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]
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Directed by | Lawrence Huntington |
Produced by | Marcel Hellman |
Written by | Emeric Pressburger Rodney Ackland Maurice Cowan (additional dialogue) |
Based on | Wanted for Murder (play) by Terence De Marney and Percy Robinson |
Starring | Eric Portman Dulcie Gray Derek Farr Roland Culver |
Music by | Mischa Spoliansky |
Cinematography | Mutz Greene |
Edited by | Edward B. Jarvis |
Production company | Excelsior Productions |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox Exclusive Films Bejöhr-Film KG |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
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
- Eric Portman as Victor James Colebrooke
- Dulcie Gray as Anne Fielding
- Derek Farr as Jack Williams
- Roland Culver as Chief Inspector Conway
- Stanley Holloway as Sergeant Sullivan
- Barbara Everest as Mrs Colebrooke
- Bonar Colleano as Corporal Nick Mappolo
- Jenny Laird as Jeannie McLaren
- Kathleen Harrison as Florrie
- Bill Shine as Detective Ellis
- Viola Lyel as Mabel Cooper
- John Salew as Detective Walters
- John Ruddock as Glover, the tramp
- Edna Wood as Miss Kemp
- George Carney as Boat Rental Agent
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Guide in Madame Tussaud's (as Wilfred Hyde White)
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
- Wanted for Murder Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 13, Iss. 145, (Jan 1, 1946): 45.
- 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.
- "British Biz Up 40%". Variety. January 1945. p. 3.
- MacDonald, Kevin. Emeric Pressburger. p. 138.
- James, Simon R.H. (2007). London film location guide. London: Batsford. p. 111. ISBN 978-0713490626.
- "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.
- "Wanted for Murder". Reel Streets.
- "Skouras Details 20th". Variety. 24 April 1946. p. 3.
External links
- Wanted for Murder at IMDb
- Wanted for Murder at AllMovie
- Wanted for Murder at Letterbox DVD
- Wanted for Murder at BFI
- Article on film at Noir of the Week
- Wanted for Murder at TCMDB
- Copy of Correspondence with MPPA at Margaret Herrick Library