The Phantom Light (1935)

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

Joan Roy Byford (play)
Joseph Jefferson Farjeon (dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

5 August 1935 (UK)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A lighthouse keeper has been murdered in mysterious circumstances and, during the ensuing investigation...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Haunting | Quota Quickie | Based On Play

Cast

Binnie Hale	...	Alice Bright
Gordon Harker	...	Sam Higgins
Donald Calthrop	...	David Owen
Milton Rosmer	...	Dr. Carey
Ian Hunter	...	Jim Pearce
Herbert Lomas	...	Claff Owen
Reginald Tate	...	Tom Evans
Barry O'Neill	...	Capt. Pearce
Mickey Brantford	...	Bob Peters
Alice O'Day	...	Mrs. Owen
Fewlass Llewellyn	...	Griffith Owen
Edgar K. Bruce	...	Sgt. Owen
Louie Emery	...	Station Mistress
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Holles	...	Mr. Mason (uncredited)
Ernest Jay	...	Railway Worker (uncredited)
John Singer	...	Cabin Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Powell

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joan Roy Byford		play "The Haunted Light"
Joseph Jefferson Farjeon		dialogue (as J. Jefferson Farjeon)
Austin Melford		dialogue
Evadne Price		play "The Haunted Light"
Ralph Smart		scenario

Produced by
Jerome Jackson	....	associate producer
Michael Balcon	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Williams		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Roy Kellino

Film Editing by
Derek N. Twist		(as D.N. Twist)

Art Direction by
Alex Vetchinsky		(as A. Vetchinsky)

Sound Department
A. Birch	....	sound recordist

Music Department
Louis Levy	....	musical director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gainsborough Pictures

Distributors

• Gaumont British Distributors (1935) (UK) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1935) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood's Best (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood's Best (2005) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Welsh

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (British Acoustic)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Gainsborough Studios, Islington, London, England, UK

Company:

Gainsborough Pictures

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Alice Bright:I'm going to tell you the truth.
[but she then gives a different reason for being there each time]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dad's Army: Put That Light Out! (#4.7)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Fisherman's Song

Ghostly goings on in the gloaming.

There's a nice undercurrent of comedy running through this otherwise standard mystery story. Set in a "haunted" lighthouse on the supposedly lonely Welsh coast, there seems to be a remarkable crowd of characters bumping into each other at every turn. The plot starts out promisingly with much talk of ghostly terror, but settles into a rather lame and predictable conclusion.

The local Welsh villagers are mercilessly satirized as dim-witted, inbred provincials, in contrast with the smarty pants Londoners who've dropped in to sort out this here ghostly nonsense. An apparently nymphomanic young blonde with no relevance to the story other than removing various items of clothing as things progress, adds to the sly humour.

There's lots of excellent location cinematography of craggy Welsh rocks and crashing waves to provide a suitably moody background.

Taking all these elements together, I came away mildly entertained, although not mentally stimulated. Good late night fun.