''The Long Dark Hall'' is a 1951 British mystery, suspense, courtroom-drama,

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by Reginald Beck and Anthony Bushell and starring

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey "Rex" Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play ''French Without Tears'', in what ...

, Lilli Palmer and Raymond Huntley. It was based on the 1947 novel ''A Case to Answer'' by

Edgar Lustgarten Edgar Marcus Lustgarten (3 May 1907 – 15 December 1978) was a British broadcaster and noted crime writer. Biography Born in the Broughton Park area of Salford, Lancashire, he was the son of Joseph and Sara (née Finklestein) Lustgarten. Hi ...

. It was made at Walton Studios.

Plot

After a showgirl begins an affair with Arthur Groome, a married man, she is found murdered. Groome discovers her body but fearing his wife's knowledge of his affair he does not summon the police; he soon becomes the prime suspect for the murder. Most of the film portrays the trial of Groome at the Old Bailey, London.

Cast

- Arthur Groome * Lilli Palmer - Mary Groome * Tania Heald - Sheila Groome * Henrietta Barry - Rosemary Groome * Dora Sevening - Mary's mother * Ronald Simpson - Mary's father * Raymond Huntley - Chief Inspector Sullivan * William Squire - Sergeant Cochran *

Ballard Berkeley Ballard Blascheck (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988), known professionally as Ballard Berkeley, was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing Major Gowen in the British television sitcom ''Fawlty Towers''. Life an ...

- Superintendent Maxey *

Anthony Dawson Anthony Douglas Gillon Dawson (18 October 1916 – 8 January 1992) was a Scottish actor, best known for his supporting roles as villains in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's ''Dial M for Murder'' (1954) and '' Midnight Lace'' (1960), and playi ...

- The Man * Denis O'Dea - Sir Charles Morton * Anthony Bushell - Clive Bedford *

Henry B. Longhurst Henry B. Longhurst (February 1891 in Brighton, Sussex – 11 April 1970 in Reading, Berkshire, Reading, Berkshire) was a British actor. Selected filmography * ''Chin Chin Chinaman'' (1931) - Purser * ''The Crooked Lady'' (1932) - John Morla ...

- Judge * Patricia Cutts - Rose Mallory * Meriel Forbes - Marjorie Danns * Brenda De Banzie - Mrs Rogers * Douglas Jefferies - Dr. Conway * Fletcher Lightfoot - Jury Foreman * Anthony Shaw - Clerk of the Court * Michael Medwin - Leslie Scott * Colin Gordon - Pound * Lionel Murton - Jefferson (US version only) * Eric Pohlmann - Mr Polaris * Lilli Molnar - Mrs Polaris * Frank Tickle - Alfred Tripp * Tom Macaulay - Ironworks manager * Richard Littledale - Mr Sims * Jenny Laird - Mrs Sims * Tony Quinn - Joe the barman * Jill Bennett - First murdered girl

Critical reception

In '' The New York Times'', Bosley Crowther wrote, "a very tidy murder drama arrived yesterday from England at the Rivoli Theater...An unusually literate and impressively acted film...It is English in setting and temperament, but international in its entertainment appeal. Thoughtful audiences should especially welcome this picture."

References

External links

1951 films 1950s English-language films 1951 crime films Films directed by Reginald Beck Films directed by Anthony Bushell Films based on British novels British crime films British black-and-white films Films scored by Benjamin Frankel Films set in London Films shot at Nettlefold Studios 1950s British films {{1950s-crime-film-stub