Night Was Our Friend
| Night Was Our Friend | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Michael Anderson |
| Produced by | Gordon Parry |
| Written by | Michael Pertwee (play and screenplay) |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Sellars Michael Gough Ronald Howard Marie Ney |
| Cinematography |
Gerald Gibbs Moray Grant |
| Edited by | Charles Hasse |
Production company |
ACT Films |
| Distributed by | Monarch Film Corporation |
Release dates | December 1951 |
Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Night Was Our Friend is a 1951 British drama film directed by Michael Anderson and starring Elizabeth Sellars, Michael Gough and Ronald Howard. The title references a line from Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid.
Production
The film was made by ACT Films as a B Movie intended to be released on the lower-half of a double bill. Based on a play by Michael Pertwee the film was made at the Viking Studios in Kensington.[1] The film's sets were designed by art director Duncan Sutherland. It was considered above average for a B film, and was shown on the Odeon circuit of cinemas and also given a release in the United States. Anderson went on to be one of the leading British directors of the decade with films such as Around the World in Eighty Days.
Synopsis
A young woman is acquitted by the jury over the murder of her husband, who died in suspicious circumstances. The film then flashes back to portray the events leading up to his death. Sally Raynor's aviator husband Martin has been missing for two years and is believed dead, during which time she has fallen in love with a local doctor who she plans to marry. When her husband unexpectedly returns from Brazil still alive, she decides to give up Doctor Harper and go back to live with him. Soon her husband's erratic behaviour, brought on by his ordeals, makes her believe he is insane. On one of his wild night time walks, he appears to have killed someone. His wife plans to kill him to protect him from society's punishment, but before she does he commits suicide. Although technically innocent of his death, she is haunted by guilt and even after a jury clears her of murder she is hesitant to marry the Doctor she loves.
Cast
- Elizabeth Sellars as Sally Raynor
- Michael Gough as Martin Raynor
- Ronald Howard as Dr. John Harper
- Marie Ney as Emily Raynor
- Edward Lexy as Arthur Glanville
- Nora Gordon as Kate
- John Salew as Mr. Lloyd
- Cyril Smith as Rogers the Reporter
- Cecil Bevan as Clerk of the Court
- Felix Felton as Foreman of the Jury
- Linda Gray as Spinster
- Edie Martin as Old Lady Jury Member
- Roger Maxwell as Colonel
- Michael Pertwee as Young Man
References
- ↑ Chibnall & McFarlane p.105
Bibliography
- Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. The British 'B' Film. Palgrave MacMillan, 2011.