John Baxter (director)
Encyclopedia
John Philip Baxter was a somewhat prolific British film-maker active from the 1930s to the late 1950s. During that time he produced, wrote, or directed dozens of films. He directed Deborah Kerr
in her first leading role in Love on the Dole
(1941), and was the producer-director for the musical-comedy films of Flanagan and Allen
during World War II
.
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr, CBE was a Scottish film and television actress from Glasgow. She won the Sarah Siddons Award for her Chicago performance as Laura Reynolds in Tea and Sympathy, a role which she originated on Broadway, a Golden Globe Award for the motion picture The King and I, and was a three-time...
in her first leading role in Love on the Dole
Love on the Dole (film)
Love on the Dole is a 1941 British drama film starring Deborah Kerr and Clifford Evans. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Walter Greenwood.- Plot summary :...
(1941), and was the producer-director for the musical-comedy films of Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Filmography
Director- Doss House (1933)
- Song of the Plough (1933)
- Flood Tide (1934)
- Lest We Forget (1934)
- Music Hall (1934)
- Kentucky MinstrelsKentucky MinstrelsThe Kentucky Minstrels were a team formed under the leadership of Duncan Bruce to study a scheme during World War II to cover the River Thames with soot in order to conceal it from German Bombers....
(1934) - Say It With FlowersSay It With FlowersSay It With Flowers is a 1934 British musical film directed by John Baxter and starring Mary Clare, Ben Field and George Carney. In London a group of shopkeepers hold a benefit concert in a local pub to raise money for a woman to visit the seaside for her health...
(1934) - Jimmy Boy (1935)
- A Real Bloke (1935)
- The Small Man (1935)
- Men of Yesterday (1936)
- Birds of a FeatherBirds of a Feather (1936 film)Birds of a Feather is a 1936 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring George Robey, Horace Hodges and Eve Lister. A sausage-making tycoon rents a castle from an impoverished aristocrat...
(1936) - Hearts of Humanity (1936)
- The Song of the Road (1937)
- The Academy DecidesThe Academy DecidesThe Academy Decides is a 1937 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring April Vivian, Henry Oscar, John Oxford and Wensley Russell....
(1937) - Talking Feet (1937)
- Stepping ToesStepping ToesStepping Toes is a 1938 British musical film directed by John Baxter and starring Hazel Ascot, Enid Stamp-Taylor and Jack Barty. It was made by Two Cities Films...
(1938) - Secret JourneySecret Journey (film)Secret Journey is a 1939 British thriller film directed by John Baxter and starring Basil Radford, Silvia St. Claire and Thorley Walters. A British agent travels to Berlin to recover a top-secret invention that has been stolen by German intelligence.-Cast:...
(1939) - What Would You Do, Chums?What Would You Do, Chums?What Would You Do, Chums? is a 1939 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Syd Walker, Jean Gillie, Cyril Chamberlain and Peter Gawthorne.-Cast:* Syd Walker - Himself/Narrator* Jean Gillie - Lucy* Cyril Chamberlain - Mike Collins...
(1939) - Old Mother Riley in Society (1940)
- Laugh It OffLaugh It Off (1940 film)Laugh It Off is a 1940 British musical comedy film directed by John Baxter and Wallace Orton and starring Tommy Trinder, Jean Colin, Anthony Hulme and Marjorie Browne.-Cast:* Tommy Trinder - Tommy Towers* Jean Colin - Sally* Anthony Hulme - Somers...
(1940) - Love on the DoleLove on the Dole (film)Love on the Dole is a 1941 British drama film starring Deborah Kerr and Clifford Evans. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Walter Greenwood.- Plot summary :...
(1941) - The Common TouchThe Common TouchThe Common Touch is a 1941 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Geoffrey Hibbert, Harry Welchman, Greta Gynt and Joyce Howard.-Cast:* Geoffrey Hibbert - Peter Henderson* Harry Welchman - 'Lincoln's Inn'* Greta Gynt - Sylvia Meadows...
(1941) - Crook's TourCrook's TourCrook's Tour is a 1941 British film directed by John Baxter featuring Charters and Caldicott. It is adapted from a BBC radio serials of the same name.-Plot:Charters and Caldicott are touring the Middle East...
(1941) - Old Mother Riley's GhostsOld Mother Riley's GhostsOld Mother Riley's Ghosts is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Stuart. It was part of the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Old Mother Riley inherits a castle in Scotland, but it appears to be haunted.-Cast:* Arthur Lucan ... ...
(1941) - Old Mother Riley in BusinessOld Mother Riley in BusinessOld Mother Riley in Business is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Cyril Chamberlain. It was part of the long-running Old Mother Riley series of films. Old Mother Riley's pub faces competition from a large chain store nearby, causing her...
(1941) - We'll Smile AgainWe'll Smile AgainWe'll Smile Again is a 1942 British musical comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Meinhart Maur. A ring of Nazi spies infiltrate a film studio planning to use it for sending coded messages, but they are foiled by two of the low-level staff at the...
(1942) - Let the People SingLet the People Sing (film)Let the People Sing is a 1942 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Alastair Sim, Fred Emney and Edward Rigby. A small town bands together to try to save their music hall from closure. It was based on the novel Let the People Sing by J.B...
(1942) - The ShipbuildersThe ShipbuildersThe Shipbuilders is a 1943 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Clive Brook, Morland Graham and Nell Ballantyne. The film is set in a Clyde shipyard in the build-up to the Second World War. It was based on a novel by George Blake.-Cast:...
(1943) - Theatre RoyalTheatre Royal (film)Theatre Royal is a 1943 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Peggy Dexter. A theatre is threatened with closure, but its staff fight to raise funds and secure the support of an important backer.-Cast:...
(1943) - DreamingDreaming (film)Dreaming is a 1944 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Hazel Court. Its plot concerns a soldier who is knocked unconscious during a battle and has a series of bizarre dreams.-Cast:* Bud Flanagan - Bud...
(1945) - Here Comes the SunHere Comes the Sun (film)Here Comes the Sun is a 1946 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Elsa Tee. A sports reporter, on the run from the police, tries to clear his name.-Cast:* Bud Flanagan - Corona Flanagan...
(1946) - The Grand EscapadeThe Grand EscapadeThe Grand Escapade is a 1946 British family adventure film directed by John Baxter and starring James Harcourt, Patric Curwen and Peter Bull...
(1946) - Fortune LaneFortune LaneFortune Lane is a 1947 British family drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Douglas Barr, Billy Thatcher and Brian Weske. A boy tries to raise money so he can train to be an engineer, but ends up giving the money to a friend so he can visit an ill relative.-Cast:* Douglas Barr - Peter...
(1947) - Nothing Venture (1948)
- When You Come HomeWhen You Come HomeWhen You Come Home is a 1948 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Frank Randle, Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes. When the music hall where he works is threatened with closure, a handyman organises an effort to save it...
(1948) - Three Bags Full (1949)
- The Dragon of Pendragon Castle (1950)
- The Second MateThe Second MateThe Second Mate is a 1950 British crime film directed by John Baxter and starring Gordon Harker, Graham Moffatt and David Hannaford.-Cast:* Gordon Harker - Bill Tomkins* Graham Moffatt - Paddy* David Hannaford - Bobby* Beryl Walkeley - Kate...
(1950) - Judgment DeferredJudgment DeferredJudgment Deferred is a 1952 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Hugh Sinclair, Helen Shingler and Abraham Sofaer. With the assistance of a journalist a group of refugees try and unmask the criminal who has framed one of their number as a drug dealer.-Selected cast:* Hugh...
(1952) - The Last Load (1953)
- Ramsbottom Rides AgainRamsbottom Rides AgainRamsbottom Rides Again is a 1955 British western comedy film starring Arthur Askey as the title hero Bill Ramsbottom, with Sid James, pop singer Frankie Vaughan and Campbell Singer in supporting roles....
(1956)
Further reading
- Geoff Brown and Tony Aldgate (1989). The Common Touch: The Films of John Baxter. London: British Film Institute. ISBN 0851702422.