Hour of Decision | |
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Directed by | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
Written by | Norman Hudis |
Based on | Murder in Mayfair by Frederic Goldsmith |
Produced by | Monty Berman |
Starring | Jeff Morrow Hazel Court Anthony Dawson |
Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
Edited by | Douglas Myers |
Music by | Stanley Black |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Eros Films Astor Pictures (US) |
Release date |
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Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Hour of Decision is a 1957 British mystery film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring Jeff Morrow, Hazel Court and Anthony Dawson. [1] It is based on the 1954 novel Murder in Mayfair by Frederic Goldsmith.
The British wife of an American journalist begins receiving letters blackmailing her over a love affair. Suspicion points to her when the blackmailer is found murdered.
The film was shot at Walton Studios with location shooting around London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Arthur Lawson.
Monthly Film Bulletin said: "A hackneyed and lethargically told murder mystery, with a solution more dependent on coincidence than logic. Lionel Jeffries' assured performance as a jaded nightclub proprietor provides the film's most satisfying scenes." [2]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Ingenious and holding who-dunnit. ... The red herrings are neatly manipulated by a competent cast and resourceful director against appropriate London backgrounds, and the twist ending is theatrically effective." [3]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Too-leaisurely whodunnit at least hides its villain well." [4]
Leslie Halliwell said: "A familiar type of second feature whodunit, with little about it to spark enthusiasm." [5]
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Cast a Dark Shadow is a 1955 British suspense film noir directed by Lewis Gilbert and written by John Cresswell, based on the 1952 play Murder Mistaken by Janet Green. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lockwood, Kay Walsh, Kathleen Harrison and Robert Flemyng. The film released on 20 September 1955, distributed by Eros Films Ltd. in the United Kingdom and Distributors Corporation of America in the United States. The story concerns a husband who murders his wife.
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Saloon Bar is a 1940 British comedy thriller film directed by Walter Forde and starring Gordon Harker, Elizabeth Allan and Mervyn Johns. It was made by Ealing Studios and its style has led to comparisons with the later Ealing Comedies, unlike other wartime Ealing films which are different in tone. It is based on the 1939 play of the same name by Frank Harvey in which Harker had also starred. An amateur detective tries to clear an innocent man of a crime before the date of his execution.
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Kill Her Gently is a 1957 British second feature thriller film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Griffith Jones, Maureen Connell and Marc Lawrence.
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The Scarlet Web is a 1954 British second feature crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Griffith Jones, Hazel Court and Zena Marshall.
The Hostage is a 1956 British crime film directed by Harold Huth and starring Ron Randell, Mary Parker and John Bailey.
Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a 1939 British comedy-drama film directed by Fred Elles starring Mary Clare in her only title role and Nigel Patrick in his film debut. It is based on the Mrs Pym novels by Nigel Morland, and written by Morland, who re-used the title for a 1946 book.