IMDb > The Night Digger (1971)

The Night Digger (1971) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

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Up 49% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alastair Reid
Writers:
Joy Cowley (novel)
Roald Dahl
Contact:
View company contact information for The Night Digger on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Drama | Horror | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
A lonely woman in a decaying mansion... A young stranger on a big, black bike. See more »
Plot:
Effective psychological love story with a macabre twist not found in the original Joy Cowley novel.... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
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NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Notebook Soundtrack Mix #2: "Sleep Little Lush"
 (From MUBI. 26 December 2011, 8:33 AM, PST)
Letters: Alastair Reid obituary
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 19 September 2011, 4:05 PM, PDT)
Letters: Alastair Reid obituary
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 19 September 2011, 4:05 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Echoes of "Night Must Fall", though with a moody ambiance of its own... See more (14 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Patricia Neal ... Maura Prince
Pamela Brown ... Mrs. Edith Prince - Mother
Nicholas Clay ... Billy Jarvis
Jean Anderson ... Mrs. Millicent McMurtrey
Graham Crowden ... Mr. Bolton
Yootha Joyce ... Mrs. Palafox
Peter Sallis ... Reverend Rupert Palafox
Brigit Forsyth ... District Nurse
Sebastian Breaks ... Dr. Ronnie Robinson
Diana Patrick ... Mary Wingate
Jenny McCracken ... Jenny - Farmwife
Bruce Myles ... Bank Clerk
Zoe Alexander ... Stroke Patient
Christopher Reynalds ... Young Billy
Elaine Ives-Cameron ... Gypsy
Sibylla Kay ... Whore
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Directed by
Alastair Reid 
 
Writing credits
Joy Cowley (novel "Nest in a Falling Tree")

Roald Dahl 

Produced by
Alan D. Courtney .... producer
William O. Harbach .... executive producer
Norman S. Powell .... producer
 
Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann 
 
Cinematography by
Alex Thomson 
 
Casting by
Mary Selway 
 
Art Direction by
Anthony Pratt 
 
Costume Design by
Gabriella Falk 
 
Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter .... hair stylist
Ernest Gasser .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
John Oldknow .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Dryhurst .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Tim Hutchinson .... assistant art director (uncredited)
Terry Wells .... stand-by property master (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Chris Greenham .... sound editor
Gerry Humphreys .... sound recordist
Brian Marshall .... sound recordist
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Clarke .... gaffer
Mike Fox .... camera operator
Denis Bremner .... best boy (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Rosemary Green .... musician: solo viola d'amore
Bernard Herrmann .... conductor
Tommy Reilly .... musician: solo harmonica
 
Other crew
Valerie Eaton-Griffiths .... assistant: Miss Neal
Bernard Hanson .... location manager
Jennifer Phillips .... continuity
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
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Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
97 min | UK:110 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:X | UK:15 (TV rating) | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British StudiosSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The original length of the film was 110 minutes. Bernard Herrmann composed his score for 110 minutes version. But about 13 minutes were cut right before the film's official release. So some of Bernard Herrmann's cues didn't end up in the film. In the released version (97 - 98 minutes), small portions of Herrmann's cue close to the end of the film was accidentally edited out. Some of Herrmann's cues that he composed for certain scenes in the released version didn't end up in the released cut. One of the unused cues was a cue for the scene where the nurse walks back and enters into her car.See more »

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User Reviews

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0 out of 1 people found the following review useful.
Echoes of "Night Must Fall", though with a moody ambiance of its own..., 20 January 2011
Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca

Patricia Neal always brings two attributes to her film performances: honesty and integrity--both of which work wonders for this derivative, somewhat moldy tale of a spinster, living under the thumb of her half-blind adoptive mother, who blossoms in love and independence with a 20-year-old handyman in rural England. The film, sort of a character study-cum-suspense melodrama, isn't an attractive showcase for Neal, yet she gives the scenario a hearty touch and her unmistakable stamp of dry wit. Neal's then-husband Roald Dahl adapted his script from Joy Cowley's novel "Nest in a Falling Tree", pushing some of the kinkier aspects of the plot a bit far for a blue-haired thriller. Nevertheless, a visually perceptive and intriguing little movie that almost stays the course until the final act, which comes completely apart. Released under two different titles (also "The Road Builder"), though barely seen by anybody until the advent of cable movie channels. ** from ****

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Night Digger (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
TCM's Aspect Ratio ChazSmith
the end angelfox
January 20, 5:30 PM on TCM The_Road_Runner
another question about the end kpaletz-1
Available now on DVD The_Road_Runner
Does this ever air? Jerry02149
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