Face in the Night
| Face in the Night | |
|---|---|
 U.S. poster | |
| Directed by | Lance Comfort |
| Written by | Bruce Graeme (novel) Norman Hudis John Sherman |
| Produced by | Charles Leeds |
| Starring | Griffith Jones Lisa Gastoni Vincent Ball Eddie Byrne |
| Cinematography | Arthur Graham |
| Edited by | Peter Pitt |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
Production company | Gibraltar Films |
| Distributed by | Grand National Pictures United Artists (US) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Face in the Night, released in the US as Menace in the Night, is a 1957 British second feature[1] crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Griffith Jones, Lisa Gastoni and Vincent Ball.[2] It was based on the novel Suspense by Bruce Graeme.[3]
Plot
[edit]A young woman witnesses a mailbag robbery that ends with a dead postman, but she is intimidated into not coming forward.
Cast
[edit]- Griffith Jones as Rapson
- Lisa Gastoni as Jean Francis
- Vincent Ball as Bob Meredith
- Eddie Byrne as Art
- Victor Maddern as Ted
- Clifford Evans as Inspector Ford
- Joan Miller as Victor's wife
- Leonard Sachs as Victor
- Leslie Dwyer as Toby
- Jenny Laird as Postman's widow
- Angela White as Betty Francis
- Barbara Couper as Mrs. Francis
- Andre Van Gyseghem as bank manager
- Marie Burke as auntie
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This small-budget thriller is distinctly above the average of its type. The acting is in general of a high standard; there is a very good behind-the-scenes joke about British Banking and a skilfully-handled sentimental scene. The script is simple but brisk; the direction efficient."[4]
Allmovie wrote, "this British crime quickie reads rather better than it plays."[5]
TV Guide wrote that the film is "hampered by some less-than-impressive camerawork."[6]
Sky Movies noted "a crisp thriller, economic in length but correspondingly fast in pace and actionful."[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Face in the Night". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Face In The Night". Find and Watch.
- ^ "Face in the Night". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 101. 1 January 1957 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Menace in the Night (1958) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "Menace In The Night". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Face In The Night". Find and Watch.
External links
[edit]
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- 1957 films
- 1957 crime drama films
- 1950s thriller films
- British black-and-white films
- British crime drama films
- British thriller films
- Films based on British novels
- Films directed by Lance Comfort
- Films scored by Richard Rodney Bennett
- Films with screenplays by Norman Hudis
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- English-language crime drama films
- English-language thriller films
- 1950s British film stubs
- 1950s crime film stubs