Wanted for Murder (film)

Wanted for Murder (alternative title A Voice in the Night) is a 1946 British crime film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring Eric Portman, Dulcie Gray, Derek Farr, and Roland Culver.[1]

Wanted for Murder
Directed byLawrence Huntington
Produced byMarcel Hellman
Written byEmeric Pressburger
Rodney Ackland

Maurice Cowan (additional dialogue)
Based onWanted for Murder (play)
by Terence De Marney and Percy Robinson
StarringEric Portman
Dulcie Gray
Derek Farr
Roland Culver
Music byMischa Spoliansky
CinematographyMutz Greene
Edited byEdward B. Jarvis
Production
company
Excelsior Productions
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Exclusive Films
Bejöhr-Film KG
Release date
  • 17 June 1946 (1946-06-17)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Anne Fielding is delayed on the London Underground, making her late for a meeting with her friend, Victor James Colebrooke. There, she meets Jack Williams who is also delayed. The two take an immediate liking to each other. After emerging from the Underground, Jack helps her locate Victor.

Victor is gradually becoming insane. He is the grandson of a notorious hangman, and he finds himself unable to resist the urge to strangle women to death. Although he is in love with Anne, he does not know how much longer he can prevent himself from killing her. Inspector Conway investigates Victor's murders and pieces together all of the evidence he finds that Victor appears to be purposely leaving behind.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a play by Terence de Marney and Percy Robinson which debuted on stage in London in 1937; de Marney played the killer in the original production.[2]

In January 1946 it was announced 20th Century Fox had signed a deal with Marcel Hellman to make the film where Fox would put up fifty percent of the budget.[3] It was one of two scripts Emeric Pressberger wrote for Hellman the other being Men Against Brittania.[4]

The film was shot at Welwyn Studios and at Star House, 14, The Royal Exchange, Chelsea Embankment, Chelsea is home to Eric Portman and his mother Barbara Everest.[5] There were also scenes filmed at Scotland Yard.[6][7]

In April 1946, Spyros Skouras signed a three picture deal with Hellman for 20th Century Fox to distribute three of Hellman's films. The first was to be Wanted for Murder which by that stage had been completed. (The other films would be Meet Me at Dawn and This Was a Woman.)[8]

References
  1. Wanted for Murder Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 13, Iss. 145, (Jan 1, 1946): 45.
  2. CRIME PLAY IN LONDON: de Marney, Co-Author of 'Wanted for Murder,' Has Leading Role Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 29 June 1937: 18.
  3. "British Biz Up 40%". Variety. January 1945. p. 3.
  4. MacDonald, Kevin. Emeric Pressburger. p. 138.
  5. James, Simon R.H. (2007). London film location guide. London: Batsford. p. 111. ISBN 978-0713490626.
  6. "Star British Team At Work Again". The Sun. New South Wales, Australia. 7 February 1946. p. 13 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 19 June 2020 – via Trove.
  7. "Wanted for Murder". Reel Streets.
  8. "Skouras Details 20th". Variety. 24 April 1946. p. 3.


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