The Ringer (1952 film)
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''The Ringer'' is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Guy Hamilton and starring Herbert Lom,
Donald Wolfit Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE (born Donald Woolfitt; Harwood, Ronald"Wolfit, Sir Donald (1902–1968)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edn, January 2008; accessed 14 July 2009 20 April 1902 ...
,
Mai Zetterling Mai Elisabeth Zetterling (; 24 May 1925 – 17 March 1994) was a Swedish film director, novelist and actor. Early life Zetterling was born in Västerås, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actor at the age of 17 at ...
, Greta Gynt,
William Hartnell William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the first incarnation of the Doctor in ''Doctor Who'' from 1963 to 1966. In film, Hartnell notably appeared in '' Brig ...
, and Denholm Elliott. It was Hamilton's directorial debut and the third English-language
sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by ...
version of Edgar Wallace's 1929 play. It was shot at
Shepperton Studios Shepperton Studios is a film studio located in Shepperton, Surrey, England, with a history dating back to 1931. It is now part of the Pinewood Studios Group. During its early existence, the studio was branded as Sound City (not to be confused ...
near
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. The film's sets were designed by the
art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and unify the vis ...
William Hutchinson.


Premise

An underhand
solicitor A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and ...
receives threatening notes from a mysterious killer who's also a master of disguise, and the
police The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...
are called in to protect him.


Cast

* Herbert Lom as Maurice Meister *
Donald Wolfit Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE (born Donald Woolfitt; Harwood, Ronald"Wolfit, Sir Donald (1902–1968)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edn, January 2008; accessed 14 July 2009 20 April 1902 ...
as Dr. Lomond *
Mai Zetterling Mai Elisabeth Zetterling (; 24 May 1925 – 17 March 1994) was a Swedish film director, novelist and actor. Early life Zetterling was born in Västerås, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actor at the age of 17 at ...
as Lisa * Greta Gynt as Cora Ann Milton *
William Hartnell William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the first incarnation of the Doctor in ''Doctor Who'' from 1963 to 1966. In film, Hartnell notably appeared in '' Brig ...
as Sam Hackett * Denholm Elliott as John Lemley * Norman Wooland as Inspector Bliss * Dora Bryan as Mrs. Hackett * Charles Victor as Inspector Wembury * Walter Fitzgerald as Commissioner * John Stuart as Gardener *
John Slater John Slater may refer to: Business and government *John Slater (industrialist) (1776–1843), (American) father of John Fox Slater, brother and partner of Samuel Slater *John Fox Slater (1815–1884), American philanthropist, son of John Slater ( ...
as Bell * Edward Chapman as Stranger * Campbell Singer as Station Sergeant Carter * Arthur Lovegrove as Workman installing window bars (uncredited) * Robert Raglan (uncredited)


Critical reception

Allmovie wrote, "
Donald Wolfit Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE (born Donald Woolfitt; Harwood, Ronald"Wolfit, Sir Donald (1902–1968)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edn, January 2008; accessed 14 July 2009 20 April 1902 ...
, whose legendary thespic excesses were later fictionalized in the stage play ''
The Dresser ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'', is perfectly cast as a vengeance-seeking master of disguise". ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...
'' noted "old-fashioned melodrama with an excellent cast."


See also

* '' The Ringer'' (1928) * '' The Ringer'' (1931) * '' The Ringer'' (''Der Hexer'', 1932) * '' The Gaunt Stranger'' (1938) * '' Der Hexer'' (1964)


References


External links

* 1952 films 1950s mystery films Films directed by Guy Hamilton British mystery films British films based on plays Films based on works by Edgar Wallace 1952 directorial debut films British black-and-white films Films shot at Shepperton Studios British Lion Films films Films set in London Remakes of British films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films {{1950s-UK-film-stub