Writing

Leslie Arliss

Born October 6, 1901 · London, England

Died December 30, 1987 · aged 86

A British director and screenwriter born in London. He began his career as a journalist and entered the film industry as a screenwriter in the 1920s. In 1941, he became a director at British Associated Producers and later took charge of Gainsborough Pictures. Subsequently, he also worked for British Lion Films, founded by Alexander Korda. His notable works include *Eyes of the Night* (1942), *The …

Known For

The Wicked LadyThe Wicked Lady · 1983
The Wicked Lady
4.91983
MovieDramaAdventure
Caroline is to be wed to Sir Ralph and invites her sister Barbara to be her bridesmaid. Barbara seduces Ralph, however, and she becomes the new Lady, but despite her new wealthy situation, she gets bored and turns to highway robbery for thrills. While on the road she meets a famous highwayman, and they continue as a team, but some people begin suspecting her identity, and she risks death if she continues her nefarious activities.
The Farmer's WifeThe Farmer's Wife · 1928
The Farmer's Wife
5.61928
MovieComedyDrama
Successful middle-aged farmer Samuel Sweetland becomes widowed, then his daughter marries and leaves home. Deciding he wishes to remarry, Sweetland pursues some local women he considers prospects.
The Man in GreyThe Man in Grey · 1943
The Man in Grey
6.11943
MovieDramaRomance
After marrying a dour and disinterested lord for status, a young woman falls in love with a stage actor while her best friend from boarding school enters an affair with her husband.
Windbag the SailorWindbag the Sailor · 1936
Windbag the Sailor
7.51936
MovieComedy
Will Hay plays a bragging sea captain whose maritime experience actually extends to navigating a coal barge down inland waterways. His tall tales catch him out when he is co-erced into commanding an unseaworthy ship by an unscrupulous shipping agent who means to have it wrecked. This was the first film to couple Will Hay with both Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt.
The Wicked LadyThe Wicked Lady · 1945
The Wicked Lady
6.31945
MovieDramaAdventure
A married woman finds new thrills as a masked robber on the highways.
Love StoryLove Story · 1944
Love Story
6.51944
MovieDramaRomance
After discovering that she has only a short time left to live, concert pianist Lissa travels to Cornwall for the final fling of her life. While there, she falls in love with young mineral prospector Kit, a man whose dark secret prevents him from fighting in the War. Unbeknownst to Lissa, however, Kit's affections are also much in demand from a rival of hers.
Pastor HallPastor Hall · 1940
Pastor Hall
8.01940
MovieDrama
The village of Altdorf has to come to terms with Chancellor Hitler and the arrival of a platoon of Stormtroopers. The Stormtroopers go about teaching and enforcing "The New Order", but Pastor Hall, a kind and gentle man, won't be cowed. Some villagers join the Nazi party avidly, and some just go along with things, hoping for a quiet life, but Pastor Hall takes his convictions to the pulpit.
The Foreman Went to FranceThe Foreman Went to France · 1942
The Foreman Went to France
6.61942
MovieWarDrama
Based on the true story of Melbourne Johns, an aircraft factory foreman sent to France to prevent the Nazis getting hold of some vital equipment.

Filmography

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My Old DutchMy Old Dutch · 1934
My Old Dutch
4.01934
MovieDrama
Moving family drama of the life of a working-class Hackney couple over 40 years, inspired by the famous music hall song This moving family drama - with time for some laughs - portrays the life and hardships of a working class Hackney couple over a span of 40 years. Our intrepid couple (wonderfully played by Betty Balfour and Michael Hogan) have to face everything life throws at them with fortitude, from the Great War (a son in the RAF and zeppelin raids) to a raging oil fire during the Great Strike. The inimitable Gordon Harker provides sterling support. The film the couple watch at the cinema is the 1915 version of My Old Dutch, starring Albert Chevalier (writer of the original music hall song) and Florence Turner. As the complete silent film is now believed to be lost, this 1934 version contains the only surviving footage.

Story

Where There's a WillWhere There's a Will · 1936
Where There's a Will
7.11936
MovieComedy
Will Hay plays the pennyless, bungling solicitor Benjamin Stubbins, who arrives at his office to find his insolent office boy (Graham Moffatt) with his feet up on the desk, reading a wild west magazine, which Hay confiscates so that he can read it later. Stubbins later takes a job from a group of Americans who claim they want him to track down some ancestors of theirs in Scotland. In reality however they want to use his office so they can rob a safe in the room immediately below his office. Stubbins takes the job (which is designed to keep him out of the office). In the end Stubbins realises his mistake and at a Christmas Eve fancy dress party he informs a group of carol singing policeman about the Americans nefarious activities

Story