The Dark Light (film)

The Dark Light
The Dark Light
Directed by	Vernon Sewell
Written by	Vernon Sewell
Produced by	Michael Carreras; Anthony Hinds;
Starring	Albert Lieven; David Greene; Norman Macowan;
Cinematography	Moray Grant
Edited by	Francis Bieber
Music by	Frank Spencer
Production; company	Hammer Films
Distributed by	Exclusive Films (UK)
Release date	23 April 1951 (UK);
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Dark Light is a 1951 British second feature^[1] thriller film directed and written by Vernon Sewell and starring Albert Lieven, David Greene and Norman Macowan.^[2]

Plot

The crew of a lighthouse take in what they assume to be the survivors of a shipwreck, but who turn out to be criminals on the run after a bank robbery.

Cast

Albert Lieven as Mark
David Greene as Johnny
Norman Macowan as Rigby
Martin Benson as Luigi
Jack Stewart as Matt
Katharine Blake as Linda
Joan Carol as Joan
John Harvey as Roger
John Longden as Stephen

Production

It was filmed at a rented country estate in Gilston and on location around Portsmouth.^[1]^: 77 Sewell used his own boat.^[3]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A good setting and an adequate idea are wasted in a film which suffers from incoherent plot development, clumsy handling, and generally indifferent performances."^[4]

Picturegoer wrote: "An untidy and dilatory production with a lighthouse as the main setting. The lighthouse background is out of the ordinary, but the story is unconvincing, and both acting and dialogue are stilted."^[5]

Picture Show wrote: "'Somewhat highly coloured melodrama."^[6]

The Radio Times called it "dismal" writing: "Quota quickie veteran Vernon Sewell gets matters off to a promising start as a desperate gang of bank robbers are rescued from the stormy sea by a lighthouse crew. By tossing away the dramatic possibilities of the claustrophobic setting, however, he is unable to sustain more than a modicum of tension as the crew begin scheming to keep the swag for themselves, rather than let justice take its course."^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
^ "The Dark Light". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
^ Fowler, Roy (8 July 1994). "Vernon Sewell". British Entertainment History Project.
^ "The Dark Light". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 18 (204): 263. 1 January 1951 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Dark Light". Picturegoer. 21: 18. 3 April 1951 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Dark Light". Picture Show. 56 (1469): 10. 26 May 1951 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Dark Light - Film from RadioTimes".

External links

The Dark Light at IMDb

[Chibnall-1] Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.

[BFIsearch-2] "The Dark Light". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 January 2024.

[vernon-3] Fowler, Roy (8 July 1994). "Vernon Sewell". British Entertainment History Project.

[4] "The Dark Light". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 18 (204): 263. 1 January 1951 – via ProQuest.

[5] "The Dark Light". Picturegoer. 21: 18. 3 April 1951 – via ProQuest.

[6] "The Dark Light". Picture Show. 56 (1469): 10. 26 May 1951 – via ProQuest.

[7] "The Dark Light - Film from RadioTimes".

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