The Woman in the Hall

The Woman in the Hall is a 1947 British drama film directed by Jack Lee and starring Ursula Jeans, Jean Simmons, Cecil Parker.^[2] The screenplay was written by Lee, Ian Dalrymple and Gladys Bronwyn Stern, from Stern's 1939 novel of the same title.

The Woman in the Hall
Directed by	Jack Lee
Written by	Ian Dalrymple G.B. Stern Jack Lee
Based on	The Woman in the Hall by G.B. Stern
Produced by	Ian Dalrymple
Starring	Ursula Jeans Jean Simmons Cecil Parker
Cinematography	C.M. Pennington-Richards
Edited by	John Krish
Music by	Temple Abady
Production company	Wessex Film Productions
Distributed by	General Film Distributors
Release date	28 October 1947 (1947-10-28)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£201,200[1]
Box office	£117,800[1]

It was the film debut of actress Susan Hampshire.

Plot

Lorna Blake is a widow with two daughters. She augments her slender income by using her children to extort money, visiting the houses of the rich to tell a pathetic story and beg for help.

Lorna makes a rich capture when Sir Halmar Bernard proposes marriage to her. She tells him that she has only one daughter, Molly. When her other daughter, Jay, is arrested for forging a cheque, Lorna refuses to help her.

Cast

• Ursula Jeans as Lorna Blake
• Jean Simmons as Jay
• Cecil Parker as Sir Halmar
• Edward Underdown as Neil Ingelfield
• Joan Miller as Susan
• Jill Freud as Molly Blake
• Nigel Buchanan as Toby
• Ruth Dunning as Shirley Dennison
• Russell Waters as Alfred
• Terry Randall as Ann
• Lily Khan as Baroness Von Soll
• Barbara Shaw as Mrs. Maddox
• Martin Walker as Judge
• Totti Truman Taylor as Miss Gardiner
• Hugh Pryse as Counsel for the defence
• Everley Gregg as Lady Cloy
• Alexis France as Miss Mounce
• Hugh Miller as Mr. Walker
• Susan Hampshire as young Jay
• Campbell Singer as Von Soll's servant
• Grace Denbeigh-Russell as Mrs. Phillimore
• June Elvin as Daffy
• Joan Sterndale-Bennett as shop assistant

Production

It was made by Wessex Film Productions at Pinewood Studios, with sets designed by Peter Proud.

Jack Lee later recalled the experience of working for Wessex "revolted me" because "it reminded me of when I was a child and my mother would send me out on begging expeditions because she never had any money. It was a bloody awful novel and a terrible film."^[3]

Reception

Box office

The producer's receipts in the UK were £97,900 and £19,900 overseas.^[1]

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is an unusual film made with considerable originality both of story and treatment. Excellent performances from Ursula Jeans, and from Jean Simmons and Jill Raymond as her two daughters, are backed by a strong cast, and although the interior sets are not altogether convincing the film as a whole is refreshing and entertaining."^[4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The film has a sketchy start and an inconclusive big trial scene climax, but the rest is tightly packed with clever and telling vignettes and by-play. Sound and exciting at its core, it is no small tribute to its stars and director that it holds and intrigues in spite of its failure to arrive at clear-cut conclusions. More coherent films have, oddly enough, said less. Technically, it leaves nothing to be desired."^[5]

Picture Show wrote: "Brilliantly acted and cleverly directed"^[6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Good script helps refreshingly original story."^[7]