The Calendar (1948 film)

1948 British film by Arthur Crabtree

The Calendar

Original pressbook

Directed by| Arthur Crabtree
Written by| Geoffrey Kerr
Based on| The Calendar
by Edgar Wallace
Produced by| Antony Darnborough
Starring| Greta Gynt
John McCallum
Cinematography| Cyril J. Knowles
Reginald H. Wyer
Edited by| Jean Barker
Music by| Arthur Wilkinson

Production
company

Gainsborough Pictures

Distributed by| General Film Distributors (UK)
Eagle Lion (US)

Release dates

* 26 May 1948 (1948-05-26) (London, UK)

Running time

| 79 minutes
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English
Box office| £92,000 (by July 1953([1]

The Calendar is a black and white 1948 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Greta Gynt, John McCallum, Raymond Lovell and Leslie Dwyer.[2] It is based on the 1929 play The Calendar and subsequent novel by Edgar Wallace. A previous version had been released in 1931.[3]

## Plot

[edit]

Garry is a racehorse owner. After he loses money at the races, his fiancee Wenda jilts him and marries Lord Willis Panniford, whose sister Molly trains Garry's horses.

Whilst drowning his sorrows, Garry becomes involved in a big-race scandal. The plot is to steal his own prize horse before a race, therefore increasing the odds in another big upcoming race, the Ascot Gold Cup.

Stewards run an inquiry into the running of Garry's horse. Wenda is called as a witness. She denies that Garry's first telegram telling her not to back his horse was cancelled out by another message from him, which was sent before the race.

Molly knows that Garry stopped the dishonest running plan. She gets Garry's second note that he had originally sent to Wenda, and shows it to the stewards just before the running of the Gold Cup race.

Garry is cleared of all charges.[4]

## Cast

[edit]

* Greta Gynt as Wenda Panniford
* John McCallum as Captain Garry Anson
* Raymond Lovell as Lord Willie Panniford
* Sonia Holm as Lady Mollie Panniford
* Leslie Dwyer as Sam Hillcott
* Charles Victor as John Dory
* Felix Aylmer as Lord Forlingham
* Diana Dors as Hawkins
* Cyril Chamberlain as Customs Official
* Sidney King as Tony
* Noel Howlett as Lawyer
* Barry Jones as Sir John Garth
* Claude Bailey as Lord Inspond
* Desmond Roberts as Rainby
* Fred Payne as Andy Lynn

## Production

[edit]

The Calendar had been a popular novel and play which was previously filmed in 1931. Sydney Box decided on a remake as part of his slate of movies at Gainsborough Studios.

In June 1947, Gainsborough announced that the film would feature the comedy team of Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne.[5] Neither actor appears in the final movie. The film was to be one of two movies about horse racing made by Gainsborough the other being Becher's Brook. The films were scheduled to be directed by Maurice Elvey but he was fired by Gainsborough's head of production Sydney Box and replaced by Arthur Crabtree.[6]

It was an early lead role for Australian actor John McCallum who had been in The Loves of Joanna Godden. Filming took place in October 1947.[7] It was mostly shot at Gainsborough's Islington studios in London. There was location filming at Ascot and Hurst Park.[8] It was the first time royal permission was given to film on the royal course.[9]

## Reception

[edit]

David Parkinson, in the Radio Times, wrote, "British cinema was heavily dependent on the mysteries of Edgar Wallace in the early talkie era. Few of these creaky thrillers were ever remade, until someone at Gainsborough Productions felt the need to bring this veritable stage warhorse under starter's orders for a second time. It's all clipped accents and impossibly earnest hamming from the off...fans of Dick Francis may find it amusing."[10] Halliwell's Film and Video Guide says it is a "very average racecourse melodrama",[11] while Britmovie has described the film as a "tepid melodrama".[12]

By July 1953, its net revenue was £93,000 a performance regarded by John Davis of Rank as "average".[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Spicer, Andrew (2006). Sydney Box. Manchester Uni Press. p. 210\. ISBN 9780719059995.
2. ^ "The Calendar". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009.
3. ^ "The Calendar (1948) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
4. ^ "The Calendar". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 16, no. 28\. Australia. 18 December 1948. p. 34. Retrieved 27 June 2020 - via National Library of Australia.
5. ^ "British Film Lots". Variety. 18 June 1947. p. 15.
6. ^ "Axing by Syd Box". Variety. 23 July 1947. p. 21.
7. ^ "New Role For Australia's John McCallum". The Sun. No. 11, 770. New South Wales, Australia. 16 October 1947. p. 16 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 27 June 2020 - via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ "'The Calendar' Made Again As A Film". Weekly Times. No. 4208\. Victoria, Australia. 15 February 1950. p. 49. Retrieved 27 October 2017 - via National Library of Australia.
9. ^ "'The Calendar' Made Again As A Film". Weekly Times. No. 4208\. Victoria, Australia. 15 February 1950. p. 49. Retrieved 27 June 2020 - via National Library of Australia.
10. ^ David Parkinson. "The Calendar". RadioTimes.
11. ^ Halliweel, Leslie (1999). Walker, John (ed.). Halliwell's Film and Video Guide 2000. London: Harper Collins Entertainment.
12. ^ "The Calendar". britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* The Calendar at IMDb
* July 1948 review of film at Variety
* The Calendar at Letterbx DVD
* The Calendar at BFI
* Complete original novel at Project Gutenberg

* v
* t
* e

The films of Arthur Crabtree

* Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945)
* They Were Sisters (1945)
* Caravan (1946)
* Dear Murderer (1947)
* The Calendar (1948)
* Quartet (segment) (1948)
* Don't Ever Leave Me (1949)
* Lilli Marlene (1950)
* Hindle Wakes (1952)
* The Wedding of Lilli Marlene (1953)
* Stryker of the Yard (1953)
* Morning Call (1957)
* West of Suez (1957)
* Death Over My Shoulder (1958)
* Fiend Without a Face (1958)
* Horrors of the Black Museum (1959)

* v
* t
* e

Edgar Wallace

Novels|

* The Four Just Men (1905)
* Angel Esquire (1908)
* The Council of Justice (1908)
* Captain Tatham (1909)
* The Duke in the Suburbs (1909)
* The Nine Bears (1910)
* Private Selby (1912)
* The Fourth Plague (1913)
* Grey Timothy (1913)
* The River of Stars (1913)
* The Man Who Bought London (1915)
* The Melody of Death (1915)
* A Debt Discharged (1916)
* The Tomb of Ts'in (1916)
* The Just Men of Cordova (1917)
* The Secret House (1917)
* The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1918)
* Down Under Donovan (1918)
* The Man Who Knew (1918)
* Those Folk of Bulboro (1918)
* The Green Rust (1919)
* Kate Plus Ten (1919)
* The Daffodil Mystery (1920)
* Jack O'Judgment (1920)
* The Book of All Power (1921)
* The Law of the Four Just Men (1921)
* The Angel of Terror (1922)
* The Crimson Circle (1922)
* The Flying Fifty-Five (1922)
* Mr. Justice Maxell (1922)
* The Valley of Ghosts (1922)
* The Clue of the New Pin (1923)
* The Green Archer (1923)
* The Missing Million (1923)
* The Dark Eyes of London (1924)
* Double Dan (1924)
* The Face in the Night (1924)
* Room 13 (1924)
* The Sinister Man (1924)
* The Three Oak Mystery (1924)
* Blue Hand (1925)
* The Fellowship of the Frog (1925)
* The Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder (1925)
* The Strange Countess (1925)
* The Three Just Men (1925)
* The Avenger (1926)
* Barbara on Her Own (1926)
* The Black Abbot (1926)
* The Northing Tramp (1926)
* The Terrible People (1926)
* The Yellow Snake (1926)
* The Big Foot (1927)
* Terror Keep (1927)
* The Traitor's Gate (1927)
* The Squeaker (1927)
* The Forger (1927)
* Again the Three (1928)
* The Gunner (1928)
* Four Square Jane (1929)
* The Green Ribbon (1929)
* The India-Rubber Men (1929)
* The Calendar (1930)
* The Clue of the Silver Key (1930)
* The Lady of Ascot (1930)
* The Man at the Carlton (1931)
* The Guv'nor and Other Short Stories (1932)

Plays|

* An African Millionaire (1904)
* M'Lady (1921)
* Double Dan (1927)
* The Terror (1927)
* The Man Who Changed His Name (1928)
* The Calendar (1929)
* Persons Unknown (1929)
* On the Spot (1930)
* The Mouthpiece (1930)
* Smoky Cell (1930)
* The Old Man (1931)

Screenplays|

* The Valley of Ghosts (1928)
* The Hound of the Baskervilles (1932)
* King Kong (1933)

Adaptations|

| J. G. Reeder|

* Mr. Reeder in Room 13 (1938)
* The Mind of Mr. Reeder (1939)
* The Missing People (1940)
* The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969, TV series)

|

The Four Just Men|

* The Four Just Men (1921)
* The Four Just Men (1939)
* The Four Just Men (1959, TV series)

Edgar Wallace Mysteries|

* Urge to Kill (1960)
* Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960)
* The Malpas Mystery (1960)
* Marriage of Convenience (1960)
* The Clue of the New Pin (1961)
* Man at the Carlton Tower (1961)
* The Fourth Square (1961)
* Man Detained (1961)
* Attempt to Kill (1961)
* Clue of the Silver Key (1961)
* Never Back Losers (1961)
* Partners in Crime (1961)
* The Sinister Man (1961)
* Time to Remember (1962)
* Playback (1962)
* Solo for Sparrow (1962)
* Locker Sixty-Nine (1962)
* Incident at Midnight (1963)
* Return to Sender (1963)
* Ricochet (1963)
* Accidental Death (1963)
* Five to One (1963)
* The Verdict (1964)
* We Shall See (1964)
* Act of Murder (1964)
* Change Partners (1965)

Rialto Films|

* Der Frosch mit der Maske (1959)
* The Crimson Circle (1960)
* The Avenger (1960)
* The Terrible People (1960)
* The Green Archer (1961)
* The Dead Eyes of London (1961)
* The Devil's Daffodil (1961)
* The Forger of London (1961)
* The Strange Countess (1961)
* The Puzzle of the Red Orchid (1962)
* The Door with Seven Locks (1962)
* The Inn on the River (1962)
* The Curse of the Yellow Snake (1963)
* The Squeaker (1963)
* The Black Abbot (1963)
* The Indian Scarf (1963)
* Room 13 (1964)
* The Curse of the Hidden Vault (1964)
* Der Hexer (1964)
* The Traitor's Gate (1964)
* Neues vom Hexer (1965)
* The Sinister Monk (1965)
* The Hunchback of Soho (1966)
* The Trygon Factor (1966)
* Creature with the Blue Hand (1967)
* The Monk with the Whip (1967)
* The Hound of Blackwood Castle (1968)
* Im Banne des Unheimlichen (1968)
* The Gorilla of Soho (1968)
* Double Face (1969)
* The Man with the Glass Eye (1969)
* The Body in the Thames (1971)

Other|

* The Man Who Bought London (1916)
* The Green Terror (1919)
* Pallard the Punter (1919)
* Angel Esquire (1919)
* Wanted at Headquarters (1920)
* The River of Stars (1921)
* The Crimson Circle (1922)
* Down Under Donovan (1922)
* Melody of Death (1922)
* The Diamond Man (1924)
* The Flying Fifty-Five (1924)
* The Green Archer (1925 serial)
* The Great Unknown (1927)
* The Terror (1928)
* Mark of the Frog (1928 serial)
* Chick (1928)
* The Forger (1928)
* The Terrible People (1928 serial)
* The Ringer (1928)
* The Man Who Changed His Name (1928)
* The Flying Squad (1929)
* The Crimson Circle (1929)
* The Clue of the New Pin (1929)
* Red Aces (1930)
* The Squeaker (1930)
* The Yellow Mask (1930)
* The Ringer (1931)
* To Oblige a Lady (1931)
* The Calendar (1931)
* The Old Man (1931)
* The Squeaker (1931)
* The Flying Squad (1932)
* The Frightened Lady (1932)
* The Ringer (1932)
* The Menace (1932)
* White Face (1932)
* Giallo (1933)
* The Jewel (1933)
* Before Dawn (1933)
* The Double (1934)
* Mystery Liner (1934)
* The Green Pack (1934)
* The Feathered Serpent (1934)
* The Lad (1935)
* Sanders of the River (1935)
* Born to Gamble (1935)
* Chick (1936)
* Educated Evans (1936)
* The Crimson Circle (1936)
* Prison Breaker (1936)
* Strangers on Honeymoon (1936)
* The Frog (1937)
* The Squeaker (1937)
* The Gaunt Stranger (1938)
* Dangerous to Know (1938)
* Kate Plus Ten (1938)
* Thank Evans (1938)
* The Terror (1938)
* The Return of the Frog (1938)
* Flying Fifty-Five (1939)
* The Dark Eyes of London (1939)
* The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940)
* The Door with Seven Locks (1940)
* The Flying Squad (1940)
* The Green Archer (1940 serial)
* The Missing Million (1942)
* The Calendar (1948)
* The Ringer (1952)
* The Avenger (1960)
* Death Drums Along the River (1963)
* Coast of Skeletons (1964)
* Circus of Fear (1966)
* Five Golden Dragons (1967)
* The Devil Came from Akasava (1970)
* The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971)
* What Have You Done to Solange? (1972)
* Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (1972)

Television|

* Educated Evans (1957–58)

Parodies and pastiches|

* Der Wixxer (2004)

Family|

* Mary Jane Richards (mother)
* Marriott Edgar (half-brother)
* Bryan Edgar Wallace (son)

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