Take My Life (1947)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Winston Graham (writer)
Margaret Kennedy (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

1947 (Germany)

Genre:

Thriller | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

A man wrongly accused of murdering an ex-girlfriend must rely on his wife to do the detective work and find the real killer...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Opera Singer | Based On Novel

Cast

Hugh Williams	...	Nicholas Talbot
Greta Gynt	...	Phillipa Shelley
Marius Goring	...	Sidney Fleming
Francis L. Sullivan	...	Prosecuting Counsel
Henry Edwards	...	Inspector Archer
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Elizabeth Rusman
Marjorie Mars	...	Mrs. Newcombe
David Walbridge	...	Leslie Newcombe
Herbert C. Walton	...	Grieve
D.A. Mehan	...	Chemist
Hugh Kelly	...	Casualty Ward Doctor
Dorothy Bramhall	...	Nurse
Nelly Arno	...	Mrs. Rusman
Frederick Morant	...	Concert Agent
Grace Denbigh Russell	...	Orchestra Leader
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Miss Carteret
Olive Walter	...	Mrs. Langridge
Pat Susands	...	Shaw
Henry Morrelle	...	Judge
Maurice Denham	...	Defending Counsel
Leo Britt	...	John Newcombe
Keith Lloyd	...	Bungey Baker
Margaret Boyd	...	Mrs. Turnbull
Hubert Leslie	...	Angus Baird (as J. Hubert Leslie)
Deidre Doyle	...	Annie Baird
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronald Adam	...	Det Sgt Hawkins. (Deaf Man.) (uncredited)
Leo Bieber	...	Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
John Boxer	...	Policeman Making Charge Statement (uncredited)
Madge Brindley	...	Lady With Children At Station (uncredited)
Gerald Campion	...	Newspaper seller at station (uncredited)
Dennis Harkin	...	Man in Phone Box At Station (uncredited)
Campbell Singer	...	Police Station Sergeant (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronald Neame

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Winston Graham		writer
Margaret Kennedy		writer
Valerie Taylor		writer

Produced by
Anthony Havelock-Allan	....	producer

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Guy Green

Film Editing by
Geoffrey Foot
Jack Harris

Casting by
Pat MacDonnell		(uncredited)
Adele Raymond		(uncredited)

Production Design by
John Bryan

Art Direction by
Wilfred Shingleton

Costume Design by
Joy Ricardo

Production Management
Norman Spencer	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Pollock	....	assistant director
Philip Shipway	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Allan Harris	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
John Hoesli	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
T. Hopewell Ash	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Geoffrey Woodward	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
L.E. Overton	....	sound recordist
Charles Poulton	....	sound recordist
Winston Ryder	....	sound editor
Jack Slade	....	sound editor
David Bowen	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
George Croll	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	first assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)
John Dennis	....	chief production mixer (uncredited)
Willows George	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)

Special Effects by
George Blackwell	....	miniatures (uncredited)
Syd Howell	....	back projection (uncredited)
Douglas Woolsey	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ernest Steward	....	camera operator
Peter Bryan	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
John Godar	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Peter Hall	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Charles Trigg	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elizabeth Hennings	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jack Harris	....	editorial associate
Margery Saunders	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor: Philharmonic Sinfonie Orchestra

Other crew
Maggie Unsworth	....	continuity (as Margaret Sibley)
Vicky Fuggle	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Adele Reynolds	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cineguild

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1947) (UK) (theatrical)
• Eagle-Lion Films (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• R&B Video (2005) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Cineguild

Suspenseful and stylish

Minor classic ! "Take My life" is one of the better films of its era in British film making. A Rank Film that catched the attention of Hollywood and brought its leading actress Greta Gynt to the film capitol of the world. The merits of "Take My Life" is in its fast paced and skillfully directed hands of Ronald Neame. The feeling of suspense is carefully distributed throughout the film via a dramatic developement that never leavs you unexcited or bored. The actors are controlled and focused. One can tell that the actors enjoyed the challenge of a script that required high acting skills to pull off. And The Rank Studioes gathered their best talents to make the film a minor classic of British film-noire style. "Take my Life" was widly distributed all over the world and is remembered as Greta Gynts best liked film, both by her and her fans. So take a risk with this film if you want to spend an evening (or day) of cinemagic style and suspense. You wont walk off dissapointed if you are lover of vintage films