Dangerous Afternoon

Last updated
Dangerous Afternoon
Dangerous Afternoon film Opening titles (1961).png
Opening titles
Directed by Charles Saunders
Written byGerald Anstruther (play)
Brandon Fleming
Produced by Guido Coen
Starring Ruth Dunning
Nora Nicholson
Joanna Dunham
Howard Pays
Cinematography Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by Peter Bezencenet
Music byNorman Percival
Distributed by Bryanston Films (UK)
Release date
  • 1961 (1961)
Running time
62 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£17,000 [1]

Dangerous Afternoon is a 1961 British 'B' [2] crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Ruth Dunning. [3] [4] The screenplay was by Brandon Fleming based on the 1951 play of the same title by Gerald Anstruther.

Contents

Plot

On her release from prison, Jean Berry sets out to find escaped convict Irma Randall, with whom she has a score to settle. She discovers Irma is running a boarding house for retired lady criminals, under the assumed name of Lefty Frost. When Jean blackmails Lefty, she attempts to poisons Jean.

Cast

Production

It was primarily filmed at Twickenham Studios, with the shops next to Strawberry Hill railway station, notably the chemist's in Wellesley Parade, being used for external location shots.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A home for elderly lady crooks who cannot always refrain from plying their old trades has comic possibilities, but these are largely cancelled out by a poor script and clumsy direction. That the film should still survive as a passable "support" is a tribute to brevity and skilful acting." [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Séance on a Wet Afternoon</i> 1964 British film by Bryan Forbes

Séance on a Wet Afternoon is a 1964 British crime thriller film, directed by Bryan Forbes, and starring Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough, Nanette Newman, Mark Eden and Patrick Magee. Based on the 1961 novel by Mark McShane, the film follows a mentally unstable medium who convinces her husband to kidnap a child so she can help the police solve the crime and achieve renown for her abilities. Kim Stanley was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.

<i>The Pleasure Garden</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by James Broughton

The Pleasure Garden is a 1953 short film written and directed by James Broughton, starring Hattie Jacques, Lindsay Anderson, and John Le Mesurier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fay Compton</span> English actress (1894–1978)

Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton-Mackenzie,, known professionally as Fay Compton, was an English actress. She appeared in several films, and made many broadcasts, but was best known for her stage performances. She was known for her versatility, and appeared in Shakespeare, drawing room comedy, pantomime, modern drama, and classics such as Ibsen and Chekhov. In 1921 she was the eponymous star of the play Mary Rose written especially for her by J. M. Barrie. This work was partly inspired by Compton's own tragic marriage to the West End satirist H. G. Pélissier and her subsequent youthful widowhood. In addition to performing in Britain, Compton appeared several times in the US, and toured Australia and New Zealand in a variety of stage plays.

<i>Carry On Regardless</i> 1961 British comedy film by Gerald Thomas

Carry On Regardless is a 1961 British comedy film, the fifth in the series of 31 Carry On films (1958–1992). The film revolves loosely around the activities of a job agency, 'Helping Hand', run by Sid James's character, Bert Handy. By now a fairly regular team was established with Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Kenneth Williams all having appeared in previous entries. Hattie Jacques – who was also a regular – makes a cameo appearance during a hospital scene. "Professor" Stanley Unwin appears in a guest role, playing his trademark "gobbledegook" speaking act. It was the final appearance in the series for early regular Terence Longdon. Liz Fraser made her debut and appeared in a further three Carry On films. The film was followed by Carry On Cruising 1962.

<i>Lady Godiva Rides Again</i> 1951 British film by Frank Launder

Lady Godiva Rides Again is a 1951 British comedy film starring Pauline Stroud, George Cole and Bernadette O'Farrell, with British stars in supporting roles or making cameo appearances. It concerns a small-town English girl who wins a local beauty contest by appearing as Lady Godiva, then decides to pursue a higher profile in a national beauty pageant and as an actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Kettlewell</span> British actress (1913–2007)

Ruth Kettlewell was an English actress. She was, by her own admission, a "character bag"; that is, a face recognisable to regular television viewers, but not a household name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Lacey</span> British actress (1911–1988)

Margaret Brackenbury Lacey was a British character actress and ballet teacher. She appeared in over 30 films between 1957 and 1985, usually playing a sweet old lady or motherly figure in minor roles.

<i>The Lady Craved Excitement</i> 1950 British film by Francis Searle

The Lady Craved Excitement is a 1950 British comedy second feature ('B') film directed by Francis Searle and starring Hy Hazell, Michael Medwin and Sid James. It was written by John Gilling based on the 1949 BBC radio serial The Lady Craved Excitement by Edward J. Mason. An early Hammer film, it is significant as one of five films shot at Oakley Court and the first to feature its famous exterior, located next door to Bray Studios.

<i>The Nightcomers</i> 1971 British film by Michael Winner

The Nightcomers is a 1971 British horror film directed by Michael Winner and starring Marlon Brando, Stephanie Beacham, Thora Hird, Harry Andrews and Anna Palk. It is a prequel to Henry James' 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw, which had already been adapted into The Innocents (1961).

<i>Laburnum Grove</i> 1936 British film

Laburnum Grove is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Carol Reed and starring Edmund Gwenn, Cedric Hardwicke and Victoria Hopper. It was based on the 1933 play of the same name written by J. B. Priestley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladys Henson</span> Irish actress (1897–1982)

Gladys Hilda Barbara Kate Henson was an Irish actress whose career lasted from 1932 to 1976 and included roles on stage, radio, films and television series. Among her most notable films were The History of Mr Polly (1949) and The Blue Lamp (1950).

<i>The Woman in the Hall</i> 1947 British film

The Woman in the Hall is a 1947 British drama film directed by Jack Lee and starring Ursula Jeans, Jean Simmons, Cecil Parker. The screenplay was written by Jack Lee, Ian Dalrymple and Gladys Bronwyn Stern, from Stern's 1939 novel of the same title.

The Secret Tent is a 1956 crime film directed by Don Chaffey. It stars Donald Gray and Andrée Melly and was made at Shepperton Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Everest</span> British actress (1890–1968)

Barbara Everest was a British stage and film actress. She was born in Southfields, Surrey, and made her screen debut in the 1916 film The Man Without a Soul. On stage she played Queen Anne in the 1935 historical play Viceroy Sarah by Norman Ginsbury. Her most famous rôle was as Elizabeth the rather deaf servant in Gaslight (1944).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Dunning</span> Welsh actress (1909–1983)

Ruth Dunning, born Mary Ruth Dunning, was a Welsh actress of stage, television, and film. Although her year of birth was long given as 1911, her birth was registered in Holywell in 1909.

<i>No Room at the Inn</i> 1948 British film

No Room at the Inn is a 1945 play by Joan Temple that became a 1948 film directed by Daniel Birt. Both play and film are presented in flashback mode and share the same subject matter – cruelty, neglect and mental and physical abuse meted out to evacuee children during World War II. Temple's attack on those who turn a blind eye to child abuse, be they public officials or private individuals, was considered frank and uncompromising in its time.

<i>Urge to Kill</i> (film) 1960 British film by Vernon Sewell

Urge to Kill is a 1960 British second feature serial killer film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Patrick Barr, Ruth Dunning and Terence Knapp. The screenplay was by James Eastwood based on the 1942 novel Hughie Roddis and 1944 play Hand in Glove, both by Gerald Savory.

<i>Recoil</i> (1953 film) 1953 British film by John Gilling

Recoil is a 1953 British 'B' crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Kieron Moore, Elizabeth Sellars and Edward Underdown.

<i>And Women Shall Weep</i> 1960 British film by John Lemont

And Women Shall Weep is a 1960 British drama film directed by John Lemont and starring Ruth Dunning, Max Butterfield and Richard O'Sullivan. A mother tries to prevent her younger son being led astray by his delinquent elder brother.

<i>The Clue of the New Pin</i> (1961 film) 1961 British film by Allan Davis

The Clue of the New Pin is a 1961 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Allan Davis and starring Paul Daneman, Bernard Archard and James Villiers. The screenplay was by Philip Mackie, based on the 1923 Edgar Wallace novel of the same title which was previously filmed in 1929. It is part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios from 1960 to 1965.

References

  1. Petrie, Duncan James (2017). "Bryanston Films : An Experiment in Cooperative Independent Production and Distribution" (PDF). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: 7. ISSN   1465-3451.
  2. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 130. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  3. "Dangerous Afternoon". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. "Dangerous Afternoon (1961)". Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  5. "Dangerous Afternoon". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 28 (324): 155. 1 January 1961 via ProQuest.