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They Came to a City | |
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Directed by | Basil Dearden |
Written by | Basil Dearden Sidney Cole |
Based on | They Came to a City by J.B. Priestley |
Produced by | Michael Balcon Sidney Cole |
Starring | John Clements Googie Withers Raymond Huntley Renee Gadd |
Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
Edited by | Michael Truman |
Music by | Ernest Irving |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Ealing Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
They Came to a City is a 1944 British film directed by Basil Dearden adapted from the 1943 play of the same title by J. B. Priestley. It stars John Clements, Googie Withers, Raymond Huntley, Renee Gadd, A. E. Matthews and others, and is notable for including a cameo guest appearance by Priestley as himself. The plot concerns the experiences of various people who have come to live in their "ideal" city, and explores their hopes and reasons for doing so. Many of the cast had also performed their roles in the original stage play. The film's art direction was by Michael Relph. [1] [2]
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "as symbolism and an outlet for Priestley's philosophy, "They Came to a City" is eloquent and courageous, but as a motion picture it is immobile." [3]
John Boynton Priestley was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator.
Miranda is a 1948 black and white British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin and written by Peter Blackmore, who also wrote the play of the same name from which the film was adapted. The film stars Glynis Johns, Googie Withers, Griffith Jones, Margaret Rutherford, John McCallum and David Tomlinson. Denis Waldock provided additional dialogue. Music for the film was played by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Muir Mathieson. The sound director was B. C. Sewell.
Georgette Lizette Withers, CBE, AO, known professionally as Googie Withers, was an English entertainer who was a dancer and actress with a lengthy career spanning some nine decades in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during the Second World War and postwar years.
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Sir John Selby Clements, CBE was a British actor and producer who worked in theatre, television and film.
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When We Are Married is a comedy by the English dramatist, J. B. Priestley, written in 1934. It was first performed in London at the St. Martin's Theatre, London on 11 October 1938, and transferred to the larger Prince's Theatre in March 1939 and ran until 24 June of that year.
The Loves of Joanna Godden is a 1947 British historical drama film directed by Charles Frend and produced by Michael Balcon. The screenplay was written by H. E. Bates and Angus MacPhail from the novel Joanna Godden (1921) by Sheila Kaye-Smith.
Bulldog Sees it Through is a 1940 British, black-and-white, mystery war film directed by Harold Huth and starring Jack Buchanan, Greta Gynt, Googie Withers, Ronald Shiner as Pug and Sebastian Shaw.
Renee Gadd (1908–2003) was an Argentine-born British film actress. She acted mostly in British films.
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The First 400 Years is a 1964 Australian television play. It was filmed in Adelaide. The stars were performing in the play around Australia for JC Williamsons.
They Came to a City is a 1943 play by the British writer J.B. Priestley.