Irene Handl
Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels. Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austrian-born father—Friedrich (later... Read full bio →
Featured Characters
Roles you can spot in Whatthemovie snapshots
Absolute Beginners
In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
A rather incoherent post-breakup Sex Pistols "documentary", told from the point of view of Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, whose (arguable) position is that the Sex Pistols in particular and punk rock in general were an elaborate scam perpetrated by him in order to make "a million pounds."
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The death of Sir Charles Baskerville is blamed on a curse that has followed the Baskerville family for two hundred years. Sherlock Holmes is out to uncover the truth about a hound who roams the moors, waiting to attack the heir to the Baskerville estate.
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
Digby Geste (Feldman) and his ‘identical’ twin brother Beau (York) compete with their stepmother (Ann-Margeret) over possession of a priceless family heirloom.
Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers
Two soldiers stationed in Singapore set off in pursuit of the fairer sex instead of carrying out their orders. Soon after their arrival on the exotic island, the two visit a local brothel and there encounter a pair of lusty nurses.
Come Play with Me
A health-resort where both the clients and the employees easily take their clothes off and have a little fun is the setting of this sex-comedy.
Adventures of a Private Eye
While a private detective is away on vacation, his not particularly bright assistant takes it upon himself to "solve" a case that comes in. Complications ensue.
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
Timothy Lea and his brother-in-law Sidney decide upon opening a driving school as their latest get-rich-quick scheme. Though he sincerely wants to teach, young Timmy finds that his female students are far more interested in keeping their eyes on him than on the road.
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
When a bored Sherlock eagerly takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon following an attempt on her life, the search for her missing husband leads to Loch Ness and the legendary monster.
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Under hypnosis while trying to quit smoking, the main character Daisy Gamble revisits past lives and different personalities.
Doctor in Trouble
Dr. Burke is in love with Ophelia but doesn't have time to propose to her as she leaves for a cruise to the Mediterranean. Also on board the cruise ship is an old school chum of Burke's who plays 'Dr.Dare' in a very popular TV series and who women flock to.
The Italian Job
Charlies' got a 'Job' to do. Having just left prison he finds one of friends has attempted a high risk job in Italy, right under the nose of the Mafia. Charlies friend doesn't get very far, so Charlie takes over the 'Job'. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of jaguars and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the Gold and escape.
Wonderwall
The eccentric professor Collins lives completely secluded in his chaotic apartment. When the model Penny moves in next to him, he becomes fascinated of her. He drills holes in her walls and ceiling and peeps on her day and night. He loses himself in daydreams and delusions
Lionheart
A lion escapes from a circus but is rescued and protected by a young boy.
The Wrong Box
In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other—or can be made to have seemed to do so.
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
Morgan, an aggressive and self-admitted dreamer, a fantasist who uses his flights of fancy as refuge from external reality, where his unconventional behavior lands him in a divorce from his wife, Leonie, trouble with the police and, ultimately, incarceration in a lunatic asylum.
You Must Be Joking!
A motley group of soldiers are set loose on swinging England in an initiative test to collect a selection of esoteric items
Heavens Above!
A naive prison vicar is accidentally appointed to a snobbish parish. His candidness and literal approach to preaching converts the matriarch of a wealthy, aristocratic family, which leads to dire consequences on the town's economy.
Watch It, Sailor!
A sailor named Albert is late for his own wedding, but a bigger problem occurs when he gets a message from the Navy saying he can't marry for certain legal reasons. Everyone jumps to conclusions and thinks there's another woman out there with a claim of some kind.
The Rebel
Anthony Hancock gives up his office job to become an abstract artist. He has a lot of enthusiasm, but little talent, and critics scorn his work. Nevertheless, he impresses an emerging very talented artist.
Nothing Barred
Lord Whitebait's plan to save his sinking fortunes is to open stately Whitebait Manor to the public
Double Bunk
When newly weds Jack and Peggy face eviction, they are tricked into buying a run down houseboat. After rebuilding the engine, they take their friends Sid and Sandra, on a local trip down the river to Folkestone, but somehow they end up in France, and with no fuel and supplies, they resort to desperate actions to get back home.
A Weekend with Lulu
Fred, Tim and Deirdre plan a fun weekend break on the coast. What they didn't make allowances for was the company of Deirdre's mother who insists on coming along as her daughter's chaperone.
Two Way Stretch
Three criminals break out of prison the day before their release to carry out a daring jewel robbery. They then establish the perfect alibi by returning to jail afterwards.
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
A dubious child psychiatrist is put in charge of the St. Trinian's school after it burns down. The sixth form are sent to Arabia to become harem girls. The Ministry of Education, Police and army go to rescue them, but it is the notorious St. Trinian's forth form who are going to make the real difference.
The Night We Got the Bird
Cecil's family is unaware that he and his cabinet-maker employee are making and selling false antique furniture. It is only after he dies and his salesman Bertie marries his widow Julie, that the truth comes out through Cecil re-appearing as a parrot, puzzlingly given as a wedding gift.
No Kidding
A young couple, David and Catherine Robinson, has to turn their large country house into a money-making proposition. Their solution is to invite the kids of the rich and famous to spend a summer enjoying all the loving care and attention they miss at home.
Doctor in Love
Doctors Burke and Hare leave the confines of St Swithins for the world of general practice, stopping off on the way as patients at the Foulness Anti-cold Unit. Hare then takes up a position as junior in a well-healed G.P.'s surgery while Burke continues to sow his doctorial wild oats.
Carry on Constable
With a flu epidemic running rife, three new bumbling recruits are assigned to Inspector Mills police station...
Left Right and Centre
At the Earndale by-election natural history expert and TV personality Bob Wilcot for the Conservatives finds himself up against Billingsgate girl Stella Stoker for the socialists. Amateur politician against committed activist. But could it become boy-who-fancies-girl against girl-who-fancies-boy?
I'm All Right Jack
Naive Stanley Windrush looks for a career in a family business. Much to his dismay, he finds work at a munitions factory where he has to start from the bottom, while both the management and the labor union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
Desert Mice
A World War II farce that follows the antics of an ENSA (Entertainment National Service Association) group. Fresh from the music halls, they bumble their way from army camp to camp.
Carry on Nurse
In Haven Hospital, a certain men's ward is causing more havoc than the whole hospital altogether. The formidable Matron's debut gives everyone a chill every time she walks past, with only Reckitt standing up to her.
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
A former British colony in dire need of economic aid tries to play the British against the Soviets in an attempt to secure economic aid from either side in return for political loyalty.
Next to No Time!
An unassuming planning engineer must negotiate an important loan while aboard the Queen Elizabeth en route to New York City, but his lack of confidence threatens to foil his plans.
Law and Disorder
A British petty criminal lies to his son about his frequent prison terms by inventing honorable plausible explanations for his absences from home, but things get complicated after his son becomes a judge's assistant.
Happy Is the Bride
In a quiet summer corner of Wiltshire that is forever England, David and Janet decide to tie the knot. Unfortunately, this is the cue for everyone else to take over proceedings, to the dismay of the couple and the increasing despair of Janet's father. One way or another, the wedding--if there is one--will be an unforgettable occasion.
Small Hotel
The dining room of the Jolly Fiddler has long been presided over by Albert, an aged but very shrewd waiter. A past master of the gentle art of fiddling, he extracts the maximum profit from his job while managing to endear himself to both the customers and staff. Then, there's a visit from Mr Finch, who feels it's time Albert was replaced.
Brothers in Law
Roger Thursby is an overly keen, newly-qualified barrister who rubs his fellow barristers up the wrong way. When he is thrown in at the deep-end, with a particularly hot-tempered judge and tricky case, Thursby learns how to prove himself not only to the judge and fellow barristers but also to the public gallery.
Who Done It?
This movie debut for saucy British TV comic Benny Hill has Benny leaving his job as a sweeper after winning some money. He becomes a private detective and investigates a plot to assassinate British scientists.
It's Never Too Late
When a sedate wife and mother decides her family takes her for granted, she pens a movie script -- and it becomes a hit film. Suddenly faced with instant celebrity, she must choose between being a highly paid author and a middle-class housewife.
A Kid for Two Farthings
Joe is a young boy who lives with his mother, Joanna, in working-class London. The two reside above the tailor shop of Mr. Kandinsky, who likes to tell Joe stories. When Kandinsky informs Joe that a unicorn can grant wishes, the hopeful lad ends up buying a baby goat with one tiny horn, believing it to be a real unicorn.
The Weak and the Wicked
Frank "women in prison" story that sympathetically tracks several inmates through their imprisonment and subsequent return to society. Some are successfully rehabilitated; some are not.
The Belles of St. Trinian's
Story of manic schoolgirls who are more interested in racing form than books as they try to get-rich-quick, aided by the head-mistress' brother, played by Alastair Sim, who also plays the head-mistress.
Mad About Men
Flirtatious mermaid Miranda swaps places with a schoolteacher who has gone on holiday. All is well until she falls in love with a human.
Burnt Evidence
An unfaithful wife is going to leave her husband, a failing carpenter, but he finds out about her lover and a murder takes place. Police try to identify whether the burned body is her husband or her lover.
Meet Mr. Lucifer
A T.V. set given as a retiremant present is sold on to different households causing misery each time. One of the Ealing comedies.
Young Wives' Tale
A post-war housing crisis leaves a shy woman to share a house with two couples. Comic situations arise as the new lodger becomes infatuated with one of the husbands.
Stage Fright
Silent Dust
A blind rich man builds a cricket pavilion memorial for his son presumed dead in WWII. Before the dedication, the son returns-actually a deserter turned criminal-seeking money. The father suspects issues and investigates.
The Shop at Sly Corner
In Britain, a man with a shady past uses his antiquities shop as a front for smuggled diamonds but his young shop-assistant starts blackmailing him, leading to murder and to a police investigation.
Brief Encounter
Brief Encounter is a classic from British director David Lean about two people who fall in love yet face the fact that they are already married and can never be together.
Millions Like Us
When Celia Crowson is called up for war service, she hopes for a glamorous job in one of the services, but as a single girl, she is directed into a factory making aircraft parts. Here she meets other girls from all different walks of life and begins a relationship with a young airman.
Spellbound
A young man's fiancé dies after contracting a terminal illness, and in his efforts to contact her he gets involved with a group of spiritualists.
Night Train to Munich
Czechoslovakia, March 1939, on the eve of World War II. As the German invaders occupy Prague, inventor Axel Bomasch manages to flee and reach England; but those who need to put his knowledge at the service of the Nazi war machine, in order to carry out their evil plans of destruction, will stop at nothing to capture him.
Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard
An eccentric woman detective investigates the murders of several people who visited the same medium.
On the Night of the Fire
A barber gives in to temptation and steals some money, leading to blackmail and murder.
The Terror
For ten years, The Terror has laughed at both police and public. And for ten years, two of his erstwhile associates, Joe Conner and 'Soapy' Marks, have plotted revenge on the mastermind whose double-crossing sent them to Dartmoor prison without their share of the bullion stolen in a daring raid.