Time Out of Mind (1947 film)

Time Out of Mind is a 1947 film noir drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Phyllis Calvert, Robert Hutton and Ella Raines. The film was made by Universal Pictures on a large budget of $1,674,500, but the film was not a commercial success.[2] The British actress Calvert was a major star in Britain and other countries for her roles in the Gainsborough Melodramas.[3]

Time Out of Mind
film poster
Directed byRobert Siodmak
Produced byRobert Siodmak
Written byArnold Phillips
Abem Finkel
Based onnovel by Rachel Field
StarringPhyllis Calvert
Robert Hutton
Ella Raines
Music byMario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Miklós Rózsa
Daniele Amfitheatrof
CinematographyMaury Gertsman
Edited byTed J. Kent
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • April 5, 1947 (1947-04-05)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,674,500[1]

Premise

The son of a wealthy Maine family shocks his relatives by announcing he wants to pursue a career in music.

Main cast

Production

Novel

The film was based on a novel by Rachel Field which was published in 1935. The New York Times said it "comes to life".[4] The book became a best seller.[5]

Development

Film rights were bought by Universal who in July 1936 announced a film version would start the following month under the direction of James Whale with Jane Wyatt to play Kate.[6] Field came out to Hollywood to consult on the script.[7]

The film ended up not being made for a number of years however two very successful movies were filmed of Field novels, All This and Heaven Too and And Now Tomorrow which revived Universal's interest.

In April 1945 Universal said Jane Murfin would produce.[8] In July Ferde Grofe was signed to write the music.[9]

In December 1945 J Arthur Rank of Britain announced he had signed a deal with Universal which would involve exchange of talent. Phyllis Calvert, one of his leading stars, was attached to Time Out of Mind.[10]

In July 1946 Universal announced they would make the film that year, with Calvert to star and Robert Siodmak to direct.[11] Calvert had been reluctant to make the movie but admired The Spiral Staircase and agreed to take the role after Siodmak became attached. Eddie Albert was announced as male star but he eventually dropped out and the male lead would be played by Ric Hutton, borrowed from Warner Bros.[12]

Calvert arrived in Los Angeles in September. She says the studio threw her a big party then the producer told her that Siodmak was not going to be available and Frank Ryan would take over as director. The star protested and insisted Siodmak have the job. She says this led to a reputation for her being difficult.[13][12]

Siodmak called it "a preposterous film... the story was absurd (who can sympathise with a main character who doesn't believe steam will ever supplant the sailing ship?)".[14]

Siodmark says he was about to direct a film in Britain when presented with the script, but he refused to do it. "Apparently this put them on the spot" he later said claiming they "sent a deputation literally on its knees begging me to come back and direct it." His agent used this to negotiate "a mad contract whereby they trebled my salary for two years and gave me the right to veto the finished film's release if I didn't like it."[14]

By October Siodmak was back on the movie. In November 1946, the week before filming was to start, Murfin left Universal. Siodmak took over as producer.[15]

Shooting

Calvert found it an unpleasant experience, saying she felt like "an alien guinea pig". However while in the US she signed to Paramount for a five-film contract over five years.[16]

Calvert says that Universal publicity manufactured a fictional pregnancy and a miscarriage for Calvert. "I hated America and they hated me!" she said.[13]

Siodmak said he and cinematographer Maury Gertsman "had a great time loading the film with every crazy effect we could think of."[14]

Reception

Siodmak later said he did not have to use his veto "as they played the film for just one day in a tiny Park Avenue cinema then it disappeared forever."[14]

The New York Times called the film "singularly empty".[17]

Filmink said the film is best remembered today (if at all) for (a) being director Robert Siodmak's one dud in a series of classic films for Universal, and (b) an unsuccessful attempt to launch British star Phyllis Calvert in Hollywood."[18]

References
  1. Greco p 14
  2. Greco p.14
  3. Time Out of Mind Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (Jan 1, 1947): 100.
  4. BOOKS OF THE TIMES By JOHN CHAMBERLAIN. New York Times 3 Apr 1935: 21.
  5. Best Sellers of the Week, Here and Elsewhere New York Times 8 Apr 1935: 17.
  6. NEWS OF THE SCREEN: New York Times 8 July 1936: 15.
  7. NEWS OF THE SCREEN New York Times 13 July 1936: 11.
  8. SCREEN NEWS: Audrey Christie Set for Musical at Fox Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times ]21 Apr 1945: 18.
  9. GROFE WILL WRITE MUSIC FOR FILMS: Composer Also Will Conduct Score for 'Time Out of Mind' --Cooper Goes Western Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.18 July 1945: 21.
  10. BY WAY OF REPORT: Noting the Birth of Two Movie Firms-- New York Times 2 Dec 1945: X3.
  11. Half-Dozen Outsiders Augment Universal's 34-Picture Schedule The Washington Post 2 July 1946: 14.
  12. Filmdom Comic Revel Likely for Celluloiding Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 23 Sep 1946: A2.
  13. Film: For love? Hell no, I did it for money Frustrated by the British studios, Phyllis Calvert went to Hollywood. What followed was even worse.: [FOREIGN Edition] Sweet, Matthew. The Independent 25 Feb 2000: 12.
  14. Encounter with Siodmak Taylor, Russell. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 28, Iss. 3, (Summer 1959): 180.
  15. Of Local Origin: Jane Murfin Leaves Studio New York Times 23 Nov 1946: 22.
  16. PHYLLIS CALVERT -- RED-HEAD WITHOUT TEMPER By GRADY JOHNSON. New York Times 07 Sep 1947: X3.
  17. At the Park Avenue T.M.P. New York Times 7 Apr 1947: 20.
  18. Vagg, Stephen (February 14, 2020). "Helena Carter: An Appreciation". Filmink.

Bibliography
  • Greco, Joseph. The File on Robert Siodmak in Hollywood, 1941-1951. Universal-Publishers, 1999.
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