The Heart Within

The Heart Within is a 1957 British second feature ('B')^[1] drama film directed by David Eady and starring James Hayter, Clifford Evans and David Hemmings.^[2] It was written by Geoffrey Orme. A Trinidadian dockside worker goes on the run in London suspected of the murder of another Trinidadian.

The Heart Within
Original British quad poster
Directed by	David Eady
Screenplay by	Geoffrey Orme
Story by	John Baxter
Produced by	Jon Penington
Starring	James Hayter Clifford Evans Earl Cameron David Hemmings
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer
Edited by	Peter Pitt
Music by	Vivian Comma Edwin Astley
Production company	Penington Eady Productions
Distributed by	J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date	July 1957 (1957-07) (UK)
Running time	61 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

West Indian Victor Conway, suspected of murder, is in hiding but is chanced upon by young Danny Willard. Believing him to be innocent, Danny and his grandfather try to help him. Learning the true identity of the murderer – drug dealer Matthew Johnson – Danny is kidnapped, but Victor rescues him, the murderer is killed during the struggle, and Victor is exonerated.

Cast

• James Hayter as Grandfather Willard
• Clifford Evans as Matthew Johnson
• David Hemmings as Danny Willard
• Earl Cameron as Victor Conway
• Dan Jackson as Joe Martell
• Jack Stewart as Inspector Matheson
• Betty Cooper as Miss Trevor
• Gloria Ann Simpson as Violet
• Frank Singuineau as Bobo
• Pauline Henriques as Ella
• Janice Hughes as Dilli
• Denton De Gray as Gow
• Wally Thomas as sergeant
• Glynn Edwards as 1st constable
• Ivor Salter as 2nd constable
• Frank Pettitt as 3rd constable
• "The Kings of the Caribbean" steel band as musicians

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "With some good camerawork, a London docks setting, and cautious but not unenterprising use of its West Indian characters, this film has a more convincing air than most thrillers of its type. Unfortunately, the effect is somewhat handicapped by an over-melodramatic and stereotyped climax and by some indifferent playing. Earl Cameron and David Hemmings play agreeably, though, as the West Indian and the cockney boy who befriends him. Background music is effectively provided by a West Indian steel band."^[3]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Variably acted, quite pleasing racial-problem thriller."^[4]

TV Guide wrote "Well-acted presentation of a man accused of murder because of the color of his skin...Intriguing effort given power mainly through the handling of the theme of prejudice."^{[5][permanent dead link]}

Chilbnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film wrote that the film has "irreproachable attitudes to racial problems at the time when these were surfacing in Britain."^[1]