Night Must Fall (1964)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Karel Reisz

Writers:

Emlyn Williams (play)
Clive Exton (writer)

Release Date:

18 March 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

The lusty brawling star of "Tom Jones" goes psycho in Night Must Fall.

Plot:

A psychotic killer gets in the good graces of his aging invalid employer, and worms his way into the affection of her beautiful daughter, with unpleasant results for all.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Based On Play

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Albert Finney	...	Danny
Mona Washbourne	...	Mrs. Bramson
Susan Hampshire	...	Olivia Greyne
Sheila Hancock	...	Dora Parkoe
Michael Medwin	...	Derek
Joe Gladwin	...	Dodge
Martin Wyldeck	...	Inspector Willett
John Gill	...	Foster

Directed by
Karel Reisz

Writing credits
Emlyn Williams		(play "Night Must Fall")
Clive Exton		(writer)

Produced by
Lawrence P. Bachmann	....	executive producer
Karel Reisz	....	producer
Albert Finney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ron Grainer

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Philip Barnikel

Casting by
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Timothy O'Brien

Art Direction by
Lionel Couch

Costume Design by
Sophie Devine		(uncredited)

Production Management
Timothy Burrill	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Tomblin	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Malcolm Cooke	....	sound editor
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
Cyril Swern	....	sound recordist
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Fisher	....	camera operator
Jim Dawes	....	grip (uncredited)
Ronnie Fox Rogers	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Fergus McDonell	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Ron Grainer	....	conductor

Other crew
Pamela Mann	....	continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1964) (UK) (theatrical)

Runtime:

Germany:92 min | USA:101 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X | Finland:(Banned) (1964)

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Movie Connections:

Version of Night Must Fall (1937) (TV)

A great, tense thriller! (No Spoilers)

I've heard about this British gem, and I was stoked to see that it was on TCM (UK) the other night. Albert Finney is superb as Danny, well the entire cast is very strong. I'd heard about it from the Freddie Francis link (he was Director of Photography)and I wasn't disappointed, it just has his unique stamp all over it.

For most of the film, the audience is waiting for something to happen as the tension is kept to a maximum throughout the film. The final payoff is superb and shows just why Finney is one of Britains best actors. I thought it was a lot like that other British twisted family oddity 'Girly' (US title) but with fewer sexual undertones.

It's a shame Night Must Fall isn't more well known as it's a true gem of 60's British cinema.