
Acting
Fay Compton
Born 1894-09-18 · Fulham, London, England, UK
From Wikipedia Fay Compton CBE (18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978) was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her elder sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century theatrical luminary Henry Compton. Author Compton Mackenzie was her elder brother. Compton's film work is not as well known as her stage appearances. She appeared in more than forty films between 1914 and 1970. Her most popular performances in films are Odd Man Out (1947), Laughter in Paradise (1951), Orson Welles' Othello (1952), The Haunting (1963) and I Start Counting (1969). Among her television performances, she appeared in 1965 with Michael Hordern in the television play, Land of My Dreams by Clive Exton. One of her last major roles was as Aunt Ann in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. She had a successful career in the radio, television and gramophone recordings.
Acting credits
7.1Dr. John Markway recruits three strangers for a sleep-disorder study at the eerie and isolated Hill House. It soon becomes clear his real interest lies in the mansion itself and its sinister history, as they are forced to confront the nature of its horror…
The Haunting
1963
7.4Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.
Othello
1951
A rich man's chauffeur kills his mistress and frames his daughter's fiancé.
London Love
1927
7.3Belfast police conduct a door-to-door manhunt for an IRA gunman wounded in a daring robbery.
Odd Man Out
1947
5.0A wealthy old man dies and leaves his holdings--including a brothel and a gambling den, racing greyhounds and a sleazy bar--to his eccentric Aunt Clara. Clara vows to "clean up" her new establishments, but complications ensue when she visits the crooked gambling den--just as it's being raided by the police.
Aunt Clara
1954
5.5Adaptation of Chekhov's play from the Chichester Festival.
Uncle Vanya
1963
7.0A comedy film directed by Norman Walker
Uneasy Virtue
1931
5.5A pianist takes his ailing wife out of a London hospital at the same time that another female patient there has suffered a miscarriage. Afterwards, the second woman feels empty and withdrawn, and, thinking that getting her away from London will help, her husband takes her to live at a country estate, which turns out to be the former residence of the pianist who left after his wife died. The woman begins to get visions of the wife and her final days; is she becoming possessed by the dead wife of the pianist?
Lady Possessed
1952
6.5When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.
Laughter in Paradise
1951
5.4In Vienna, aspiring composer Johann Strauss Jr. clashes with his domineering father, who wants him to abandon music for a steady job in a bakery. Torn between his love for the baker’s daughter, Resi, and the encouragement of a wealthy countess, Strauss finds inspiration that leads to the creation of "The Blue Danube."
Waltzes from Vienna
1934
6.7A fatherless boy tries to make his fortune despite interference from his rich uncle.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
1947
A Cornish fisherman becomes involved with Iron Curtain spies.
Doublecross
1956
9.0American (Churchill) in London dislikes England until his daughter (Lehmann) falls for the son (Granger) of the Lord (Drayton) with whom he wants to conclude a business deal.
So This Is London
1939
6.9In Victorian London, young Adelaide is born into luxury, but marries starving artist Henry. His alcoholism and their lack of money lead to many quarrels. During one such fight, Henry slips down a flight of stairs and dies. A neighbor, Mrs. Mounsey, is the only witness, and she blackmails the young widow by threatening to tell the cops that Adelaide killed her husband. Luckily, lawyer Gilbert swoops in to help Adelaide.
The Forbidden Street
1949
6.5An English schoolgirl suspects the foster brother she worships is a serial killer.
I Start Counting
1970
10.0No synopsis available yet.
Somehow Good
1927
6.3Three tales of privileged youth entangled in murder: French students kill for money, an Italian student smuggles cigarettes, and an English poet exploits a grim discovery.
The Vanquished
1953
6.8Daniel Defoe's classic tale of survival is handsomely brought to the movies for the first time in this rarely seen 1927 film, produced by Rex Pictures, a division of Universal. M. A. Wetherell, who stars as Robinson Crusoe, produced, directed and adapted the story for the screen, admirably condensing a lengthy slow-moving novel into a taut, exciting screen adventure. The costumes and production values match the fine performances and all of the island sequences appear to have been shot outdoors, convincingly on location. Crusoe's improvised island apparel and makeshift architectural constructions are creatively and faithfully rendered.
Robinson Crusoe
1927
3.1Film adaptation from the novel by D.H. Lawrence, discovered after the celebrated author's death in 1930, a romantic love story tells of a prim young English girl who is sexually attracted to a seductively virile gypsy. The climatic dam burst is linked with the consummation of her desire.
The Virgin and the Gypsy
1970
A wastrel returns to blackmail his wife who has told her children that he died a hero.
The Happy Ending
1925
A woman leaves her husband to run a Paris boarding house, and reunites with her sister after the war.
The Old Wives' Tale
1921
4.3A blackmailer is murdered, and those who witnessed the scene agree to keep quiet; the complication is that the scene is also witnessed by a young artist, a victim of blackmail as well. (BFI Website)
Blackmailed
1951
6.5When an attractive young girl is murdered, suspicion falls on several members of the local tennis club. It falls to Police Inspector Halloran to sort out all the red herrings, and finally after a confrontation at the top of the local church spire, arrest the culprit. Another fascinating look at what life was like in Britain during the 50's.
Town on Trial
1957
6.4Esther goes into service in Victorian England, only to be seduced by the sweet talking groom William, who then takes off with his employer's daughter. Left alone to bring up the child, Esther manages and after 7 years has a chance at happiness. Then William turns up again...
Esther Waters
1948