Libel (1959)

A shell-shocked World War II veteran with memory problems is accused of being an impostor by a former comrade.

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

Anatole de Grunwald (screenplay), Karl Tunberg (screenplay)

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Olivia de Havilland, Paul Massie

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde	...	Sir Mark Loddon / Frank Welney / Number Fifteen
Olivia de Havilland	...	Lady Margaret Loddon
Paul Massie	...	Jeffrey Buckenham
Robert Morley	...	Sir Wilfred
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Hubert Foxley (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
Anthony Dawson	...	Gerald Loddon
Richard Wattis	...	The Judge
Richard Dimbleby	...	Richard Dimbleby
Martin Miller	...	Dr. Schrott
Millicent Martin	...	Maisie
Toke Townley	...	Associate
Deering Wells	...	Editor
Bill Shine	...	The Guide
Ivan Samson	...	Admiral Loddon
Sebastian Saville	...	Michael Loddon

Storyline

A Canadian commercial pilot sees a telecast in London of an interview with Sir Mark Lodden (Sir Dirk Bogarde) at his home. The Canadian is convinced that the baronet is a fraud, that he is actually a look-alike actor named Frank Welney (Sir Dirk Bogarde). The Canadian, the baronet, and the actor were all prisoners in the same German camp during the war and escaped together. One of them disappeared during the escape. Was he Sir Mark or Welney? The tabloids have a field day with the Canadian's accusations, and Lady Margaret Lodden (Olivia de Havilland) urges her husband to sue for libel and engage the distinguished barrister Sir Wilfred (Robert Morley). The long drawn-out case is made complex by the fact that Sir Mark is not quite sure of his identity. Injured in the war, he stutters on occasion and has difficulty remembering portions of his life. As the evidence sways back and forth in court, it begins to appear that Sir Mark is an impostor and the possible murderer of the missing ...

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Plot Keywords:

courtroom drama | impersonation | pow camp | based on play | whistling | 

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Taglines:

The surprise witness ! The searching question ! The perjured testimony ! The accusing finger ! The shattering truth !

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the establishing opening shot of London, MGM's First Man Into Space (1959) and High School Confidential! (1958) form an unlikely but typical combination at a prominently seen major cinema.

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Goofs

In opening credits, Arthur Davey is listed as In Charge of Adminstration; no way of missing the obvious error - it takes up half the screen; of course, it should be Administration. How can such glaring errors be missed by editors.

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Connections

Version of BBC Sunday-Night Theatre: Libel (1953)

User Reviews

The Amnesiac Doppleganger.

Libel is directed by Anthony Asquith and adapted from Edward Wooll's play by Anatole de Grunwald and Karl Tunberg. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Olivia de Havilland, Paul Massie, Robert Morley, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Anthony Dawson and Richard Wattis. Music is by Benjamin Frankel and cinematography by Robert Krasker.

A shell-shocked ex-WWII prisoner of war with amnesia is accused of being an impostor by one of the guys he was imprisoned with. This sends him spinning into the middle of a Libel court case that could destroy everything in his life.

A splendidly stylish mystery/drama that offers up two Dirk Bogarde's for the price of one. The big question throughout is if Bogarde, in the shoes of Sir Mark Sebastian Loddon, is actually a doppleganger that he was in the war with called Frank Welney. Loddon has the riches, the estate and a beautiful loving wife, Welney was a struggling actor and something of a mischievous imp. The big narrative thrust is that Loddon is not sure himself, he can only remember certain things, thus we are never sure either as the plot twists and turns and the court case simmers away with dramatic force.

Bogarde is great in his dual role, with a voice change for each character and different hair styles to help the viewers differentiate. In the court we have a trio of classy character actors, with Hyde- White and Morley as the opposing lawyers (wonderful to witness this) and Watiss as the judge presiding over the trial. Havilland isn't asked to do much until late in the day, but then she shines bright and puts some emotional punch into proceedings. The great Krasker photographs it in crisp black and white, while Asquith directs with a smoothness that undercuts the coincidences and conveniences that exist in this sort of story.

All the highlights of a court room drama are here, and it's a cracking mystery to boot. 8/10

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

6 May 1960 (Finland)

Also Known As:

La noche es mi enemiga

Filming Locations:

Wiltshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$615,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

De Grunwald Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1