Henry Travers

A woman falls for the victim of an intended blackmail plot. George McAllister, the black sheep of a wealthy family who has squandered his share of the family inheritance, and lives in constant jealousy, hatred and resentment of his half-brother Barry, who has been supporting him. George gets his girl friend, Carlotta Duval, a job as Barry's nurse with the plan of eventually marrying him. She does, but instead of going ahead with the original plan or getting rid of Barry, inheriting his money and marrying George, she finds that she is really in love with Barry. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Charlotte Newton is bored of her quiet and uneventful life. All she wants is for her sophisticated and well-traveled uncle, Charlie Oakley, to come visit them. To her surprise and happiness, a telegram announcing her uncle`s visit arrives. However, something seems to be off when he visits. When two strangers show up with questions about him, Charlotte realizes her beloved uncle Charlie may not be who she thinks he is.

September 1939. Mrs. Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) and her family live a comfortable life at a house called 'Starlings' in Belham, a fictional village outside London, England. The house has a large garden, with a private landing stage on the River Thames at which is moored a motorboat belonging to her devoted husband Clem (Walter Pidgeon), a successful architect. They have three children: the youngsters Toby and Judy (Christopher Severn and Clare Sandars) and an older son Vin (Richard Ney) at university. They have live-in staff: Gladys the housemaid (Brenda Forbes) and Ada the cook (Marie De Becker). As World War II looms, Vin comes down from university and meets Carol Beldon (Teresa Wright), granddaughter of Lady Beldon (Dame May Whitty) from nearby Beldon Hall. Despite initial disagreements (mainly contrasting Vin's idealistic attitude to class differences with Carol's practical altruism) they fall in love. Vin proposes to Carol in front of his family at home after his younger brother prods him to give a less romantic but more honest proposal. Several months later, as the war comes closer to home with the bombing of Great Brittan, Vin feels he must "do his bit" and enlists in the Royal Air Force, qualifying as a fighter pilot. He is posted to a base near to his parents' home and is able to signal his safe return from operations to his parents by cutting his engines briefly as he flies over the house. Together with other boat owners, Clem volunteers to take his motorboat to assist in the May-June 1940 Dunkirk evacuation. Early one morning, Kay unable to sleep as Clem is still away, wanders down to the landing stage. She is startled to discover a wounded German pilot (Helmut Dantine) hiding in her garden and he holds her at gunpoint. Demanding food and a coat, the pilot maniacally asserts that the Third Reich will mercilessly overcome its enemies. She feeds him, calmly disarms him and then calls the police. Soon after, Clem returns home, exhausted, from Dunkirk. Lady Beldon visits Kay to try and convince her to talk Vin out of marrying Carol on account of her granddaughter's comparative youth. Lady Beldon is unsuccessful and admits defeat when Kay reminds her that she, too, was young when she married her late husband. Lady Beldon concedes defeat and realises that she would be foolish to try and stop the marriage. Vin and Carol are married; Carol has now also become Mrs Miniver, and they return from their honeymoon in Scotland. A key theme is that she knows he is likely to be killed in action, but the short love will fill her life. Later, Kay and her family take refuge in their Anderson shelter in the garden during an air raid, and attempt to keep their minds off the frightening bombing by reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which Clem refers to as a "lovely story" as they barely survive a bomb destroys parts of the house. They take the damage with nonchalance. At the annual village flower show, Lady Beldon silently disregards the judges' decision that her rose is the winner, instead announcing the entry of the local stationmaster, Mr. Ballard (Henry Travers), named the "Mrs. Miniver" rose, as the winner, with her own rose taking second prize. As air raid sirens sound and the villagers take refuge in the cellars of Beldon Hall, Kay and Carol drive Vin to join his squadron. On their journey home they witness fighter planes in a 'dogfight'. For safety, Kay stops the car and they see the German plane crash. Kay realises Carol has been wounded by shots from the plane and takes her back to 'Starlings'. She dies a few minutes after they reach home. Kay is devastated. When Vin returns from battle, he already knows the terrible news. Unexpectedly he is the survivor, and she the one who gives her life for England. The villagers assemble at the badly damaged church where their vicar (Henry Wilcoxon) affirms their determination in a powerful sermon: "We in this quiet corner of England have suffered the loss of friends very dear to us, some close to this church. George West, choirboy. James Ballard, stationmaster and bellringer, and the proud winner only an hour before his death of the Beldon Cup for his beautiful Miniver Rose. And our hearts go out in sympathy to the two families who share the cruel loss of a young girl who was married at this altar only two weeks ago. The homes of many of us have been destroyed, and the lives of young and old have been taken. There's scarcely a household that hasn't been struck to the heart. And why? Surely you must have asked yourselves this question? Why in all conscience should these be the ones to suffer? Children, old people, a young girl at the height of her loveliness? Why these? Are these our soldiers? Are these our fighters? Why should they be sacrificed? I shall tell you why. Because this is not only a war of soldiers in uniform. It is the war of the people, of all the people. And it must be fought not only on the battlefield but in the cities and in the villages, in the factories and on the farms, in the home and in the heart of every man, woman and child who loves freedom. Well, we have buried our dead, but we shall not forget them. Instead they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves, and those who come after us, from the tyranny and terror that threaten to strike us down. This is the People's War. It is our war. We are the fighters. Fight it then. Fight it with all that is in us. And may God defend the right." A solitary Lady Beldon stands in her family's church pew. Vin moves to stand alongside her, united in shared grief, as the members of congregation rise and stoically sing "Onward, Christian Soldiers", while through a gaping hole in the bombed church roof can be seen flight after flight of RAF fighters in the V-for-Victory formation heading out to face the enemy.

A Texas cattle agent witnesses firsthand the brutal lawlessness of Dodge City and takes the job of sheriff to clean the town up. Dodge City. A wide-open cattle town run by Jeff Surrett. Even going on a children's Sunday outing is not a safe thing to do. What the place needs is a fearless honest Marshal. A guy like Wade Hatton, who helped bring the railroad in. It may not help that he fancies Abbie Irving, who won't have anything to do with him since he had to shoot her brother. But that's the West. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26} In 1866, Kansas, the American civil war has just finished and the armies disbanded. The building of the West begins, and in 1872, the new city of Dodge City is ruled by violence and shootings. The Irishman Wade Hatton is a man adapted to these days and presently is conducting a group of pioneers, including Abbie Irving and her reckless brother, to Dodge City. Once in the city, Wade is invited to be the local sheriff, and an incident makes him accept the position. He tries to clean up the cattle town, ruled by the powerful outlaw Jeff Surrett and his gang, with the support of the decent local people. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Wealthy young socialite Judith "Judy" Traherne spends her time partying and horse riding. She has many friends but no one really close, except for her cousin Ann, who serves as her companion. But Judy is hiding symptoms which are rapidly becoming worse. For several months she has headaches and memory loss. Then her vision becomes affected. Trying to laugh it off, Judy confides in Ann. But Ann takes it seriously, especially after Judy is injured in a horse riding accident. Dr. Parsons, the family's elderly physician, believes her to be seriously ill. He recommends that she see Dr. Frederick Steele, a neurologist. Judy refuses until she falls down the stairs. Reluctantly, she agrees to at least meet Dr. Steele. Although Dr. Steele is closing his office to move to Vermont and do research, he makes time to see Judy. She is flippant until he asks her why she is so afraid. Whatever is wrong won't go away by ignoring it. He asks about her symptoms, which she tries to dismiss but finally admits to having. After performing a few simple tests in his office, he wants her to have a series of x-rays. Between these appointments, she is to go about her life as usual. For Judy, that means giving a party at her home. Dr. Steele calls in two other neurologists to look at the x-rays and all agree that Judy needs immediate surgery. By this time, Dr. Steele is in love with Judy, although he manages to hide it. He is certain that surgery will reveal a malignant brain tumor, a glioma, and this proves to be the case. But he tells her she will be fine now, not wising to upset her by telling the truth. Ann senses he is holding something back and at last he tells her. They both agree that Judy should not know, even though she only has a few months left to live. Frederick reveals that she won't be in any pain, and that when she starts losing her eyesight, the end is near. Frederick and Judy admit their feelings for each other and make plans to marry. Judy visits Frederick's office while his nurse is packing for the move to Vermont. She catches sight of a file folder with her name on it and can't resist peeking. To her horror, she learns that her case is considered "prognosis, negative" and asks the nurse what it means. After learning that it means the patient is likely dying, Judy runs from the office and confronts Frederick. He tries to explain but there is really nothing to say. She thinks he wants to marry her out of pity. They quarrel and Judy returns to her old life of partying and drinking. Her horse trainer, Michael O'Leary, who is secretly in love with her, kisses her and asks her to forget Dr. Steele. But Judy realizes she can never forget Frederick. One of Judy's more serious boyfriends, playboy Alec, invites Frederick to his apartment for a drink. They discuss Judy. Alec has loved her for years but he can't help her now. Just then the bell rings and it is Judy. She came to talk to Alec and is startled to see Frederick. Alec tactfully excuses himself, Judy apologizes, and Frederick says there is nothing to apologize for. They decide to carry out their original plan, to marry and move to Vermont. Three months later, Judy is still feeling well and is very happy in her marriage. Ann comes for a visit. She is trying to sell Judy's apartment and horses, but so far hasn't found a buyer. Frederick has a chance to speak with Ann alone and warns her not to say anything to Judy about her terminal condition. They never discuss it and he doesn't want it brought up now. During Ann's visit, Michael the horse trainer stops by. Judy reminds him that her horse should win the upcoming Grand National, even though he doesn't think so. He tells her he's been praying for her, which seems to displease her. Frederick is going to a medical conference in New York and Judy is expecting to go with him. But while outside helping Ann plant flower bulbs, she remarks that a storm must be brewing, as it's getting dark. Ann instantly knows what is happening, and Judy realizes it too. She orders Ann to say nothing to Frederick, that he must make this trip because it is important for his research. They go inside and Judy tells Frederick that she's changed her mind about accompanying him. Although nearly blind, she manages to conceal this from him and even helps him finish packing. After he departs, Judy asks Ann to help her plant the hyacinth bulbs, as they are Frederick's favorite. Ann digs the holes and Judy plants several bulbs. She asks Ann to always stay with Frederick, as he will be so lonely. If Judy's horse wins the Grand National, Ann is to give a big party for all their friends and serve champagne. Then Judy asks to go inside. At the door, she says that she wants to be alone and asks Ann to leave for a while. Ann runs off down the road, unable to hold back her tears. The housekeeper, Martha, checks on Judy and find her kneeling in prayer beside her bed. Then she lies down. Martha covers her with a duvet and quietly leaves the room. The last scene is of Judy awaiting death.

A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane. A mysterious man, whose head is completely covered in bandages, wants a room. The proprietors of the pub aren't used to making their house an inn during the winter months, but the man insists. They soon come to regret their decision. The man quickly runs out of money, and he has a violent temper besides. Worse still, he seems to be some kind of chemist and has filled his room with messy chemicals, test tubes, beakers and the like. When they try to throw him out, they make a ghastly discovery. Meanwhile, Flora Cranley appeals to her father to do something about the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Griffin, his assistant and her sweetheart. Her father's other assistant, the cowardly Dr. Kemp, is no help. He wants her for himself. Little does Flora guess that the wild tales, from newspapers and radio broadcasts, of an invisible homicidal maniac are stories of Dr. Griffin himself, who has discovered the secret of invisibility and gone mad in the process. —J. Spurlin