Mr. Denning Drives North is a 1951 British mystery film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring John Mills, Phyllis Calvert and Sam Wanamaker.[2] Alec Coppel wrote the script, adapted from his own 1950 novel of the same title. An aircraft manufacturer accidentally kills his daughter's boyfriend and tries to dispose of the body.
| Mr. Denning Drives North | |
|---|---|
![Thumb](#/media/File:"Mr_Denning_Drives_North"_(1952).jpg) UK theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Kimmins |
| Written by | Alec Coppel |
| Based on | Mr. Denning Drives North by Alec Coppel |
| Produced by | Anthony Kimmins Stephen Mitchell |
| Starring | John Mills Phyllis Calvert Herbert Lom Eileen Moore |
| Cinematography | John Wilcox |
| Edited by | Gerald Turney-Smith |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £70,197 (UK)[1] |
Plot
Wealthy aircraft manufacturer Tom Denning and his wife Kay have a daughter, Liz, who is having an affair with Mados, an international crook. Denning meets with Mados in an attempt to get him away from his daughter, but accidentally kills him with a punch when Mados falls and strikes his head. Instead of calling the police, Denning disposes of the body in a ditch. He tries to disguise the identity of the body by placing a large ornate ring on a finger. A gipsy finds the body and steals the ring. Later, torn with his guilt, Denning goes back to pick up the body only to find that it has disappeared.
Cast
- John Mills as Tom Denning
- Phyllis Calvert as Kay Denning
- Eileen Moore as Liz Denning
- Sam Wanamaker as Chick Eddowes
- Herbert Lom as Mados
- Raymond Huntley as Wright
- Russell Waters as Harry Stoper
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Woods
- Freda Jackson as Ma Smith
- Trader Faulkner as Ted Smith
- Sheila Shand Gibbs as Matilda
- Bernard Lee as Inspector Dodds
- Michael Shepley as Chairman of Court
- Ronald Adam as coroner
- John Stuart as Wilson
- Hugh Morton as Inspector Snell
- David Davies as chauffeur
- Ambrosine Phillpotts as Miss Blade
- Herbert C. Walton as Yardley
- John Stevens as First Patrolman
- Lyn Evans as Mr Fisher
- John Warren as Mr Ash
- Raymond Francis as Clerk of the Court
- Edward Evans as Second Patrolman
Production
Film rights were bought by Alexander Korda's London Films.[3] John Mills's casting was announced in May 1951.[4] It was Mills's first film in almost two years.[5]
At one stage Dane Clark and Pat Roc were reportedly going to support Mills.[6]
Sam Wanamaker had been living in England since 1949 and was offered the part after writing to his agent from holiday in France asking if any jobs were going.[7]
The film was made at Shepperton Studios.
Instead of credits appearing on screen at the beginning of the film, a narrator announces the film's title, and then reads out the list of actors' names.
Reception
Box office
The film performed poorly at the British box office.[1]
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote: "this little melodrama serves as still another reminder, from a country that jolly well knows how to exercise it, that restraint can work minor wonders [...] Persuasive and tingling, minus one false note [...] No doubt about it. The British have what it takes."[8]
Variety reviewed the film in 1951 calling it "unconvincing and involved" where the direction was "completely inadequate."[9] Two years later the magazine reviewed it more favorably calling it "tense and skillfully developed."[10]
The Washington Post thought the Rolls-Royce "made more sense than any of the alleged human characters [...] a bit pretentious."[11]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Initially suspenseful but finally disappointing melodrama which seems to lack a twist or two."[12]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Film walks tightrope between comedy and suspense with varying success."[13]
References
External links
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