The Night Won't Talk

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The Night Won't Talk
The Night Won't Talk (1952 film).jpg
Directed by Daniel Birt
Written by
Produced byHarold Richmond
Starring
Cinematography Brendan J. Stafford
Edited by John Seabourne
Music by Gilbert Vinter
Production
company
Corsair Pictures
Distributed by Associated British-Pathé
Release date
  • October 1952 (1952-10)
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language English

The Night Won't Talk is a 1952 British second feature ('B') [1] crime film directed by Daniel Birt and starring John Bailey, Hy Hazell and Mary Germaine. [2] It was written by Roger Burford and Brock Williams. The murder of an artist's model leads the police to investigate the artistic community of Chelsea.

Contents

Plot

When artist's model Stella Smith is murdered, the police visit Bohemian meeting-place the Portrait Club. Now in love with Hazel Carr, another model, Stella's fiancé Clayton Hawkes is suspected of the crime by Inspector West. When Hazel too narrowly escapes murder, the Inspector set a trap to catch the criminal.

Cast

Production

It was made at Kensington Studios with sets designed by the art director Bernard Robinson. [3]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A moderately exciting thriller. Plot and backgrounds are too obvious, and spoil the sincerity of the performances." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Smoothly carpentered, competently acted, smartly dialogued and authentically staged, it carries more conviction and a greater kick than many a thriller twice its size. Very good British support. ... The picture not only succeeds in creating a number of red herrings, but has a plausible as well as exciting, climax. Hy Hazell, Mary Germaine, Elwyn Brook-Jones and Ballard Berkeley are particularly good as Theo, Hazel, Soames and West respectively. The supporting players are also above average and complete a cast that definitely deserves the attention of all talent scouts. The lines, too, have polish, while the backgrounds meet most demands, It was directed by Daniel Birt with economy, intelligence and showmanship." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Although the ending is obvious, not bad for a British crime 'B' of the time." [6]

TV Guide wrote, "Though a touch predictable, this film is fairly intelligent for a minor crime thriller." [7]

References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 149. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "The Night Won't Talk". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "The Night Won't Talk (1952)". Archived from the original on 28 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Night Won't Talk". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 19 (216): 158. 1 January 1952. ProQuest   1305817201.
  5. ↑ "The Night Won't Talk". Kine Weekly . 427 (2364): 15. 16 October 1952. ProQuest   2826274424.
  6. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 353. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  7. ↑ "The Night Won't Talk". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018.
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