Life for Ruth
Life for Ruth is a 1962 British drama film produced by Michael Relph directed by Basil Dearden and starring Michael Craig, Patrick McGoohan and Janet Munro.[2]
| Life for Ruth | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Basil Dearden |
| Produced by | Michael Relph |
| Written by | Janet Green James McCormick |
| Starring | Michael Craig Patrick McGoohan Janet Munro |
| Music by | William Alwyn |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller |
| Edited by | John D. Guthridge |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Rank (UK) Continental Distributing (USA) |
Release date | 30 August 1962 (World Premiere, London) 1966 (US) |
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £126,800[1] |
| Box office | £53,788 (by 1971)[1] |
It was released in the US as Walk in the Shadow.
Plot
John Harris finds himself ostracized and placed on trial for allowing his daughter Ruth to die. His religious beliefs forbade him to give consent for a blood transfusion that would have saved her life. Doctor Brown is determined to seek justice for what he sees as the needless death of a young girl.
Cast
- Michael Craig as John Harris
- Patrick McGoohan as Doctor Brown
- Janet Munro as Pat Harris
- Paul Rogers as Hart Jacobs
- Malcolm Keen as Mr. Harris Sr
- Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Gordon
- Michael Bryant as John's counsel
- Leslie Sands as Clyde
- Norman Wooland as Counsel for the Crown
- John Barrie as Mr. Gordon
- Walter Hudd as Judge
- Michael Aldridge as Harvard
- Basil Dignam as Mapleton
- Maureen Pryor as Teddy's mother
- Kenneth J. Warren as Sergeant Finley
- Ellen McIntosh as Duty sister
- Frank Finlay as Teddy's father
- John Welsh as Marshall
- Maurice Colbourne as Vicar
- Freddy Ramsey as Teddy
- Lynn Taylor as Ruth
- Brian Wilde as Newspaper photographer (uncredited)
Production
The film was based on an original script by the husband and wife team of Janet Green and John McCormick, who had written Sapphire and Victim for Dearden and Relph. They wrote it in 1961 under the title God the Father then A Matter of Conscience.[3]
Michael Craig had worked with Dearden and Relph on Sapphire. He says he was "surprised to be offered the film - playing a North country working class chap seemed against type - but I was delighted to do it."[4]
Filming took place in Sunderland.
Reception
The film had its World Premiere on 30 August 1962 at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End.[5]
Box Office
The film was a failure at the box office, contributing to the collapse of Allied Film Makers.[1]
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote of the film, "in avoiding blatant bias, mawkish sentimentality and theatrical flamboyance, it makes a statement that is dramatic, powerful and provocative."[6]
References
- Alexander Walker, Hollywood, England, Stein and Day, 1974 p248
- LIFE FOR RUTH Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 29, Iss. 336, (Jan 1, 1962): 114.
- Nelmes, Jill; Selbo, Jule (2015). Women Screenwriters: An International Guide. Springer.
- Craig, Michael (2005). The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life. Allen and Unwin. p. 104.
- The Times online archive 30/8/1962 page 2
- A.H. Weiler (12 September 1966). "Movie Review - Life For Ruth - Screen: Faith and Law:'Walk in the Shadow' Is Disturbingly Real". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
External links
- Life for Ruth at IMDb
- Life for Ruth at Letterbox DVD
- Life for Ruth at BFI
- Review at Variety