Dead of Night (1945)
| Title | Dead of Night |
| Year | 1945 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Genre | Horror (Movies) |
| Collection | H.G. Wells |
| Run Time | 1h 43 min |
| Director |
Made by Ealing Studios, Dead of Night (1945) is a black and white British anthology supernatural horror film. It is a rare example from the 1940s, as horror films were prohibited from production in Britain during World War II. Its influence can be seen in subsequent British films of the same genre. John Baines’ stories were reused for later films, while the episode with the ventriloquist dummy was adapted for the pilot episode of CBS radio series Escape. Architect Walter Craig arrives at Elliot Foley’s country cottage in Kent, where he has been invited to consult on renovations. Strangely enough, despite never having met any of them before, Craig claims to have seen all his hosts in a recurring dream. He appears to have no personal knowledge of them, yet can foresee events that will soon unfold in the house. Dr. van Straaten, a psychologist, tries to convince Craig that his fears are baseless.
The other guests test Craig’s supposed foresight and share their own tales of strange experiences or hearsay. Hugh Grainger, a race car driver, remembers lying in a hospital bed following an accident. One evening, the sounds of the ward quiet down and he notices his bedside clock has changed. Drawing back the curtains, he discovers it is now daylight and there is a horse-drawn hearse parked outside. The driver of the hearse calls out to him, ‘only room for one inside, sir’. After being released from the medical facility, Grainger waits for a bus. The conductor strangely resembles the hearse driver and also tells him, ‘only room for one inside, sir’. Choosing not to board the bus, Grainger watches as it swerves and plunges off an embankment.
00. Linking Story (Basil Dearden)
01. The Hearse Driver (Basil Dearden)
02. The Christmas Party (Alberto Cavalcanti)
03. The Haunted Mirror (Robert Hamer)
04. The Golfer’s Story (Charles Crichton)
05. The Ventriloquist’s Dummy (Alberto Cavalcanti)
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Anthony BairdHugh Grainger ('Linking Story' / 'The Hearse Driver')  Mervyn JohnsWalter Craig ('Linking Story')  Roland CulverEliot Foley ('Linking Story')  Sally Ann HowesSally O'Hara ('Linking Story' / 'The Christmas Party')  Frederick ValkDr. Van Straaten ('Linking Story' / 'The Ventriloquist's Dummy')  Judy KellyJoyce Grainger ('Linking Story' / 'The Hearse Driver')  Googie WithersJoan Cortland ('Linking Story') / 'The Haunted Mirror')  Ralph MichaelPeter Cortland ('The Haunted Mirror')  Peggy BryanMary Lee ('The Golfer's Story')  Basil RadfordGeorge Parratt ('The Golfer's Story')  Allan JeayesMaurice Olcott ('The Ventiloquist's Dummy')  Michael RedgraveMaxwell Frere ('The Ventriloquist's Dummy') |
Made by Ealing Studios, Dead of Night (1945) is a black and white British anthology supernatural horror film. It is a rare example from the 1940s, as horror films were prohibited from production in Britain during World War II. Its influence can be seen in subsequent British films of the same genre. John Baines’ stories were reused for later films, while the episode with the ventriloquist dummy was adapted for the pilot episode of CBS radio series Escape. Architect Walter Craig arrives at Elliot Foley’s country cottage in Kent, where he has been invited to consult on renovations. Strangely enough, despite never having met any of them before, Craig claims to have seen all his hosts in a recurring dream. He appears to have no personal knowledge of them, yet can foresee events that will soon unfold in the house. Dr. van Straaten, a psychologist, tries to convince Craig that his fears are baseless.
The other guests test Craig’s supposed foresight and share their own tales of strange experiences or hearsay. Hugh Grainger, a race car driver, remembers lying in a hospital bed following an accident. One evening, the sounds of the ward quiet down and he notices his bedside clock has changed. Drawing back the curtains, he discovers it is now daylight and there is a horse-drawn hearse parked outside. The driver of the hearse calls out to him, ‘only room for one inside, sir’. After being released from the medical facility, Grainger waits for a bus. The conductor strangely resembles the hearse driver and also tells him, ‘only room for one inside, sir’. Choosing not to board the bus, Grainger watches as it swerves and plunges off an embankment.
00. Linking Story (Basil Dearden)
01. The Hearse Driver (Basil Dearden)
02. The Christmas Party (Alberto Cavalcanti)
03. The Haunted Mirror (Robert Hamer)
04. The Golfer’s Story (Charles Crichton)
05. The Ventriloquist’s Dummy (Alberto Cavalcanti)
