Lean and Norman Spencer and Wynyarde Brown adapted Harold Brighouse's hit play, filmed before in 1920 and 1931. Robert Donat had to withdraw from playing Willie Mossop at the last minute due to asthma; Lean thought of John Mills. Lean was apparently not the greatest actors' director. Kevin Brownlow's book reports on this after a take he would check it was OK technically, leading Mills to resort to "Never mind about that - how the fuck were we?" Laughton, Mills and Brenda de Banzie all give fabulous performances - despite her bring very difficult to work with.
It's funny that such a cinematic filmmaker started out making films of so many plays. It's a fabulous story.
With Daphne Anderson, Prunella Scales, Richard Wattis, Derek Blomfield, Helen Haye, Philip Stainton, John Laurie.
Photographed by Jack Hildyard. Great music by Malcolm Arnold. Edited by Peter Taylor. Wilfred Shingleton sets.
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