Cast: James Donald

Direction John Sturges

Cast Steve McQueen · James Garner · Charles Bronson · Richard Attenborough

Synopsis The Great Escape (1963) follows a group of Allied prisoners of war, meticulously selected by the German high command for their exceptional escape attempts, who are confined in a seemingly inescapable POW camp. Under the leadership of Roger "Big X"...

Direction David Lean

Cast William Holden · Alec Guinness · Jack Hawkins · James Donald

Synopsis The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) follows the story of British prisoners of war in Burma who are tasked by their Japanese captors to construct a vital railway bridge. Colonel Nicholson, who led his unit to surrender, insists on...

Direction Vincente Minnelli

Cast Kirk Douglas · Anthony Quinn · James Donald · Pamela Brown

Synopsis Lust for Life (1956) is a cinematic portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh's life, drawn from the acclaimed novel by Irving Stone and the letters exchanged between Vincent and his brother Theo. Kirk Douglas delivers a powerful performance as the troubled...

Direction Richard Fleischer

Cast Kirk Douglas · Tony Curtis · Ernest Borgnine · Janet Leigh

Synopsis The Vikings (1958) follows the tale of Einar and Eric, two Viking half-brothers with vastly different backgrounds. Einar is a formidable warrior, while Eric is a former slave, each unaware of the other's true identity. As the throne of Northumbria...

Direction Bryan Forbes

Cast George Segal · Tom Courtenay · James Fox · Patrick O'Neal

Synopsis King Rat (1965) follows the story of George Segal, a cunning and resourceful prisoner in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Known as "King Rat" for his unconventional method of breeding rats to supplement the meager rations of...

Direction Alfred Hitchcock

Cast Wendell Corey · James Donald · Arnold Moss · Weaver Lee

Synopsis Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Poison (TV) (1958) opens with Harry Pope in a state of alarm as he awakens to find a slithering snake coiled on his abdomen. The unsettling discovery sets the stage for a tense and suspenseful narrative, as...

Direction Roy Ward Baker

Cast James Donald · Andrew Keir · Barbara Shelley · Julian Glover

Synopsis Quatermass and the Pit (1967) follows a group of laborers in London who, while digging at a new underground station, stumble upon the fossilized remains of prehistoric apes with unusually large skulls. As they continue their excavation, they uncover an...

Direction George Cukor

Cast Spencer Tracy · Deborah Kerr · Ian Hunter · James Donald

Synopsis Edward, My Son (1949) follows the narrative of Arnold and Evelyn Boult, London-based parents who had grand aspirations for their son, Edward. Despite their hopes, Edward's life was marked by privilege but also by a lack of responsibility. Tragically, his...

Direction Alfred Hitchcock

Cast James Donald · Patricia Owens · Werner Klemperer · Ben Astar

Synopsis Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Crystal Trench (TV) (1959) follows the harrowing journey of Stella Ballister (Patricia Owens), who is devastated to learn of her husband's tragic death during a mountain climbing expedition. In the aftermath, Stella requests the recovery of...

Direction Curtis Bernhardt

Cast Stewart Granger · Elizabeth Taylor · Peter Ustinov · Robert Morley

Synopsis Beau Brummell (1954) follows the life of Captain George Brummell, a fashionable and witty aristocrat known for his impeccable style and sharp tongue. After a series of events leads to his dismissal from the army, including a notable incident where...

Direction Basil Dearden

Cast Jean Simmons · David Farrar · James Donald · Herbert Lom

Synopsis Cage of Gold (1950) follows the story of a young woman who is devastated by the apparent loss of her husband. After a respectful period of grief, she decides to move on and enters into a new marriage. However, her...

Direction David Lean · Noël Coward

Cast Noël Coward · John Mills · Bernard Miles · Celia Johnson

Synopsis In Which We Serve (1942) is a poignant British film from World War II, inspired by the real-life experiences of Lord Mountbatten's destroyer. The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks as survivors hold onto a lifeboat, weaving together the...

Direction Ken Annakin

Cast Michael Rennie · James MacArthur · Janet Munro · James Donald

Direction Carol Reed

Cast David Niven · Stanley Holloway · James Donald · Peter Ustinov

Synopsis The Way Ahead (1944) follows a diverse group of recruits who are summoned to join the infantry during the tumultuous years of World War II. Initially, these men seem ill-prepared and disorganized, but their dedicated sergeant and lieutenant recognize their...

Direction Michael Winner

Cast Michael Crawford · Oliver Reed · Harry Andrews · James Donald

Synopsis The Jokers (1967) follows the escapades of two brothers, portrayed by Oliver Reed and Michael Crawford, who are determined to achieve success through cunning rather than hard work. Crawford's character often finds himself overshadowed by his brother and frequently ends...

Direction Delbert Mann

Cast Laurence Olivier · Robin Phillips · Michael Redgrave · Ralph Richardson

Direction Melville Shavelson

Cast Kirk Douglas · Senta Berger · Angie Dickinson · James Donald

Synopsis Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) follows the journey of an American Army officer who, post-World War II, is enlisted by the nascent state of Israel to assist in the establishment of their military. This unexpected call to duty stirs deep...

Direction Michael Winner

Cast Robert Mitchum · Sarah Miles · Richard Boone · Candy Clark

Synopsis The Big Sleep (1978) is a gripping adaptation of Raymond Chandler's renowned mystery novel, transposed from its original 1940s Los Angeles backdrop to the gritty streets of 1970s London by director Michael Winner. The story unfolds when affluent General Sternwood...

Direction Irving Lerner

Cast Robert Shaw · Christopher Plummer · Nigel Davenport · Michael Craig

Synopsis The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) follows the Spanish explorer Pizarro as he seizes the Inca god-chief Atahualpa, vowing to release him in exchange for a vast treasure of gold. However, as time passes, Pizarro grapples with an internal...

Direction Michael Winner

Cast Oliver Reed · Michael J. Pollard · Wolfgang Preiss · John Alderton

Synopsis Hannibal Brooks (1969) follows the tale of a prisoner of war who, while employed at a zoo, seizes an opportunity to flee from German captivity. In a daring move, he decides to take along the elephant he has been tending...