Torment (1950 British film)

Last updated

Torment
Torment FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by John Guillermin
Written byJohn Guillermin
Starring
Cinematography Gerald Gibbs
Edited by Robert Jordan Hill
Music by John Wooldridge
Production
company
Advance Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 3 February 1950 (1950-02-03)(London UK)
  • 10 November 1950 (1950-11-10)(US)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Torment (U.S. title: Paper Gallows) is a 1950 British second feature [1] thriller film directed and written by John Guillermin and starring Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson and John Bentley. [2]

Contents

It was the first sole director credit for John Guillermin. [3] He later called the film "a lemon". [4]

Plot

Brothers Cliff and Jim Brandon are a successful writing team specializing in murder mysteries, but Cliff and Jim are almost as disturbed as some of the characters they have created. While researching their latest novel, one of the brothers commits murder, simply to experience the thrill. He then attempts to frame his secretary Joan for the crime. His reason this time is personal: both brothers are in love with Joan, but she prefers one over the other. The saner of the two brothers races against time to save Joan from the gallows and to bring his sibling to justice.

Cast

Production

Guillermin had made several films for Adelphi as a producer. One day he saw an elaborate set being torn down and offered Adelphi that he would write a film in three weeks and shoot it in three weeks if he could use the set. They agreed. It did take Guillermin three weeks to write it but six weeks to film. [5]

Guillermin was paid £3,250. According to one writer it was with this film that "Guillermin’s talent for clear, compact, efficient direction became evident: his tautly-shot thriller remains the strongest crime drama in the Adelphi catalogue." [6]

Dermot Walsh says that during filming an electrician fell twenty feet from railing down to the floor "but Guillermin wouldn't hold up production, he just went on shooting." [7]

Release

The film was released in the US in March 1951 as Paper Gallows. [8]

The film was rejected for distribution by the main British cinema circuits but Guillermin found the movie useful in launching his career. [9]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Cliché-ridden script, overplayed characters, but a feeling once or twice that the director had some elusive Higher Thing in mind." [10]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture contains rather a lot of talk during the early stages, but above-average acting and photography enable it to transcend initial shortcomings and gallop to a gripping climax. Cliff's derangement is acceptable, and validity heightens the cleverly thought-out thrills. Exciting theatre, smoothly translated into screen terms, it should keep most audiences on the edge of their seats." [11]

Variety wrote: "Here is a grim, suspenseful thriller devoid of cinematograph tricks but packing a hard entertainment punch. ... It has modest production values and within the scope of its budget is attractively presented." [12]

TV Guide wrote, "the story here is nothing new, but the direction is fresh and original. Taking this simplistic plotline, Guillermin manages to inject some good suspense into a modestly budgeted feature. Walsh, Bentley, and Anderson play their roles well and play against one another with skill." [13]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Hackneyed script, heavy playing: torment for the audience." [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Crowded Day</i> 1954 British film by John Guillermin

The Crowded Day is a 1954 British comedy drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring John Gregson, Joan Rice, Cyril Raymond and Josephine Griffin. The film follows a group of shopgirls working in Bunting and Hobbs, a London department store, during the Christmas shopping season. It was an attempt by Adelphi Films to move into bigger budgeted films. It was the last movie Guillermin directed for the company.

<i>Out of the Shadow</i> (1961 film) 1961 British film by Michael Winner

Out of the Shadow is a 1961 British thriller film directed and written by Michael Winner and starring Terence Longdon, Donald Gray, Diane Clare, Robertson Hare and Dermot Walsh.

<i>The Blue Parrot</i> 1953 British film by John Harlow

The Blue Parrot is a low budget 1953 British "B" crime film directed by John Harlow and starring Dermot Walsh, Jacqueline Hill, Ballard Berkeley, Richard Pearson, and John Le Mesurier. The film was produced by Stanley Haynes for Act Films Ltd. The screenplay is by Alan MacKinnon from a story by British crime reporter Percy Hoskins.

<i>A Time to Kill</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Charles Saunders

A Time to Kill is a 1955 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Jack Watling, Rona Anderson, John Horsley, Russell Napier, Kenneth Kent, and John Le Mesurier. It was written by Doreen Montgomery.

<i>High Jinks in Society</i> 1949 British film by John Guillermin and Robert Jordan Hill

High Jinks in Society is a 1949 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and Robert Jordan Hill and starring Ben Wrigley, Barbara Shaw, Basil Appleby, Peter Gawthorne and Moore Marriott.

<i>Song of Paris</i> 1952 British film

Song of Paris is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and starring Dennis Price, Anne Vernon and Hermione Baddeley. It was shot at Walton Studios outside London. It was distributed in the United States by Lippert Pictures as Bachelor in Paris.

<i>Operation Diplomat</i> (film) 1953 film by John Guillermin

Operation Diplomat is a 1953 British drama film directed by John Guillermin and starring Guy Rolfe and Lisa Daniely. It was written by A. R. Rawlinson and Guillermin based on a story by Francis Durbridge. It was produced by Ernest G. Roy.

<i>The Whole Truth</i> (1958 film) 1958 film by John Guillermin

The Whole Truth is a 1958 British-American thriller film directed by John Guillermin and starring Stewart Granger, George Sanders, Donna Reed, Gianna Maria Canale and Peter Dyneley. It was written by Jonathan Latimer based on the 1955 play of the same title by Philip Mackie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelphi Films</span>

Adelphi Films Limited was a British film production company. With its sister company Advance, it produced over 30 films in the 1940s and 1950s and distributed many more. Adelphi linked Gainsborough Pictures and the raw “kitchen sink” dramas of the early 1960s.

<i>The Flaw</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Terence Fisher

The Flaw is a 1955 British second feature crime film directed by Terence Fisher, and starring John Bentley and Donald Houston. The story and screenplay were by Brandon Fleming.

<i>The Floating Dutchman</i> 1954 British film by Vernon Sewell

The Floating Dutchman is a 1954 British second feature crime film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Dermot Walsh, Sydney Tafler and Mary Germaine. It is based on a 1950 novel The Floating Dutchman by Nicholas Bentley. A Scotland Yard detective goes undercover amongst jewel thieves after a dead Dutchman is found floating in the river.

<i>House of Blackmail</i> 1953 British film by Maurice Elvey

House of Blackmail is a 1953 British second feature drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Mary Germaine, William Sylvester and Alexander Gauge. It was written by Allan MacKinnon. The plot follows a soldier and his girlfriend, who become mixed up with a blackmailer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Guillermin</span> French-British film director, writer and producer (1925–2015)

John Guillermin was a French-British film director, writer and producer who was most active in big-budget, action-adventure films throughout his lengthy career.

Three Steps to the Gallows is a 1953 British second feature crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Scott Brady, Mary Castle and Gabrielle Brune. It was released in the US by Lippert Pictures as White Fire.

<i>The Frightened Man</i> 1952 British film by John Gilling

The Frightened Man is a 1952 British second feature crime film directed and written by John Gilling and starring Dermot Walsh, Barbara Murray and Charles Victor. An antiques dealer suffers a dramatic fall from grace.

Bless 'Em All is a 1948 British musical comedy film directed by Robert Jordan Hill and starring Hal Monty and Max Bygraves, the latter in his screen debut.

Strange Stories is a 1953 British drama film directed by Don Chaffey and John Guillermin and starring Peter Bull, Naomi Chance and Valentine Dyall.

<i>Melody in the Dark</i> 1949 British film

Melody in the Dark is a 1949 British comedy film, with music. It was co written by John Guillermin. It starred Ben Wrigley and Eunice Gayson.

<i>Profile</i> (1954 film) 1954 film

Profile is a 1954 British second feature ('B') thriller film directed by Francis Searle and starring John Bentley, Kathleen Byron and Thea Gregory. It was written by John Temple-Smith, Maurice Temple-Smith and John Gilling.

<i>The Hideout</i> (1956 film) 1956 film by Peter Graham Scott

The Hideout is a 1956 British crime film directed by Peter Graham Scott and starring Dermot Walsh, Rona Anderson and Ronald Howard. It was produced as a second feature by John Temple-Smith. The screenplay was by Kenneth Hayles.

References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 102. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "Torment". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (17 November 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
  4. ↑ Pratt, Vic; Lees, Kate (2020). "CHAPTER 3 EARLY DAYS WITH ADELPHI FILMS". In Guillermin, Mary (ed.). John Guillermin: The Man, The Myth, The Movies. Precocity Press. p. 25.
  5. ↑ Guillermin, Mary (2020). "CHAPTER 5A LOVER OF FEMININITY IN ALL ITS FULLNESS". In Guillermin, Mary (ed.). John Guillermin: The Man, The Myth, The Movies. Precocity Press. p. 94.
  6. ↑ Pratt, Vic; Lees, Kate (2020). "Chapter 3 Early Days with Adelphi Films". In Guillermin, Mary (ed.). John Guillermin: The Man, The Myth, The Movies. Precocity Press. p. 34.
  7. ↑ McFarlane, Brian (1997). An autobiography of British cinema : as told by the filmmakers and actors who made it. Methuen. p. 591. ISBN   9780413705204.
  8. ↑ BRIGADOON' LISTED BY METRO FOR FALL: Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson Will Play Leads in Screen Version of Musical Hit Of Local Origin By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 12 Mar 1951: 20.
  9. ↑ Lees p 38
  10. ↑ "Torment". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 16 (181): 218. 1 January 1949 – via ProQuest.
  11. ↑ "Torment". Kine Weekly . 394 (2222): 22. 1 December 1949 – via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ "Torment" . Variety . 177 (11): 6. 22 February 1950 – via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ "Paper Gallows Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  14. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 254. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
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.