The Spaniard's Curse

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The Spaniard's Curse
"The Spaniard's Curse" (1958).jpg
Directed by Ralph Kemplen
Written byKenneth Hyde
Ralph Kemplen
Roger Proudlock
Based onThe Assize Of The Dying by Edith Pargeter
Produced byRoger Proudlock
Starring Tony Wright
Lee Patterson
Michael Hordern
Susan Beaumont
Cinematography Arthur Grant
Edited byStan Hawkes
Music by Lambert Williamson
Production
company
Wentworth Films
Distributed by Independent Film Distributors
Release date
  • 14 July 1958 (1958-07-14)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Spaniard's Curse is a 1958 British thriller film directed by Ralph Kemplen and starring Tony Wright, Lee Patterson, Michael Hordern, Susan Beaumont and Henry Oscar. [1] [2] [3] It was based on the 1958 novella The Assize of the Dying by Edith Pargeter.

Contents

Plot

Guy Stevenson is a British man of Spanish heritage, in poor health and on trial for the murder of an actress called Zoe Trevor. He is convicted and given the death sentence. He protests his innocence and places a curse on the trial judge, Justice Manton; the prosecuting counsel, Sir Robert Wyvern; the foreman of the jury; and the real murderer. The curse is a summons to attend the 'Assize of the Dying'. Watching the proceedings from the court gallery are Justice Manton's ward, Margaret, his son Charlie, and Zoe Trevor's half-brother, Mark Brett. Charlie is covering the case as a newspaper reporter. We learn that he is a much decorated ex-RAF officer and gambler. After the trial, Margaret makes the acquaintance of Mark Brett, and tells him of her doubts of Stevenson's guilt. Mark seems to have arrived from abroad and claims never to have met his half-sister. They are attracted to each other and decide to re-examine the case. The foreman of the jury is killed in a road accident in front of them immediately afterwards. Stevenson dies of a heart condition before his sentence can be carried out and evidence is later discovered that appears to exonerate him. Margaret and Mark continue their investigation, with occasional interventions from Charlie, who also seems to have romantic feelings towards Margaret, as the curse works itself out.

Cast

Production

The film was shot at Walton Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Anthony Masters.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is an absurd, melodramatic plot, with a script as archaic as its title; given an uncompromisingly sensational treatment it might have made an amusing addition to the ranks of the horror films. But the approach is restrained and unadventurous, the direction static, and the background music of 1930's vintage. The result is a laborious programme-filler." [4]

TV Guide called the film "an interesting murder mystery but one which never really delivers what it promises." [5]

The Radio Times wrote, "Tony Wright has the most colourful part as the judge's wayward son, a crime reporter, but Michael Hordern as the judge gives the sharpest performance. It's the only film directed by top editor Ralph Kemplen, who wisely returned to his real talent, cutting Room at the Top [1959], Oliver! [1968] and others". [6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Interesting yarn lacks full-blooded treatment." [7]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Spaniard's Curse". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Spaniard's Curse (1957) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009.
  3. ↑ Hal Erickson. "The Spaniard's Curse (1958) - Ralph Kemplen - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  4. ↑ "The Spaniard's Curse". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 25 (288): 92. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "The Spaniard's Curse". TVGuide.com.
  6. ↑ Allen Eyles. "The Spaniard's Curse". RadioTimes.
  7. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 378. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.


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