The Blind Goddess (1948) User Reviews

Solid courtroom drama

[Paularoc · 7/10 · 6 March 2013]

Count Stephan Mikla is murdered in Prague to prevent his sharing documents proving that Lord Brasted received a huge bribe to cover up the theft of millions of dollars from a fund to aid postwar displaced persons. Mikla had been in communication with Derek Waterman, the Secretary to Lord Brasted, who is convinced that Mikla was murdered although the official verdict was suicide. Waterman also knows, through Mikla, the role that Brasted played in the theft and shares this information with the Prime Minister. All this gets him is being fired and then sued for libel by Lord Brasted. The lawyer advocating for Brastad is Lord Dearing, wonderfully played by Eric Portman. Brasted's wife is as devious as Brasted is arrogant and evil. (I repeatedly wrote Brasted's name as Brastard for good reason). The courtroom scenes are especially good but so are the scenes that lead to the unraveling of the evidence against Waterman wherein Dearing proves to be a highly honorable man. It was nice seeing Clair Bloom in her film debut. I was not familiar with the actors Michael Denison or Anne Crawford who did admirable jobs in their roles. Although the film is a bit longer than perhaps it should have been, it's still recommended.

A bit stagey, but not too bad

[calvertfan · 7/10 · 23 June 2002]

Good if you like court-room dramas, also good if you like very long movies because this one positively drags - despite an excellent cast consisting of the wonderful Anne Crawford. If all the boring bits were cut out, this would be one fast paced and snappy little thriller. It starts off promising, with the murder that is done up to look like a suicide, but then fails to deliver anything quite as good until almost the very end. A little romance is of course woven into the plot, and most of the fun comes from young Claire Bloom.

The Letter.

[brogmiller · 7/10 · 12 December 2020]

Sir Patrick Hastings was one of our most renowned and notable barristers whose involvement in high profile cases makes fascinating reading.

He also found time to write plays with decidedly mixed results, only two of which have been adapted for film.

This is based upon his play of the same name in which a young man accuses his former employer of embezzling funds from a charitable organisation set up for 'displaced persons'. During the trial the defendant seems to be creating a good impression until the plaintiff's lawyer produces a letter..........

The intriguing beginning of this film takes place in Prague but soon switches to London where we are introduced to 'teddibly, teddibly' Michael Denison and twee Claire Bloom. Happily it is not too long before the appearance of Hugh Williams and Anne Crawford as Lord and Lady Brasted and Eric Portman as Sir John Dearing KC.

A previous reviewer has criticised the courtroom proceedings as 'farcical' in terms of their authenticity. Might I remind him that this is a film, not a documentary and that there is such a thing as dramatic license.

Dramatically these scenes are both effective and well constructed.

Harold French began and ended his career in the Theatre. In between he proved to be a capable film director although lacking the little 'touches' that distinguish those in the top rank.

Eric Portman conveys brilliantly the objective and dispassionate temperament required by a criminal lawyer. Hugh Williams is as immaculate as ever and eminently plausible. As the film goes on one comes to sympathise with the moral dilemma faced by Michael Denison's character and as an actor Mr. Denison definitely improved with age. This film marks Claire Bloom's film debut. Her 'tweeness' became far less apparent with the years and she has enjoyed a long and deservedly successful career. The performance that stands out, for this viewer at any rate, is that of Anne Crawford as Lady Brasted. Although the means her character employs to save her husband from disgrace are shameful, this splendid actress still succeeds in evoking one's sympathy. Such a pity Miss Crawford was taken from us so early.

Not a great film by any means but an absorbing one which left me wondering why no one has ever filmed the fascinating life of Patrick Hastings himself.

"Promise not to do anything silly until I get back"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 26 July 2022]

A good courtroom drama involving libel and blackmail. One needs to keep paying attention to the details of the plot but they do reward staying with them. It all holds together in a neat way. The film is helped along by a fine cast with Eric Portman (Did he ever give a bad performance?) and Anne Crawford as the most compelling characters. Their scenes together are excellent. Thora Hird has a brief but memorable appearance as was her wont. Harold French was not a great director but some of his filmography is definitely worth a look, as is this film.

Well Performed Court Room Drama

[boblipton · 6/10 · 8 May 2019]

Michael Denison works for Hugh Williams, who is in charge of a major relief fund. He receives word from his good friend, Martin Benson, that the fund is being pilfered, and Williams being paid off. Benson is promptly murdered. When Denison confronts him about the money, Williams denies it and offers Denison ten thousand pounds. Denison, however, wants to do the right thing and goes to the Prime Minister. He quickly finds himself on trial for blackmail, with the case being tried by Eric Portman, whose daughter, Claire Bloom (in her first screen appearance) has a secret understanding with him. As an added complication, Williams is married to Anne Crawford, who, she claims, has a letter written to her in which Denison's blackmail plans are revealed.

It's a complicated bit of a puzzle as to what is really going on, even though we see Denison every step of the way. Everyone talks in extreme toff accents, and we are apprised of the fact that the legal system is quite heartless, although individuals may have a conscience. Also that everyone remembers the most trivial event of the day for months and months. Except me.

Black and white and gloomy!

[rxelex · 7/10 · 18 July 2021]

Another of those grim 1940s films with good actors but awful tedium.

Set in overstuffed victorian London houses though I dodn't notice an aspidistra.

It is films like this that killed the British film industry.

The Blind Goddess

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 5 January 2023]

Eric Portman was ideal for this part. His clipped phraseology and static style of acting suited his character - barrister "Sir John Dearing" down to a T. He is called up to prosecute "Waterhouse" (Michael Denison) who has been accused by "Lord Brasted" (Hugh Williams) of trying to blackmail him for the enormous sum of £20,000. Having reach the upper echelons of the British government, accusations of large scale bribery and embezzlement force a court case that grips the land. There are letters, accusations of infidelity, forgeries and a courtroom informality that I found quite enjoyable for just under ninety minutes. The ending has a sort of stiff-upper-lip convenience about it which rather disappoints, but the rest of this drama is well propped up by a solid cast - Anne Crawford and Nora Swinburne primary amongst them - and the courtroom intrigues have just enough complications to keep it interesting.

Gentlemen's dilemma of avoiding having their ladies scandalized

[clanciai · 9/10 · 8 July 2019]

The film is introduced in Prague with a spectacular murder, which is made to look like a suicide, which alerts the mind to what happened in Prague in 1948, when the film was released, as the communists took over the government by a coup involving the defenestration of Jan Masaryk and the death of Eduard Benes. However, this story happens entirely in London and involves corruption, as money intended for fugitives and displaced persons is channelled elsewhere, which alerts the always honest Michael Denison, who informs the prime minister, which leads to a libel case in court. The plot is complicated, it's difficult to follow all the meanderings, but the cast is outstanding all the way: Eric Portman as the advocate, Hugh Williams as the lord on trial, Claire Bloom in an early but shining performance and Anne Crawford as the spider in the web. The psychology of sensitive relationships is highly developed here. It's a great court-room drama with some political implications making it an interesting time document.

Dated but watchable

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 7 February 2022]

Somewhat dated these days, THE BLIND GODDESS nonetheless works if you have any interest at all in courtroom dramas and the intricacy of the British justice system. It also helps to have a cast of seasoned professionals giving adroit performances throughout. The tale is one of intrigue, beginning with a shocking murder and going from there, and whilst not spectacular it certainly holds the attention thanks to the level of detail involved.

Political intrigue, bribery, blackmail and murder, a messy combination.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 10 March 2021]

This British courtroom drama makes Hitchcock's "The Paradine Case" an easy puzzle to solve. Made the same year, this starts off intriguingly with the murder of a Czech diplomat by a valet who looks like Jonathan Harris of "Lost in Space". There's bribery over letters suggesting embezzlement of funds for a refugee charity, with supposed forgery being claimed as a proof of Michael Denison's innocence.

Hugh Williams, Anne Crawford and a young Claire Bloom co-star in this draggy courtroom drama that may drain you from the need to concentrate a great deal more than usual as to all the convoluted detail involved. Written from the point of view from a strong legal mind, this is often painful to watch to collect all of the information you need to remain ahead of the plot.

By the time things begin to become more clear, some viewers may have given up altogether. The fact that the first scene seemingly is inconsequential yet the creepy looking valet suddenly briefly reappears is equally as perplexing. Crawford's seemingly gracious character is revealed to be quite nasty, yet isn't interesting enough. Great detail though in the photography and art direction, but I was quickly dumfounded by the squiggly structure which left me not caring how it was all resolved.

Corrupt British Establishment in courtroom drama

[pieter-52462 · 7/10 · 2 December 2021]

This is a slow plot and probably sucks in people who believe sections of the British establishment are corrupt. Obviously this was a stage drama written by a practising QC who clearly had come across some real life examples of the British aristocracy more keen on profit and self rewarding than charity or humanity.

If you want a story that seems to suggest that there are immoral figures in the UK government historically and therefore it is perfectly reasonable that they exist currently, then this is definitely the film for you!

It really isn't that complicated, but was clearly based on legal process.

False premise undermines talky drama

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 20 October 2014]

At the beginning of this film a Czech dignitary is killed by his valet.He shoots him from about 5 yards.He then places the gun in the dead mans hand.It is subsequently accepted by all,except Michael Dennison that it was suicide when any post mortem would come to the more logical conclusion that it was murder.This is an important plot point and would mean much of the plot would be rendered redundant.No clear reason is ever given for the murder.Much of the rest of the film is a very talky and stagy courtroom drama.As someone who has done his fair share of civil litigation the idea that letters can just be produced to a court without telling the other side,and at the trial is farcical.Particularly as at least one is a fake.Although reasonably entertaining this film could just as well have been made as a radio play.

A Dull Plot

[howardmorley · 5/10 · 18 November 2014]

I rated this movie 5/10 mainly because of the actors & actresses in leading parts whom I admire, especially Eric Portman and Anne Crawford after their characters romance in "Millions like Us" (1943), Michael Denison as Algernon Montcrief in "The Importance of being Earnest" (1952) and Claire Bloom in her first leading role.However the plot is a dull one and too talky which other users above have noted and with their opinions I concur. There is not enough locational footage to relieve the somewhat claustrophobic setting, as the film seems to be 95% shot in the film studio.I like to see daylight occasionally in my favourite films!