Four Days | |
---|---|
Directed by | John Guillermin |
Written by | Lindsay Galloway J. MacLaren Ross |
Based on | the play Four Days by Monckton Hoffe |
Produced by | Roger Proudlock |
Starring | Hugh McDermott Kathleen Byron |
Cinematography | Ray Elton |
Edited by | Robert Jordan Hill |
Music by | Peter D. Barker (musical adviser) |
Production company | Roger Proudlock Productions (as Vandyke Productions) |
Distributed by | Grand National Pictures (U.K.) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 55 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Four Days is a 1951 British drama film directed by John Guillermin. [1] [2] It was written by Lindsay Galloway and J. MacLaren Ross based on the 1945 play of the same name by Monckton Hoffe. [3] [4]
Businessman Francis Templar suspects his neglected wife Lucienne of having an affair with his business partner's son Johnny. When the two of them confess, Templar refuses to give his wife a divorce and she retaliates by trying to poison him. Johnny however, intervenes, and manages to prevent the murder. During the next few days, Lucienne comes to realise she loves her husband after all; but Templar, believing his wife is about to leave him, attempts suicide by jumping off a cliff. He survives the fall, but loses all memory of the previous four days. Now an amnesiac, Templar is blissfully in love with his devoted wife. However, she fears their happiness is only temporary, and dreads the return of her husband's memory. To make matters worse, Johnny then reappears to blackmail Lucienne, threatening to reveal all to her husband.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An unconvincing story, with a happy ending which the wife's previous behaviour makes ridiculous, does not gain from indifferent construction and from the short running time which telescopes the twists of the plot. Peter Reynolds is good as the detestable lover; the other performances are indifferent, and the director relies overmuch on the use of low angle camera shots." [5]
TV Guide gave the film two out of five stars, noting "A ludicrous melodrama which manages to pull off a couple of gripping scenes." [6]
Filmink said "It’s short, taut and lots of fun; Guillermin’s direction is energetic, and there are excellent performances from Kathleen Byron and Reynolds." [7]
Miss Robin Hood is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin, and starring Margaret Rutherford and Richard Hearne. Other actors involved include Dora Bryan, James Robertson Justice, Peter Jones, Sid James, Reg Varney, Kenneth Connor and Michael Medwin. The film features a variety of unusual camera work such as unexpected extreme close-ups and fast motion sequences.
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England is a 1960 British crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring Aldo Ray, Elizabeth Sellars and Peter O'Toole. It was written by Howard Clewes and Richard Maibaum and based upon the 1959 novel of the same title by John Brophy.
House of Cards is a 1968 American neo-noir crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring George Peppard, Inger Stevens, and Orson Welles. Filmed in France and Italy, it marked the third time that Peppard and Guillermin worked together.
Never Let Go is a 1960 British thriller film directed by John Guillermin and starring Richard Todd, Peter Sellers and Elizabeth Sellars. It was written by Alun Falconer.
The Crowded Day is a 1954 British comedy drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring John Gregson, Joan Rice, Cyril Raymond and Josephine Griffin. The film follows a group of shopgirls working in Bunting and Hobbs, a London department store, during the Christmas shopping season. It was an attempt by Adelphi Films to move into bigger budgeted films. It was the last movie Guillermin directed for the company.
West 11 is a 1963 British crime film directed by Michael Winner and starring Alfred Lynch, Kathleen Breck, Eric Portman, Diana Dors, and Kathleen Harrison. It is based on The Furnished Room (1961), Laura Del-Rivo's debut novel, adapted for the screen by Willis Hall and Keith Waterhouse. Set in west London, the title is taken from the postcode W11.
Town on Trial is a 1957 British mystery film directed by John Guillermin and starring John Mills, Charles Coburn, Barbara Bates and Derek Farr. A whole town comes under suspicion when two grisly murders are carried out—particularly members of the local sports club.
Torment is a 1950 British second feature thriller film directed and written by John Guillermin and starring Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson and John Bentley.
Smart Alec is a 1951 British crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring Peter Reynolds. The screenplay was by Alec Coppel, based on his 1941 play Mr Smart Guy.
Two on the Tiles is a 1951 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and starring Herbert Lom, Hugh McDermott and Brenda Bruce. It was made at the Walton Studios by the independent Vandyke Productions for release as a second feature. It was one of three back-to-back productions Guillermin directed for the company at Walton Studios, along with Smart Alec and Four Days,. It was released in the U.S. as School for Brides.
Operation Diplomat is a 1953 British drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring Guy Rolfe and Lisa Daniely. It was written by A. R. Rawlinson and Guillermin based on a story by Francis Durbridge. It was produced by Ernest G. Roy.
Thunderstorm is a 1956 British drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring Carlos Thompson, Linda Christian, and Charles Korvin. It was made by British Lion Films.
The Whole Truth is a 1958 British-American thriller film directed by John Guillermin and starring Stewart Granger, George Sanders, Donna Reed, Gianna Maria Canale and Peter Dyneley. It was written by Jonathan Latimer based on the 1955 play of the same title by Philip Mackie.
Hugh Patrick McDermott was a Scottish professional golfer turned actor who made a number of film, stage and television performances between 1936 and 1972. He specialised in playing Americans, so much so that most British film fans had no idea that he was actually Scottish.
John Guillermin was a French-British film director, writer and producer who was most active in big-budget, action-adventure films throughout his lengthy career.
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady is a 1950 American musical film directed by David Butler. It stars June Haver and Gordon MacRae. The story is mostly about the lives of musical performers in New York in the closing years of the 19th century. Most of the songs were written for the movie, but "Rose of Tralee" dates from the 19th century, and the song "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady" dates from 1917.
Guilt Is My Shadow is a 1950 British drama film directed by Roy Kellino and starring Elizabeth Sellars, Patrick Holt and Peter Reynolds. The screenplay was by Kellino, Ivan Foxwell and John Gilling, based on the 1943 novel You're Best Alone by Norah Lofts.
Waltz of the Toreadors is a 1962 film directed by John Guillermin and starring Peter Sellers and Dany Robin. It was based on the play of the same name by Jean Anouilh with the location changed from France to England. It was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay, in 1963.
Peter Reynolds was an English actor.
Adventure in the Hopfields is a 1954 British children's film directed by John Guillermin and starring Mandy Miller. It was made for the Children's Film Foundation. Location filming took place in and around Goudhurst in Kent.