Room to Let (1950 film)
Room to Let is a 1950 British historical thriller film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Jimmy Hanley, Valentine Dyall and Constance Smith.[1] It was adapted from the BBC radio play by Margery Allingham, broadcast in 1947.[2][3]
| Room to Let | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Godfrey Grayson |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Written by | Margery Allingham (radio drama) John Gilling Godfrey Grayson |
| Starring | Jimmy Hanley Valentine Dyall Constance Smith |
| Music by | Frank Spencer |
| Cinematography | Cedric Williams |
| Edited by | James Needs |
Production company | Hammer Films |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date | 15 May 1950 |
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
After a fire at an insane asylum during the Edwardian era, a young journalist becomes convinced that one of the patients has escaped and taken lodgings at a local middle-class household. The mysterious "Doctor Fell" comes to dominate the three woman in the house - mother, daughter and maid - and increasingly shuts them off from outside contact. Despite a lack of assistance from the authorities, the journalist suspects that the Doctor is in fact the notorious Jack the Ripper who is planning a fresh series of attacks.
Cast
- Jimmy Hanley as Curly Minter
- Valentine Dyall as Doctor Fell
- Christine Silver as Mrs. Musgrave
- Merle Tottenham as Alice
- Constance Smith as Molly Musgrave
- Charles Hawtrey as Mike Atkinson
- Aubrey Dexter as Harding
- Anthony La Penna as JJ
- Reginald Dyson as Sergeant Cranbourne
- Laurence Naismith as Editor
- John Clifford as Atkinson
- Stuart Saunders as Porter
- Cyril Conway as Doctor Mansfield
- Charles Houston as Tom
- Harriet Petworth as Matron
- Charles Mander as P.C. Smith
- H. Hamilton Earle as Orderly
- F.A. Williams as Butler
- Archie Callum as Night Watchman
Critical reception
TV Guide gave the film two out of five stars, calling it "A fairly disturbing programmer which remains suspenseful to the end."[4] and Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings wrote, "This is basically a variation of THE LODGER, and a very effective one. Valentine Dyall steals the movie as the truly creepy lodger, Dr. Fell."[5]
References
- Chibnall & MacFarlane p.76
- "Room to Let (1950)".
- Jones, Julia (12 January 2018). "The Adventures of Margery Allingham". Golden Duck UK Ltd – via Google Books.
- "Room To Let". TVGuide.com.
- "Roon to Let (1950)". 14 December 2014.
Bibliography
- Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. The British 'B' Film. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.
External links
- Room to Let on IMDb
