Endless Night (1971)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1971
Running Times: 95 mins (US - theatrical)     99 mins 13 sec (UK - theatrical)
Format: colour     35mm
Ratio: 1.78:1
Sound: mono

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Company: British Lion Film Corporation
Producers: Leslie Gilliat, Sidney Gilliat

SCRIPT
Script: Sidney Gilliat
Novel: Agatha Christie

DIRECTION
Director: Sidney Gilliat

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Harry Waxman

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Thelma Connell

MUSIC
Music: Bernard Herrmann

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Costume Designer: John Furniss

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Wilfred Shingleton

CAST
Hayley Mills (Ellie Thomsen)
Hywel Bennett (Michael Rogers)
Britt Ekland (Greta)
George Sanders (Andrew Lippincott)
David Bauer (Uncle Frank)
Peter Bowles (Reuben Brown)
Geoffrey Chater (coroner)
Patience Collier (Miss Townsend)
Windsor Davies (Sergeant Reene)
Mischa De La Motte (Maynard)
Walter Gotell (Constantine)
David Healy (Jason)
Helen Horton (Aunt Beth)
Robert Keegan (innkeeper)
Lois Maxwell (Cora Walker Brown)
Robert O'Neil (broker)
Per Oscarsson (Santonix)
Aubrey Richards (Dr Philpott)
Madge Ryan (Michael's mother)
Ann Way (Mrs Philpott)
Nicholas Courtney (2nd auctioneer - uncredited)
Leo Genn (psychiatrist - uncredited)
Steven Wallen (young Michael - uncredited)

PLOT SUMMARY

An American heiress and a London chauffeur marry and move into their dream house which has been designed for them by a famous architect. But their wedded bliss soon turns to a nightmare as strange things start to happen - a mad woman is issuing dire warnings and the bride's resentful family are moving in, haranguing her new husband. Could one or both of the newlyweds be the victim of a conspiracy? And if so, who's involved and who can they trust?

CAPSULE REVIEW

A confusing entry this, as those who may have seen the first hour of this movie may be forgiven for thinking it is nothing more than an average Agatha Christie suspense thriller. However, for those who saw it through to the end, its inclusion in a website of "fantastic" films will be more than justified. Perhaps that's the endearing charm of the film - it straddles so many boundaries between different horror types (psychothriller, ghost story, Swinging London drama, Gothic romance, giallo) - but also may explain its difficulty in finding an audience, as it falls between many stools of the kind that exist as constructs in the narrow minds of certain viewers. (Full Review)

AVAILABILITY

UK
Theatrical Distributor: British Lion Film Corporation
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video

USA
Video Distributors: HBO Home Video; Republic Pictures Corporation
Laserdisc Distributors: HBO Home Video
DVD Distributors: Anchor Bay (DV 11627)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Finland
Rating: K-16

UK
Rating: AA (1972); 15 (1989)

TIMELINE

1972
March
8: UK - rated AA by the BBFC

1973
April
20: Finland – theatrical release

1989
January
30: UK - rated 15 by the BBFC

2001
February
27: USA - DVD release (Anchor Bay (DV 11627))

POSTER TAGS

Victim... or killer?

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Champagne per due dopo il funerale – Italian title
Endelrs nat – Danish title
Hyytävä yö – Finnish title
Mord nach Mass - West German title
La noche sin fin – Spanish title
Oändlig natt – Swedish title

KEYWORDS

book into film

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008