Hollywood.
Woman Hater
I haven't seen this one.
(S&P)Woman Hater - a rare fling at Romantic Comedy and he's quite humorous.
(PG) Rank British
Granger is an English Aristocrat with a dislike for
women and movie stars. Then he meets a French female
movie star (Edwige Feullere) who states all men are
bores. In the end she rents Granger's country estate
and a battle of the sexes takes place.
Handsomely mounted it somehow tries too hard to be
funny and instead becomes boring. Ok in parts but
generally worth missing.
Adam and Evelyne
This was Simmons and Granger's first movie together. I remember from his book that one of the reasons it was made was to get the public used to the idea of the two of them being a romantic couple as she was some years younger. Other than it was set in modern times I can't remember much about it. (I really need to rewatch these movies!)
(S&P)
Adam & Evelyne - one look at Jean Simmons as SG's "ward" whom he later falls in love with and you can see why he married her! In his autobiography, he admitted he fell in love with her on the set - he was 36, she was 19.
(PG) Rank British
Granger and Simmons clearly enjoyed working together
and the publicity at the time of the marriage ensured
it would be a box office success.
Ideal viewing when you don't want to worried about
life but instead want to look at a handsome movie
couple.
In a word. Pleasant.
1944
1946
1946
One,Two,
-1947-Stewart Granger, Phyllis Calvert, Jean Kent, Dennis Price, Cecil Parker, Mary Lohr, Henry Edwards
Dir-Bernard Knowles
Whether this is an accurate portrayal of the legendary
violinist, Nicolo Paganini, hardly matters. This is
tremendous entertainment with Stewart giving a bravado
performance and managing to play the violin as if he
were Paganini.
OneTwo
-1947-Stewart Granger, Kathleen Ryan, Cecil Parker, Mervyn Johns, Alastair Sim
Dir-Frank Launder
Not a great movie but certainly one worth watching.
Set in 19th Century Ireland and concerning the Irish
struggle against the English Landlords. Stewart
Granger is an Irish farmer leading the fight against
the villainous English Captain Boycott (Cecil Parker)
who specializes in raising the rent then evicting
impoverished Irish farmers.
One,Two
-1947-Stewart Granger, Valerie Hobson, Walter Fitzgerald, Micheal Gough, Maurice Denham
Dir-Marc Allegret
Something of a cross between Wuthering Heights and
Jane Eyre, this the saga of Philip Thorn, denied the
ownership of an English Country estate because of his
supposed illegitimacy and forced to work as the Estate
Manager for the new owners who have taken his father'Rs
family name. To complicate matters, Thorn falls in
love with the new owners wife, a socially ambition
former governess, Blanche Fury (Valerie Hobson).
-1948-Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood
Dir-Basil Dearden
While a major box office attraction, Granger seldom
received critical acclaim for his movies. Most critics
thought it smart to make fun of his popularity.
One
-1949-Stewart Granger
Dir-Terence Young
This was probably given to Stewart Granger as a change
of pace. As a romantic comedy it somehow does not
quite click, despite the best efforts of all.
One
-1949-Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons, Edwin Styles, Raymond Young, Helen Cherry, Beatrice Varley
Dir-Harold French
The last stop before King Solomon's Mines. This is a
most pleasant romantic comedy about a dashing guardian
who falls in love with his teenage ward. The first
pairing of real life husband and wife Stewart Granger
and Jean Simmons.
