Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) White Corridors (1956) User Reviews

'The Lady Vanished' but in a Hospital

[-501 · 7/10 · 4 January 2012]

The overall premise is that an American tourist brings a sick friend to a British hospital in the middle-of-the-night where she witnesses something that she cannot prove to the point that makes her seem delusional.

This is an interesting 30 minute film with terrific cast and performances with a limited budget. Fast moving to say the least, the protagonist really gets you into this murder-mystery. Giving the amount of action and twists involved in this short, well done indeed. Only real groan comes in the next-to-last scene when a doctor's action are too implausible to get through a reasonable 'suspension of disbelief.'

Michael Crichton's shadow - or ghost - haunts those corridors

[searchanddestroy-1 · 8/10 · 18 March 2020]

I could not prevent myself to think about Michael Crichton's COMA, or more recently Brad Anderson's FRACTURED, when I watched this tense thriller taking place in a hospital, where some one disappears or is killed and where a bystander tries to understand what really happened. Linda Darnell is outstanding and so convincing in this role that could have fit to her like a glove. I won't spoil it any further folks, just enjoy.

The Hospital From Heck

[dougdoepke · 10 January 2014]

Gripping entry. Suspense is on high throughout as Darnell's character appears to have entered the hospital from heck. Just what's going on since the reception nurse (Hitchcock) seems more interested in red tape than helping Darnell's seriously ill friend. Things get worse when Darnell witnesses a murder in one of the rooms, at least she thinks she does. But neither of the two doctors on call appear to believe her. She's beginning to panic: is this a hospital or a loony bin. Still, she should have known something was up the moment she walked in—this has to be the darkest hospital since noir was invented. The entry should have been titled "Dark Corridors". Will she get out alive. Stay tuned.

Tense Murder-Mystery

[Michael_Elliott · 9 January 2012]

Screen Directors Playhouse: White Corridors (1956)

*** (out of 4)

American Ellen (Linda Darnell) drops her sick friend off at a strange London hospital and before long she witnesses a doctor murdering a patient. She couldn't see who exactly did it but there are only two doctors (John Bentley, Scott Forbes) in the place and whichever one is guilty isn't about to let Ellen leave. I was really surprised to see how effective this entry in the series was. It comes from director Ted Post who has many famous films under his belt including HANG 'EM HIGH, BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES as well as several episodes of The Twlight Zone. His direction is certainly a major factor here because he brings the film a creepy atmosphere and so strong of one that I'd say it's one of the most impressive from any television show. I really enjoyed how dark the film actually was and the cinematography really likes to use shadows to help build up the atmosphere as well. There are some very effective moments throughout including the murder sequence but also towards the end when Darnell comes under attack. Darnell does a very good job in the lead as she's perfectly believable as this frightened woman trying to stay alive. Both Bentley and Forbes do a nice job at not only looking guilty at times but also being able to play the good guy. The mystery of who did the killer is held tightly and neither give it away. Virginia Field and Patricia Hitchcock appear in supporting roles. Fans of murder/mysteries will certainly want to check this film out as it's strong enough to where it could have easily been expanded into a feature.