Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    Best of 2021OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersGolden GlobesEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
    AllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In

Seance on a Wet Afternoon

  • 19641964
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Richard Attenborough and Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:40
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDrama

A medium and her husband stage a kidnapping in order for her to pretend to solve the crime and achieve fame.A medium and her husband stage a kidnapping in order for her to pretend to solve the crime and achieve fame.A medium and her husband stage a kidnapping in order for her to pretend to solve the crime and achieve fame.

IMDb RATING
7.6/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bryan Forbes
  • Writers
    • Mark McShane(based on the novel by)
    • Bryan Forbes(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Kim Stanley
    • Richard Attenborough
    • Margaret Lacey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bryan Forbes
  • Writers
    • Mark McShane(based on the novel by)
    • Bryan Forbes(written for the screen by)
  • Stars
    • Kim Stanley
    • Richard Attenborough
    • Margaret Lacey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 7 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:40
    Trailer

    Photos161

    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Patrick Magee in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Gerald Sim in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Richard Attenborough, Patrick Magee, Gerald Sim, and Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Richard Attenborough, Patrick Magee, Gerald Sim, and Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Patrick Magee in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kim Stanley
    Kim Stanley
    • Myra Savageas Myra Savage
    Richard Attenborough
    Richard Attenborough
    • Billas Bill
    Margaret Lacey
    • Woman at First Seanceas Woman at First Seance
    Marie Burke
    Marie Burke
    • Woman at First Seanceas Woman at First Seance
    Maria Kazan
    • Woman at First Seanceas Woman at First Seance
    Lionel Gamlin
    Lionel Gamlin
    • Man at Seancesas Man at Seances
    Marian Spencer
    • Mrs. Wintryas Mrs. Wintry
    Godfrey James
    Godfrey James
    • Mrs. Clayton's Chauffeuras Mrs. Clayton's Chauffeur
    Judith Donner
    Judith Donner
    • Amandaas Amanda
    Ronald Hines
    Ronald Hines
    • Policeman Outside Clayton'sas Policeman Outside Clayton's
    Hajni Biro
    • Maid at Clayton'sas Maid at Clayton's
    Mark Eden
    Mark Eden
    • Mr. Claytonas Mr. Clayton
    Nanette Newman
    Nanette Newman
    • Mrs. Claytonas Mrs. Clayton
    Diana Lambert
    • Mr. Clayton's Secretaryas Mr. Clayton's Secretary
    Frank Singuineau
    Frank Singuineau
    • Bus Conductoras Bus Conductor
    Gerald Sim
    Gerald Sim
    • Beedleas Beedle
    Stanley Morgan
    Stanley Morgan
    • Man in Trilbyas Man in Trilby
    Maggie Rennie
    • Woman at Second Seanceas Woman at Second Seance
    • (as Margaret McGrath)
    • Director
      • Bryan Forbes
    • Writers
      • Mark McShane(based on the novel by)
      • Bryan Forbes(written for the screen by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Myra and Billy Savage are a married couple living in London. Myra works as a medium, who holds weekly meetings, séances, for a regular group of customers, while Billy supports her in these ventures, as he does not otherwise work, due to his asthma. "Arthur" is her spirit guide, who was their stillborn son. Myra is the dominant in the couple, Billy, the weak-minded follower. Myra, with Billy's support, devises a scheme to raise her public prominence as a medium: kidnap Amanda Clayton, the young daughter of a wealthy couple, and using her psychic powers provide information to the Claytons and the police of Amanda and the requested ransom money's whereabouts. Myra and Billy view this scheme as a victimless crime, if a crime at all, as they don't plan on harming Amanda, and they are returning the requested ransom. To carry out the scheme successfully, they will have to: kidnap Amanda; convince Amanda that her temporary captivity is not out of the ordinary, while having her not be able to identify them; insert Myra into the case of Amanda's kidnapping, her information which will be the key to finding Amanda and the money; and return Amanda and the money without having either traced back to them. Beyond these logistics, Myra and Billy themselves will factor into how the plan works. Myra may have either conscious or subconscious thoughts on what she wants to do, in her belief that she truly does have the power. —Huggo
    kidnappingstill birthliterature on screenaustralian literature on screen20th century literature on screen20 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Two of the greatest performers you will ever see...
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Bryan Forbes looked for the house with the turret as a film location. When he went to the owner for permission, she asked who was in the movie. When told that an American actress named Kim Stanley, the woman blanched, stepped back, and said that Stanley was one of her oldest friends whom she had not seen in seventeen years.
    • Goofs
      During the final seance, there is a close up of a man's hand with a pinkie ring and gray sleeve, who is not at the table. It is a repeated shot from the previous seance, when the gray-jacketed man took part.
    • Quotes

      Myra Savage: You know what I sometimes wish? I sometimes wish I *were*... ordinary. Like you. Dead ordinary. Ordinary and *dead* like all the others.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Hear my Prayer
      Written by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (as Mendelssohn)

      Played by George Thalben-Ball (as Sir George Thalben-Ball) (organ)

      Sung by Ernest Lough

    User reviews87

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Kim Stanley is a knock-off and this film a masterpiece.
    This is an almost forgotten masterpiece by British director Bryan Forbes in which everything is unique.

    The sound track is macabre and chilling, the story and setting: simply adorable (the atmosphere of the old house is comparable to the one in Wise's "The Haunting"), the cinematography is great, and the editing almost perfect.

    The greatest plus, whatsoever, is Kim Stanley's acting. Perfection would be the right word to describe it. Regarded as being "America's finest actress", she proves what Method acting can be like in this stunning, electric performance. It's so sad that her filmography is that short! Equally good is Richard Attenborough as Stanley's weak husband. Both actors deliver a tour-de-force duel in acting -- it's great to watch!

    I highly recommend this film which still -- in times of "Hannibal", and "Scream" -- gives us chills. It's the best entertainment you can get!
    helpful•67
    10
    • imdbdata
    • Apr 5, 2002

    FAQ1

    • Why did Richard Attenborough wear a fake nose?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 1964 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Seansa jednog kišnog popodneva
    • Filming locations
      • Staines Stadium, Hythe End, Staines, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Beaver Films
      • Allied Film Makers (AFM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £143,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Related news

    Tomas Alfredson to Direct Rachel Weisz in Seance on a Wet Afternoon
    Tomas Alfredson to Direct Rachel Weisz in Seance on a Wet Afternoon
    Oct 19The Film Stage
    Rachel Weisz To Star in Legendary’s Adaptation of ‘Seance on a Wet Afternoon’, Tomas Alfredson To Direct
    Rachel Weisz To Star in Legendary’s Adaptation of ‘Seance on a Wet Afternoon’, Tomas Alfredson To Direct
    Oct 14Deadline Film + TV

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Richard Attenborough and Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the entire gallery
    Image caption not available
    2:51
    What to Watch in December
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2021 by IMDb.com, Inc.