French
DeutschThe Man in Black (film)
| The Man in Black | |
|---|---|
.jpg) handbill poster | |
| Directed by | Francis Searle |
| Written by | John Gilling from a story by Francis Searle from the radio series by John Dickson Carr |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring | Betty Ann Davies Sheila Burrell Sid James Anthony Forwood Valentine Dyall |
| Cinematography | Cedric Williams |
| Edited by | John Ferris Ray Pitt |
| Music by | Rupert Grayson Frank Spencer |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Man in Black is a 1950 British second feature ('B')[1] thriller film directed by Francis Searle and starring Betty Ann Davies, Sheila Burrell and Sid James.[2][3] It was written by John Gilling from a story by Searle based on the popular British radio series Appointment with Fear by John Dickson Carr which featured Valentine Dyall as "The Man in Black".[4] Dyall provides the on-screen introduction to the film.[5] It was produced by Hammer Films.
Plot
[edit]After the death of her yogi father Henry during a freak "yoga accident," brought about by his second wife, Joan Clavering returns home to her widowed stepmother Bertha. Henry has left a good sum of money to Bertha, but the vast bulk of his fortune to Joan, unless she is incapacitated in some way. Bertha conspires with her daughter Janice to drive Joan insane and deprive her of her rightful inheritance.[6][7][8]
Cast
[edit]- Betty Ann Davies as Bertha Clavering
- Sheila Burrell as Janice
- Sidney James as Henry Clavering / Hodson
- Anthony Forwood as Victor Harrington
- Valentine Dyall as Your Storyteller, the Man in Black
- Gerald Case as doctor
- Hazel Penwarden as Joan Clavering
- Laurence Baskcomb as Sandford
- Courtney Hope as Carter
- Mollie Palmer as Elsie
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Preposterous melodrama from the radio series. Betty Ann Davies and Sheila Burrell, as the most transparent villainesses since Lady Audley, are good for a number of laughs, but this was not, presumably, the intention."[9]
TV Guide wrote, "The story is drivel, with some unintentionally campy plot developments. It was adapted from a British radio series, perhaps proving that some dramas are better heard than seen."[10]
Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings wrote, "One of Hammer's earlier forays into horror. This one is highly recommended."[7]
Leonard Maltin called it a "clever little thriller with some surprises and a rare noncomic role for James."[4]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Ridiculous chiller at least moves along a fair rate."[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "The Man in Black". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Man in Black". Britmovie. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Man in Black, The (1949) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ "MAN IN BLACK, THE (1949)". Otrdvd.co. Retrieved 12 March 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The Man in Black | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ a b "Fantastic Movie Musings & Ramblings - MAN IN BLACK (1949)". Scifilm.org. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "The Man in Black (1950) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Man in Black". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 17 (193): 10. 1 January 1950. ProQuest 1305811148.
- ^ "The Man In Black Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 227. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.