Starring: Alastair Sim, Jane Wenham, Arthur Young, Brian Worth, Eileen Moore, Olga Lindo, Bryan Forbes.
Writing Credits: Desmond Davis, J.B Priestley (play)
United Kingdom
80mins
An Inspector Calls is set in 1912 during one evening as Inspector Poole quite suddenly arrives to the Birling family home, an upper class family who are in midst of a cosy dinner. He comes to investigate the suspected suicide of a working class girl named Eva Smith. Each member of the family recounts their stories of having been acquainted with Eva at some point in the last two years. The film is based upon a hugely successful play of the same name and what I see as bonus for the film is that here in the film it opens up as we meet Eva through the family members flashbacks and on the stage Eva is just a name without a face. And through the retellings of the stories it is revealed that every member of the Birling household are in some unfortunate way connected to Eva's demise. From getting her fired from jobs without a second thought to having a self satisfying urge to take care of her only to let her loose onto the street again. Inspector Poole arrives to refresh their memory of her and of others like her, hoping to somehow curb their way of treating people.
What attracted me to watching it was the plot of course, but the film delivers much more. It is a thrilling mystery film, as what you would expect but what also surfaces is a message for social justice. The film rounds up on an intriguing twist! I will tell you that much. You will have to see it for yourselves. All performances are great especially Alastair Sim who plays the avenging inspector. I had only seen him in Stage Fright, he has a face that you remember but I couldn't quite connect him to a movie. Anyway he is also really great in the Brit whodunit Green For Danger aswell which is what I saw after this, again playing a likable inspector, who is investigating two murders that have taken place in a cottage hospital during WWII.
4 comments:
You know, I'm pretty sure I saw the play done as a revival while Katie-Bar-The-Door and I were living in England. Very entertaining. I've never seen the movie though.
Just for you, here's tomorrow's Mythical Monkey trivia, a day early:
Sweet Music Sammy Cahn holds the record for most nominations as a songwriter (26), with four wins in the Best Song category. "It's Magic," nominated as Best Song for its lyrics by Cahn and music by Jule Styne, was sung by Doris Day in what 1948 shipboard musical?
The Most Decorated Decorator When it comes to Art and Set Decoration, nobody comes close to Cedric Gibbons, with 39 nominations and 11 wins. One of his Oscars came for what musical starring Gene Kelly that also won as Best Picture of 1951?
Curses! It's not available on DVD in these parts. You certainly piqued my interest in the film. I love the new look, BTW. Makes a very good film blog even better!
Myth: that's cool The film is super entertaining too.
haha thanks!
Not sure abut the first one (never seen a doris day musical) but the 2nd is for an american in paris, yay
so natch i'll cheat for the first question and what do you know its for Doris days first film "Romance on the High Seas."
Hourula:Thanks!! oh that sucks, it is a really great movie. I saw its on amazon but the only available dvds are in pal format (which is me!)so that doesn't help.
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