They Met in the Dark
They Met in the Dark is a 1943 British comedy thriller film directed by Karel Lamac and starring James Mason, Joyce Howard and Edward Rigby.[1] The screenplay concerns a cashiered Royal Naval officer and a young woman who join forces to solve a murder and hunt down a German spy ring.[2] The film features a single song sung by Phyllis Stanley, "Toddle Along" (Ben Frankel, Moira Heath).[3]
| They Met in the Dark | |
|---|---|
French theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Karel Lamac |
| Produced by | Marcel Hellman |
| Written by | Anatole de Grunwald Miles Malleson scenario by Basil Bartlett, Victor McClure and James Seymour |
| Based on | a novel The Vanishing Corpse by Anthony Gilbert |
| Starring | James Mason Joyce Howard Tom Walls |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel (as Ben Frankel) |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller |
| Edited by | Winifred Cooper Terence Fisher |
Production company | Marcel Hellman Productions (as Excelsior Films Ltd.) |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date | 1 November 1943 (UK) |
Running time | 104 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
It was shot at Teddington Studios in London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Norman G. Arnold.
Cast
- James Mason as Richard Francis Heritage
- Joyce Howard as Laura Verity
- Tom Walls as Christopher Child
- Phyllis Stanley as Lily Bernard
- Edward Rigby as Mansel
- Ronald Ward as Carter
- David Farrar as Commander Lippinscott
- Karel Stepanek as Riccardo
- Betty Warren as Fay
- Patricia Medina as Mary, the manicurist
- Walter Crisham as Charlie
- George Robey as Pawnbroker
- Ronald Chesney as Max, Mouth Harmonica Player
- Peggy Dexter as Bobby
- Finlay Currie as Merchant Captain
- Brefni O'Rorke as Detective Inspector Burrows
- Leonard Sharp as Bus Conductor
- Terence de Marney as Code Expert
- Anthony Dawson as 2nd Code Expert
Critical reception
Radio Times noted "an old-fashioned, run-of-the-mill and unlikely espionage thriller-come-romance, it was topical during the Second World War years, but is rather unrewarding now";[4] while Britmovie wrote, "there are capable performances from all involved but it’s Tom Walls, the urbane Aldwych farceur, who steals the limelight when cast against type as a charming villain."[5]
References
- "They Met in the Dark (1943) - Articles - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- "They Met in the Dark". BFI.
- "They Met In The Dark". TV Guide.
- Robin Karney. "They Met in the Dark". RadioTimes.
- "They Met in the Dark". britmovie.co.uk.