Two Crowded Hours

Infobox Film
name = Two Crowded Hours


image_size =
caption = John Longden (right) and Jerry Verno (centre)
director = Michael Powell
producer = Jerome Jackson
Henry Cohen
writer = Joseph Jefferson Farjeon
narrator =
starring = John Longden
Jane Welsh Jerry Verno
music =
cinematography = Geoffrey Faithfull
editing = Arthur Seabourne
distributor = Fox Film Company "(UK)"
Twentieth Century-Fox "(USA)"
released = 8 July, fy|1931 "(London)"
28 December, fy|1931 "(UK)"
runtime = 43 min
country = UK
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0022511

"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.

Plot

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.

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 fy|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.

Cast

* John Longden as Harry Fielding
* Jane Welsh as Joyce Danton
* Jerry Verno as Jim
* Michael Hogan as Scammell
* Edward Barber as Tom Murray

ubsequent History

"Two Crowded Hours" was declared to be "Missing, Believed Lost" by the British Film Institute. [ [http://www.britishpictures.com/articles/missing.htm Missing, Believed Lost] ]

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Chibnal, Steve. "Quota Quickies : The Birth of the British 'B' Film". London: BFI, 2007. ISBN 1-844-57155-6
* Powell, Michael. "A Life in Movies: An Autobiography". London: Heinemann, 1986. ISBN 0-434-59945-X.

External links

*imdb title|0022511
*amg movie|1:138800
* [http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/31_TwoCrowded/index.html "Two Crowded Hours"] reviews and articles at the [http://www.powell-pressburger.org Powell & Pressburger Pages]