Two Crowded Hours
Encyclopedia
Two Crowded Hours is a 1931 British comedy drama film directed by Michael Powell
. It was made as a Quota quickie
and is the first film where Powell is credited as the director.
), who put him there. The detective (John Longden
) gives chase with the help of a London cabbie (Jerry Verno
) who has aspirations of becoming a policeman himself.
's first feature as director, Two Crowded Hours was produced by Jerry Jackson
for the Film Engineering Company and distributed by the British arm of Fox Pictures. With accomplished players John Longden
(star of Blackmail
) and Cockney character actor Jerry Verno
, shooting was completed in 12 days in April 1931 in and around London
's Soho
. "It was played for laughs and thrills", Powell said, "and we were paid £1 per foot by Fox. We got £4,000 on delivery so obviously we had to make it for £3,000". Although a few stills survive, there is no known print of Two Crowded Hours in existence.
. It is currently listed as one of their "75 Most Wanted
" lost films, along with two later Powell films The Price of a Song
(1935) and The Man Behind the Mask
(1936).
Michael Powell (director)
Michael Latham Powell was a renowned English film director, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger...
. It was made as a Quota quickie
Cinematograph Films Act 1927
The Cinematograph Films Act of 1927 was an act of the United Kingdom Parliament designed to stimulate the declining British film industry.-Description:...
and is the first film where Powell is credited as the director.
Plot
A murderer is on the run from prison and is out to get everyone, especially the girl (Jane WelshJane Welsh
-Selected filmography:* The Bells * The Missing Rembrandt * Whispering Tongues * Little Dolly Daydream * Bell-Bottom George * Just William's Luck * William Comes to Town...
), who put him there. The detective (John Longden
John Longden
John Longden was a West Indian-born English film actor. He appeared in 84 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.-Biography:...
) gives chase with the help of a London cabbie (Jerry Verno
Jerry Verno
Jerry Verno was a British film actor. He appeared in 39 films between 1931 and 1966, including five films directed by Michael Powell.He was born in London.-Selected filmography:* Two Crowded Hours...
) who has aspirations of becoming a policeman himself.
Production
Michael PowellMichael Powell (director)
Michael Latham Powell was a renowned English film director, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger...
's first feature as director, Two Crowded Hours was produced by Jerry Jackson
Jerome Jackson (producer)
Jerome Jackson was an American film producer and script writer.He worked with Michael Powell, producing many of the films Powell made in the 1930s-Selected filmography:* Everything Happens to Me...
for the Film Engineering Company and distributed by the British arm of Fox Pictures. With accomplished players John Longden
John Longden
John Longden was a West Indian-born English film actor. He appeared in 84 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.-Biography:...
(star of Blackmail
Blackmail (1929 film)
Blackmail is a 1929 British thriller drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anny Ondra, John Longden, and Cyril Ritchard, and featuring Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood and Charles Paton. The film is based on the play Blackmail by Charles Bennett, as adapted by Hitchcock, with dialogue by...
) and Cockney character actor Jerry Verno
Jerry Verno
Jerry Verno was a British film actor. He appeared in 39 films between 1931 and 1966, including five films directed by Michael Powell.He was born in London.-Selected filmography:* Two Crowded Hours...
, shooting was completed in 12 days in April 1931 in and around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. "It was played for laughs and thrills", Powell said, "and we were paid £1 per foot by Fox. We got £4,000 on delivery so obviously we had to make it for £3,000". Although a few stills survive, there is no known print of Two Crowded Hours in existence.
Cast
- John LongdenJohn LongdenJohn Longden was a West Indian-born English film actor. He appeared in 84 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.-Biography:...
as Harry Fielding - Jane WelshJane Welsh-Selected filmography:* The Bells * The Missing Rembrandt * Whispering Tongues * Little Dolly Daydream * Bell-Bottom George * Just William's Luck * William Comes to Town...
as Joyce Danton - Jerry VernoJerry VernoJerry Verno was a British film actor. He appeared in 39 films between 1931 and 1966, including five films directed by Michael Powell.He was born in London.-Selected filmography:* Two Crowded Hours...
as Jim - Michael Hogan as Scammell
- Edward Barber as Tom Murray
Subsequent History
Two Crowded Hours has been declared to be "Missing, Believed Lost" by the British Film InstituteBritish Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
. It is currently listed as one of their "75 Most Wanted
BFI 75 Most Wanted
The BFI 75 Most Wanted is a list compiled by the British Film Institute of their most sought-after British feature films not currently held in the BFI National Archive, and classified as "missing, believed lost". The films chosen range from quota quickies and B-movies to lavish prestige...
" lost films, along with two later Powell films The Price of a Song
The Price of a Song
The Price of a Song is a British crime film, directed by Michael Powell. The Price of a Song was one of 23 quota quickies directed by Powell between 1931 and 1936 and features a largely forgotten cast – only Felix Aylmer, here in a minor role, would go on to a significant film...
(1935) and The Man Behind the Mask
The Man Behind the Mask
The Man Behind the Mask is a 1936 British mystery film directed by Michael Powell and starring Hugh Williams, Jane Baxter, Ronald Ward, Maurice Schwartz, George Merritt, Henry Oscar and Peter Gawthorne...
(1936).
External links
- Two Crowded Hours reviews and articles at the Powell & Pressburger Pages