Faces in the Dark
Faces in the Dark is a 1960 British thriller film directed by David Eady and starring John Gregson, Mai Zetterling and John Ireland.[1] The film is based on the 1952 novel Les Visages de l'ombre by Boileau-Narcejac.[2]
Faces in the Dark | |
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Directed by | David Eady |
Produced by | Jon Penington |
Screenplay by | Ephraim Kogan John Tully |
Based on | Les Visages de l'ombre by Boileau-Narcejac |
Starring | John Gregson Mai Zetterling John Ireland Michael Denison |
Music by | Mikis Theodorakis |
Cinematography | Ken Hodges |
Edited by | Oswald Hafenrichter |
Production company | Penington Eady Productions |
Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors |
Release date | 22 November 1960 |
Running time | 84 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Anthony Masters.[1]
Plot
Richard Hammond, an aggressive and ambitious business mogul inventor, with little or no time for his wife, friends or family, is blinded in an explosive accident, on the same day his long-suffering wife had planned to leave him. He becomes convinced that he is going mad, but it soon becomes apparent this is a deliberate attempt by someone else. A devious woman, the inventor's wife, is plotting with her lover in an attempt to make her husband think he's going insane, in the hopes he will take his own life and leave them free to pursue their illicit affair in peace.[3]
Cast
- John Gregson as Richard Hammond
- Mai Zetterling as Christiane Hammond
- John Ireland as Max Hammond
- Michael Denison as David Merton
- Tony Wright as Clem
- Nanette Newman as Janet
- Valerie Taylor as Miss Hopkins
- Roland Bartrop as French Doctor
Critical reception
The Radio Times wrote "this tale of blindness and rage should have been a real nail-biter. Sadly, ex-documentary director David Eady simply doesn't have the thriller instinct and throws away countless opportunities to make the tension unbearable."[4] However, TV Guide wrote that "The film has some pot-holes, but the chilling climax is smooth as glass";[5] and Allmovie noted "Although there may be a few minor gaps here and there in the storyline, Faces in the Dark is a suspenseful drama."[6]
References
- "BFI | Film & TV Database | FACES IN THE DARK (1960)". web.archive.org. 14 January 2009.
- Goble, Alan (8 September 2011). "The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film". Walter de Gruyter – via Google Books.
- The Times, The Gaiety That Was Greece, 21 November 1960
- "Faces in the Dark – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
- "Faces In The Dark | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- "Faces in the Dark (1960) - David Eady | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.