Death of an Angel
| Death of an Angel | |
|---|---|
.png) Opening titles | |
| Directed by | Charles Saunders |
| Written by | Frank King (story) Reginald Long (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Walter J. Harvey |
| Edited by | John Ferris |
| Music by | Frank Spencer |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 64 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Death of an Angel is a 1952 British 'B'[2] crime drama directed by Charles Saunders and starring Patrick Barr, Jane Baxter and Jean Lodge.[3] The screenplay was by Reginald Long, based on an original story called This is Mary's Chair by Dr. Frank King. It was filmed at Bray Studios from April 2, 1951 until April 27, 1951. It was trade shown at the Hammer Theatre on Jan. 17, 1952, and opened in February.[4]
Plot
[edit]Dr. Welling, an elderly doctor in a small rural town, asks young Dr. Boswell to move there and become a partner in his medical practice. Later, Dr. Welling's wife is poisoned, and Welling becomes a suspect. Dr. Boswell attempts to find out who killed the old woman, and discovers that Dr. Welling is innocent. The real killer falls to his death while being pursued by the police.
Cast
[edit]- Patrick Barr as Robert Welling
- Jane Baxter as Mary Welling
- Julie Somers as Judy Welling
- Raymond Young as Chris Boswell
- Jean Lodge as Ann Marlow
- Russell Waters as Walter Grannage
- Russell Napier as Supt. Walshaw
- Katie Johnson as Sarah Oddy
- June Bardsley as nurse
- David Stoll as plainclothesman
- Duggie Ascot as taxi driver
- Robert Brown as Jim Pollard
- John Kelly as PC Janes
- James Mills as Howard
- Hal Osmond as railway porter
- Frank Tickle as Sam Oddy
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although sometimes disjointed in development, and not too well acted, this murder story manages to sustain a certain suspense."[5]
Picture Show wrote: "Well staged, efficiently directed and acted thriller."[6]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Some suspense; rather slow for a short film."[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Johnson, Tom (1996). Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography. North Carolina: McFarland. p.60. ISBN 0-7864-0034-X.
- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Death of an Angel". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Tom (1996). Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography. North Carolina: McFarland. p. 61. ISBN 0-7864-0034-X.
- ^ "Death of an Angel". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 19 (216): 34. 1 January 1952 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Death of an Angel". Picture Show. 58 (1516): 10. 19 April 1952 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 299. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
External links
[edit]
- 1952 films
- British crime drama films
- 1952 crime drama films
- Films directed by Charles Saunders
- British films based on plays
- Films set in England
- Hammer Film Productions films
- British black-and-white films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- Films scored by Frank Spencer
- English-language crime drama films