Burnt Evidence

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Burnt Evidence
Burnt Evidence (1954 film).jpg
British quad poster
Directed by Daniel Birt
Screenplay by Ted Willis
Based onBurn the Evidence by Percy Hoskins
Produced by Ronald Kinnoch
Starring Jane Hylton
Duncan Lamont
Meredith Edwards
Donald Gray
CinematographyJo Jago
Edited by W.J. Lewthwaite
Production
company
Distributed by Monarch Film Corporation
Release date
  • 5 July 1954 (1954-07-05)
Running time
61 minutes [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Burnt Evidence is a 1954 British second feature [2] thriller film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Jane Hylton, Duncan Lamont and Donald Gray. [3] The screenplay was by Ted Willis. It was produced by Ronald Kinnoch for ACT Films.

Contents

Plot

Diana Taylor is considering leaving her husband, Jack, who has been trying but failing to build his own business as a builder/decorator. Her suitor, Jimmy Thompson, is Jack's army friend. Jack deduces the relationship and, when Jimmy comes to Jack's business to discuss the situation, a fight ensues. A gun is produced and one of them is killed, but a subsequent fire makes it difficult to determine which man has died. While the police search for the survivor, Diana struggles with her feelings.

Cast

Production

Shooting took place at Beaconsfield Studios and on location in Hammersmith. The film's sets were designed by art director Ray Simm.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A low-budget thriller, with obvious limitations. The story is at once too unlikely and yet too easily anticipated to make for real excitement, and the direction is pedestrian." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Run-of-the-mill mystery melodrama, unfolded in suburbia. It rings the changes on the eternal triangle theme, but lacks both punch and surprise. Interplay of character is, however, neat and takes up much of the slack." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as “mediocre” and wrote: “Glum, plodding, low-budget thriller.'' [6]

Sky Cinema called it a "Relentlessly sombre thriller." [7]

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References

  1. ↑ "BURNT EVIDENCE | British Board of Film Classification". Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 149. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  3. ↑ "Burnt Evidence". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Burnt Evidence". Monthly Film Bulletin . 21 (240): 103. 1 January 1954 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "Burnt Evidence". Kine Weekly . 446 (2447): 21. 20 May 1954 – via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 288. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  7. ↑ "Burnt Evidence". www.sky.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018.
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