The Seventh Veil (1945)

One dark summer night, Francesca Cunningham, a once world famed pianist, escapes from her hospital room and tries to commit suicide by jumping off a local bridge. She is rescued and taken ... See full summary »

Director:

Compton Bennett

Writers:

Muriel Box (original story and screenplay), Sydney Box (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

James Mason, Ann Todd, Herbert Lom

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Mason	...	Nicholas
Ann Todd	...	Francesca
Herbert Lom	...	Dr. Larsen
Hugh McDermott	...	Peter Gay
Albert Lieven	...	Maxwell Leyden
Yvonne Owen	...	Susan Brook
David Horne	...	Dr. Kendall
Manning Whiley	...	Dr. Irving
Grace Allardyce	...	Nurse
Ernest Davies	...	Parker
John Slater	...	James
Arnold Goldsborough	...	Conductor
Muir Mathieson	...	Conductor

Storyline

One dark summer night, Francesca Cunningham, a once world famed pianist, escapes from her hospital room and tries to commit suicide by jumping off a local bridge. She is rescued and taken back to the hospital and undergoes psychological treatment by Dr. Larsen. Larsen, desperately wants to know the events and persons who drove her to this state and help her. He makes Francesca talk about her past - a past with a controlling guardian, Nicholas, no friends, kept apart from the man she loved and forced to practice the piano 5-6 hours a day.

---

Plot Keywords:

british noir | guardian | piano | pianist | piano concert | 

---

Taglines:

Is There Always a SEVENTH VEIL Between a Woman and the Men Who Love Her?

---

Genres:

Drama | Music

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

El séptimo velo

Filming Locations:

Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£67,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ortus Films,Sydney Box Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The soft focus ending was due to a flaw spotted on the rushes and being unable to re shoot due to James Mason already on his way to America.

---

Goofs

Francesca is about to make her continental debut and her former school friend Susan visits before the concert. When Nicholas enters the dressing room, Susan is heard speaking while her reflection can be seen in a mirror behind Francesca (her spoken words aren't synchronized with her reflected image).

---

Connections

Featured in The Ultimate Film (2004)

User Reviews

Great melodramatic classic.

This is a true classic. If you can appreciate a film as a work of art, regardless of whether it represents the genre you like, then this will be in your list of great movies. Like all movies about relationships between men and woman, it will be open season for the kooks trying to work off their own personal problems, but take it at its face value. Ignore the political correctness parasites and appreciate the movie.

James Mason's portrayal of a man who was hiding from the world but eventually found something to bring him back into it - a flawed but selfless love - is a work of genius. Ann Todd is excellent also, as the young girl who becomes a famous pianist under his direction. Herbert Lom, playing the character role of a psychiatrist, is brilliant.

It is a melodrama, but very, very well done, with great acting.