Night Must Fall (1964)(dvd)

Synopsis: Emlyn Williams's popular, if shakily plotted, stage thriller was originally filmed by Richard Thorpe in 1937, with Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell in the leads. In this flashy remake, Susan Hampshire steps into the shoes of the woman who gradually comes to realise who is responsible for a series of countryside killings.

Director Karel Reisz's attempts to explore the murderer's mental instability through camera movements and cross-cuts (recalling the vigorous unpredictability of the French New Wave) are somewhat undone by the staginess of the dialogue. Yet Freddie Francis's photography is highly atmospheric and Albert Finney's performance is occasionally electrifying.

Cast: Albert Finney
Runtime: 104 min
Quality: Letterbox, high quality