Dangerous Afternoon
| Dangerous Afternoon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Charles Saunders |
| Written by | Gerald Anstruther (play) Brandon Fleming |
| Produced by | Guido Coen |
| Starring | Ruth Dunning Nora Nicholson Joanna Dunham Howard Pays |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
| Edited by | Peter Bezencenet |
| Music by | Norman Percival |
| Distributed by | Bryanston Films (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 62 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £17,000[1] |
Dangerous Afternoon is a 1961 British 'B'[2] crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Ruth Dunning and Nora Nicholson.[3][4] The screenplay was by Brandon Fleming based on the 1951 play of the same title by Gerald Anstruther.
Plot
[edit]On her release from prison, Jean Berry sets out to find escaped convict Irma Randall, with whom she has a score to settle. She discovers Irma is running a boarding house for retired lady criminals, under the assumed name of Lefty Frost. When Jean blackmails Lefty, she attempts to poison Jean.
Cast
[edit]- Ruth Dunning as Miss Letty Frost
- Nora Nicholson as Mrs Louisa Sprule
- Joanna Dunham as Freda
- Howard Pays as Jack Loring
- May Hallatt as Miss Burge
- Gwenda Wilson as Miss Jean Berry
- Ian Colin as Reverend Everard Porson
- Gladys Henson as Miss Cassell
- Barbara Everest as Mrs Judson
- Max Brimmell as Dr Spalding
- James Raglan as Sir Phillip Morstan
- Trevor Reid as Inspector Craven
- Jerold Wells as George "Butch" Birling
Production
[edit]It was primarily filmed at Twickenham Studios, with the shops next to Strawberry Hill railway station, notably the chemist's in Wellesley Parade, being used for external location shots.[citation needed]
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A home for elderly lady crooks who cannot always refrain from plying their old trades has comic possibilities, but these are largely cancelled out by a poor script and clumsy direction. That the film should still survive as a passable "support" is a tribute to brevity and skilful acting."[5]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Former editor Charles Saunders turned out a series of unexceptional movies after taking to directing, including this negligible crime drama. The story ... began life on stage, and Saunders does little to open out the forgotten play."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Petrie, Duncan James (2017). "Bryanston Films : An Experiment in Cooperative Independent Production and Distribution" (PDF). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: 7. ISSN 1465-3451.
- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Dangerous Afternoon". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Dangerous Afternoon (1961)". Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ "Dangerous Afternoon". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 28 (324): 155. 1 January 1961 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 222. ISBN 9780992936440.
External links
[edit]
 | This 1960s crime film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |