''A Woman Possessed'' is a low budget 1958 British second feature ('B')

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Max Varnel Max Varnel (21 March 1925 – 15 January 1996) was a French-born Australian film director, film and television director who worked primarily in the United Kingdom and Australia. Biography Born Max Le Bozec in Paris, France, he was the son of the ...

and starring

Margaretta Scott Margaretta Mary Winifred ScottBrian McFarlane, "Scott, Margaretta Mary Winifred (1912–2005)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Jan 201available online Retrieved 30 August 2020. (13 February 1912 – 15 Apr ...

, Francis Matthews, and

Kay Callard Kay Callard (10 November 1923 – 7 March 2008) was a Canadian film and television actress who spent most of her career in Britain. She was married to the actor Jack McNaughton Jack McNaughton (22 December 190522 February 1990) was a British ...

. It was written by

Brian Clemens Brian Horace Clemens (30 July 1931 – 10 January 2015) was an English screenwriter and television producer. He worked on the British TV series '' The Avengers'' and created '' The New Avengers'' and '' The Professionals''. Early life Clemen ...

and Eldon Howard and produced by

The Danzigers Edward J. Danziger (1909–1999) and Harry Lee Danziger (1913–2005) were American-born brothers who produced many British films and TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s. According to one profile "throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, their second fe ...

Plot

John Winthrop, an English doctor, returns from a trip to America with his new fiancee, Ann. He is met with disapproval from his wealthy, domineering mother, Katherine, who is vocal in her dislike of Ann. On discovering Ann has a heart condition, Katherine insists the couple move in with her. One day the mother accidentally gives her daughter-in-law the wrong medication and Ann nearly dies. The doctor saves his wife, but then accuses his mother of attempted murder. In the end, it turns out Emma the maid was responsible for accidentally switching the pills, and with the crisis over, mother, son and daughter-in-law realise they must settle the differences between them.

Cast

as Katherine Winthrop * Francis Matthews as John Winthrop *

as Ann *

Alison Leggatt Alison Joy Leggatt (7 February 1904 – 15 July 1990) was an English character actor, character actress. Career Born in the Kensington district of London, Leggatt trained under Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Speech and Drama, then based ...

as Emma *

Ian Fleming Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer, best known for his postwar ''James Bond'' series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his ...

as Walter *

Jan Holden Valerie Jeanne Wilkinson (9 May 1931 – 11 October 2005) was an English actress known as Jan Holden, using her mother's maiden name as a stage name. In theatre she was known for her performances in light comedy and appeared in several tele ...

as Mary * Tony Thawnton as Calvin *

Denis Shaw Douglas "Denis" Findlay Shaw (7 February 1921 – 28 February 1971) was a British character actor who specialized in portraying villains. Biography Shaw was born in Dulwich on 7 February 1921. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was frequently cast ...

as Bishop *

Totti Truman Taylor Totti Truman Taylor (born Dorothy Leah Truman, 7 September 1915 – 5 March 1981) was a British actress. She took her stage name from her mother’s second husband’s surname. In 1953, she played Aunt Sally in the BBC television series ''Worzel ...

as Miss Frobisher * Edith Savile as Lady Harriett

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Within its modest limits this film is crisply directed, well acted by the three main players, and intelligently presented. The family tensions and conflicts of loyalty are effectively suggested and the casebook situation is made to reveal character with some skill. The switch of blame from Katherine to Emma jars, however, and the optimistic ending shirks the implications of the story." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Well-acted, but not-too-interesting drama." ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...

'' comments that "despite some good performances from the cast, this isn't a very engaging drama."

References

External links

* {{The Danzigers 1958 films 1950s English-language films British drama films Films scored by Edwin Astley