Me So Hornleigh
My latest piece is up at the revamped BritMovie.com. I think it’s one of my better commissioned articles. Discover the joys of the INSPECTOR HORNLEIGH films, delightful slices of pre-war comedy-crime, starring Gordon Harker and Greatest Scotsman Ever Alistair Sim.
This, by the way, is the solution to the unguessable “Clews” post.
If you’re moved to comment on the article, you can do so here.
shadowplay 
August 28, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I eagrly await your analysis of the great Sim in the film version of An Inspector Calls.
August 28, 2008 at 6:42 pm
he’s very good in that, ideally chosen, but I prefer his Sgt Bingham and his Inspector Cockrill. And Guy Hamilton doesn’t have the expressionist chops as director to bring out the play’s more supernatural qualities.
Sim is also the world’s greatest Scrooge.
August 28, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I’ve been interested in seeing these films ever since seeing Gordon Harker in Michael Powell’s THE PHANTOM LIGHT. Thanks for the preview, guv’nor.
August 28, 2008 at 7:33 pm
They still don’t seem to be commercially available anywhere, but I have some passable copies I got from a ncie internet chum. I’m always interested in trading with folks with intriguing tastes…
August 28, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I also adore him in The Happiest Days of Your Life.
August 28, 2008 at 9:18 pm
…which I’m STILL trying to get a copy of. I remember it as excellent, but haven’t seen it in YEARS.
August 28, 2008 at 10:37 pm
It’s utter HEAVEN!
August 28, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I may have just tracked down someone who’s holding a copy, so we’ll see soon.
August 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I DID just get ahold of The Anatomist, a classy Burke and Hare retelling with Sim as Dr Knox. That ought to be worth a peek.
February 4, 2009 at 9:40 am
[…] (above), professional reanimated monkeycorpse and comic scene-stealer. Identical to his later INSPECTOR HORNLEIGH roles, except for the addition of a little hair on his head, he dominates the screen simply by […]