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Two Crowded Hours
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Wikipedia article
'Two Crowded Hours' is a 1931 British comedy drama film directed by Michael Powell and starring John Longden, Jane Welsh, and Jerry Verno. It was made as a Quota quickie and is the first film where Powell is credited as the director. No known copies of the film have survived to the present day, and 'Two Crowded Hours' has been declared to be "Missing, Believed Lost" by the British Film Institute.[http://www.britishpictures.com/articles/missing.htm Missing, Believed Lost]
Premise
A murderer is on the run from prison and is out to get everyone, especially the girl (Jane Welsh), 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.
Cast
* John Longden as Harry Fielding
* Jane Welsh as Joyce Danton
* Jerry Verno as Jim
* Michael Hogan as Scammell
* Edward Barber as Tom Murray
Production
Michael Powell'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".Powell, 1986 Although a few stills survive, there is no known print of 'Two Crowded Hours' in existence.
Status
'Two Crowded Hours' has been declared to be "Missing, Believed Lost" by the British Film Institute.[http://www.britishpictures.com/articles/missing.htm Missing, Believed Lost] It is 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).
References
Notes
Bibliography
* Chibnal, Steve. 'Quota Quickies : The Birth of the British 'B' Film'. London: BFI, 2007.
* Powell, Michael. 'A Life in Movies: An Autobiography'. London: Heinemann, 1986. .
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