Comments on: Dead Of Night (1945) http://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/ Vintage SciFi/Horror Film Reviews Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:02:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: F.bordewijk http://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2536 F.bordewijk Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:35:17 +0000 https://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2536 I've caught this on the telly a few times through the decades. My grandfather was the projectionist at our local picture house and I was watching this as a Saturday matinee! As you indicated the Maxwell Frere is the standout vignette. His portrayal of descent into split personalities is amazing. I also loved the Hearse Driver story. Great film this. I’ve caught this on the telly a few times through the decades. My grandfather was the projectionist at our local picture house and I was watching this as a Saturday matinee!
As you indicated the Maxwell Frere is the standout vignette. His portrayal of descent into split personalities is amazing. I also loved the Hearse Driver story. Great film this.

]]> By: exclamationmark http://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2181 exclamationmark Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:04:24 +0000 https://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2181 Francoise: I see the Othello element you've suggested, though I think the golf story takes too long to unfold to serve the purpose you relate to Desdemona's singing. For me, anyway, it lessened the tension that was so wonderfully built up thus far. The Christmas party scene did, at least, add a bit of atmosphere. The golf story would have made an amusing little Twilight Zone, but still seems blatantly out of place here. I agree completely, however, how directors and actors were more crucial to the story than the "overblown special effects" that are so heavily relied on today. Furthermore, we both agree this is a wonderful classic. Francoise: I see the Othello element you’ve suggested, though I think the golf story takes too long to unfold to serve the purpose you relate to Desdemona’s singing. For me, anyway, it lessened the tension that was so wonderfully built up thus far. The Christmas party scene did, at least, add a bit of atmosphere. The golf story would have made an amusing little Twilight Zone, but still seems blatantly out of place here. I agree completely, however, how directors and actors were more crucial to the story than the “overblown special effects” that are so heavily relied on today. Furthermore, we both agree this is a wonderful classic.

]]> By: Francoise http://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2180 Francoise Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:38:08 +0000 https://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-2180 Brilliant film! Redgrave's marvellously subtle and understated performance still has the power to send chills up the spine. I think that the Christmas party scene, typical of a simple ghost story narrated by a naive teenager, rings true,and that the golf story served the same purpose as Desdemona's innocent singing, just prior to being murdered, in Shakeaspeare's "Othello" . It's a bridge between one layer of tension, and the next level, which is sheer terror. It enables the assembly, and the audience, to have a light breather, which lulls them into thinking that their fears are, perhaps, groundless. And then....the horror commences....wonderful film, typical of old classics, relying on great directors and actors, rather than overblown special effects to generate reactions in their audiences. Brilliant film! Redgrave’s marvellously subtle and understated performance still has the power to send chills up the spine. I think that the Christmas party scene, typical of a simple ghost story narrated by a naive teenager, rings true,and that the golf story served the same purpose as Desdemona’s innocent singing, just prior to being murdered, in Shakeaspeare’s “Othello” . It’s a bridge between one layer of tension, and the next level, which is sheer terror. It enables the assembly, and the audience, to have a light breather, which lulls them into thinking that their fears are, perhaps, groundless. And then….the horror commences….wonderful film, typical of old classics, relying on great directors and actors, rather than overblown special effects to generate reactions in their audiences.

]]> By: Taliesin_ttlg http://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-767 Taliesin_ttlg Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:07:39 +0000 https://exclamationmark.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/dead-of-night-1945/#comment-767 Finally saw this and really enjoyed it. I agree that the golfing story is trite - however it works in context of the whole story as it was told as trite to improve the atmosphere at the gathering. Christmas story was a little cliched but had at least a little atmosphere. Overall, however, I have to agree that the The Ventriloquist’s Dummy was the highlight - absolutely riveting little story and actually open to some interpretation - whilst I think all viewers accept that it was supernatural, the psychologists explanation could hold true (that wouldn't explain the dummy biting a hand in the bar however). Brilliantly acted also. Great review Mark (though I know it was posted a little time ago) Finally saw this and really enjoyed it. I agree that the golfing story is trite – however it works in context of the whole story as it was told as trite to improve the atmosphere at the gathering.

Christmas story was a little cliched but had at least a little atmosphere.

Overall, however, I have to agree that the The Ventriloquist’s Dummy was the highlight – absolutely riveting little story and actually open to some interpretation – whilst I think all viewers accept that it was supernatural, the psychologists explanation could hold true (that wouldn’t explain the dummy biting a hand in the bar however). Brilliantly acted also.

Great review Mark (though I know it was posted a little time ago)

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