Deadly Nightshade is a 1953 British second feature ('B')[1] crime drama film directed by John Gilling and starring Emrys Jones, Zena Marshall and John Horsely.[2][3][4] The screenplay was by Lawrence Huntington. A convict on the run switches identities with a lookalike, only to find himself in even deeper trouble.
| Deadly Nightshade | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | John Gilling |
| Screenplay by | Lawrence Huntington |
| Produced by | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman |
| Starring | Emrys Jones Zena Marshall John Horsely |
| Cinematography | Monty Berman |
| Edited by | Sidney Hayers |
| Music by | John Lanchbery |
Production company | Kenilworth Film Productions |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 61 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Cast
edit- Emrys Jones as Matthews / Barlow
- Zena Marshall as Ann Farrington
- John Horsely as Inspector Clements
- Joan Hickson as Mrs. Fenton
- Hector Ross as Canning
- Roger Maxwell as Colonel Smythe
- Lesley Deane as Mrs. Smythe
- Marne Maitland as Heinz
- Frederick Piper as Mr. Pritchard
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The various red herrings which keep on cropping up in this film are nobody's business, but it is all quite jolly and thrilling in its standard British second feature way."[5]
Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture contains more talk than action, and the comedy relief is a bit heavy-handed, but competent performances by Emrys Jones, Zena Marshall and John Horsely prevent the interest from flagging."[6]
TV Guide thought the idea was "done much better in Antonioni's The Passenger (1975)," but found the film, "still occasionally entertaining."[7]
The Radio Times wrote, "In spite of its penury, this typical 1950s British crime quickie...is curiously engaging...Although director John Gilling throws in a few Cornish coastal views, he's mostly confined to unconvincing sets, though the cheapskate look only adds to the charm."[8]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Conventional 'B' picture with plenty of incident."[9]
References
edit- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade (1953)". Archived from the original on 20 January 2009.
- ^ Mann, Dave (30 May 2009). Britain's First TV/Film Crime Series and the Industrialisation of Its Film Industry, 1946-1964. Edwin Mellen Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-7734-4763-9.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 20 (228): 52. 1 January 1953 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade". Kine Weekly. 431 (2382): 31. 19 February 1953 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Deadly Nightshade - Film from RadioTimes". RadioTimes.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 299. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
External links
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