the boy who stole a million (1960)

"Stop him!"
12-year-old Paco (Maurice Reyna) works in a Spanish bank, and takes out an unofficial short-term 'loan' so his father can pay a repair bill on his taxi, and earn the money back. But before he can give his father the money, the bank realises it has been robbed and from then on Paco are on the run, not only from the police, but also crooks who want what Paco has.
Simple comedy / drama rises to another level just by setting it in Valencia, and introducing us its poverty and seedy underbelly.

the brides of fu manchu (1966)

"Send her to the snakes!"
Fu Manchu (Christopher Lee) is kidnapping the daughters of famous scientists, and using them as leverage to make them build him a death ray. Inevitably Nayland Smith (Douglas Wilmer) is called in to again defeat this world bothering maniac.
So-so thriller, taking the boys own adventure of the previous episode and adding darker elements.

the burning (1967)

"Where are you going?"
Debut short by Stephen Frears sees him tell the story of racial tension in South Africa. A young boy (Mark Baillie) is taken to a nearby farm, by his grandmother (Gwen Ffrangcon Davies). It is an ill-advised trip as there is unrest in the neighbourhood and they narrowly escape a lynch mob due to the heroism of their chauffeur, who is unfortunately killed by the mob. Meanwhile the grandmother continues like nothing has happened...
Apartheid as seen through the eyes of a soon to be less innocent child, shot in stark black and white, making for an arresting feature.

the holly and the ivy (1952)

"I don't belong here any more, I've changed."
A minister (Ralph Richardson) and his family come together for Christmas and bring their individual drama's along too.
Packed full of heavy weight actors including Denholm Elliott, John Gregson & Celia Johnson, this is a look at a family in crisis as dramatic play.

silent night (2012)

"Have you been naughty or nice?"
Sheriff Cooper (/malcolm Mcdowell) is trying to muster a full compliment of deputies to cover the Christmas holiday period, and drags deputy Aubrey Bradmore (Jaime King) in, but she soon realises that there wont be much Christmas cheer this year, as there is a killer Santa on the loose.
A solid slasher, leaning heavily on the kitsch side of Christmas.