Mr. Denning Drives North (1952)

When well-off aircraft designer Denning finds his daughter's current boyfriend is a nasty character he tries to buy him off, ending up hitting him and causing his death when he falls. ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Kimmins

Writers:

Alec Coppel (novel), Alec Coppel (screenplay)

Stars:

John Mills, Phyllis Calvert, Eileen Moore

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Tom Denning
Phyllis Calvert	...	Kay Denning
Eileen Moore	...	Liz Denning
Sam Wanamaker	...	Chick Eddowes
Herbert Lom	...	Mados
Raymond Huntley	...	Wright
Russell Waters	...	Harry Stoper
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Woods
Freda Jackson	...	Ma Smith
Trader Faulkner	...	Ted Smith
Sheila Shand Gibbs	...	Matilda
Bernard Lee	...	Inspector Dodds
Michael Shepley	...	Chairman of Court
Ronald Adam	...	Coroner
John Stuart	...	Wilson

Storyline

When well-off aircraft designer Denning finds his daughter's current boyfriend is a nasty character he tries to buy him off, ending up hitting him and causing his death when he falls. Instead of calling the police he dumps the body in a lonely spot on the road to the North, making it look like a hit-and-run accident. Weeks later there is still no report of the body being found, and Denning starts to go to pieces. When he lets his wife into his secret the two start making enquiries, possibly making things worse.

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Plot Keywords:

british noir | based on novel

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asylliptos dolofonos

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features The Four Feathers (1939)

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Soundtracks

"I do like to be beside the seaside"
(uncredited)
Written by John Glover Kind
Played on a record player by the mortuary attendant and heard as a theme over the end credits

User Reviews

Good performances and nice use of locations.

Somewhat under-rated British suspenser.Mills gives his usual excellent performance, and though the scene where he flies the plane doesn't come off, the film has more than enough compensations. Ending is a little hurried, but this a very watchable movie especially for we lovers of the 1950s British suspense genre.