The film was based on a 1956 television play which author Ted Willis claims was based on a true story he had heard.[4] This starred Andrew Ray and Jill Williams.[5]
Willis later wrote "with this script, for the first time, I did manage to clarify years of anguished thinking about television writing. As I watched the play, and watched the faces of those few friends who saw it with me, I realized the terrifying potential of this intense, intimate, person-to-person hook-up which is television. I understood that it was possible to move that man in the armchair just as deeply as if he were in a theatre or a cinema. If I may be allowed to repeat myself, it was exciting and rather frightening."[6]The Observer called the television production "a real eyeball jerker".[7]
Most of the cast from the television cast repeated their performance in the film with a few exceptions. Janet Munro had not been on the television production. She claims she was cast on the strength of her performance in Small Hotel (1957).[8]
Munro was later reunited with Ted Willis and Peter Cotes in Bitter Harvest (1963).[10]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The direction (Peter Coles, is by turns cautious, laboured and frankly amateurish: the dialogue is given to repeating rather than developing its points, and the overall production looks cramped, with flat lighting producing an effect of visual monotony. Perhaps the drama might have been more effective with more uniformity of style in the playing. Andrew Ray, though, is over-emphatic for his part, while Janet Munro's performance seems too professionally mature and calculated for conviction. Only Hilda Fenemore and Campbell Singer manage to achieve any depth in their characterisation without unconsciously parodying them. All in all, a well-meaning film which has sadly misfired."[11]
Variety called it "a neat, often absorbing effort" which "may be too sensitive for thoughtless patrons."[12]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Rather strained for effect but is occasionally touching in a naive way."[13]
According to Ted Willis it "became a very respectable movie which, oddly enough, enjoyed huge success in Japan."[4]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
