Night Must Fall
Brief Synopsis
A psychopath worms his way into an elderly woman's household.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Karel Reisz
Director
Albert Finney
Danny
Mona Washbourne
Mrs. Bramson
Susan Hampshire
Olivia
Sheila Hancock
Dora
Michael Medwin
Derek
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Thriller
Release Date
Jan
1964
Premiere Information
New York opening: 18 Mar 1964
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United Kingdom
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Night Must Fall by Emlyn Williams (London, 31 May 1935).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Synopsis
Danny, a Welsh hotel bellboy, commits an axe murder in the woods near the home of Mrs. Bramson, a wealthy widow, and disposes of his female victim's body and the axe in a lake. The following morning he is summoned to Mrs. Bramson's house because Dora, her maid, is pregnant by him. He charms the women, however, and soon he is living in the house, supposedly to redecorate it. There he plays games with Mrs. Bramson in which he pretends to be her child. He also becomes the lover of Olivia, Mrs. Bramson's daughter. Alone in his room, he performs lunatic rituals with the severed heads of his victims which he keeps in a black hatbox. Meanwhile, the police uncover the headless body and the axe in the lake. Dora discovers Danny and Olivia's relationship and refuses his offer to accompany her home. Rejected, he turns to Mrs. Bramson, and when Olivia witnesses one of their strange games, she flees in panic from the house. Frustrated because the tired old lady wishes to discontinue a game of chase in her wheelchair, Danny hacks her to death. Olivia returns and summons the police while Danny, cowered by Olivia's unexpected determination, huddles in the bathroom, completely withdrawn in his private world of madness.
Director
Karel Reisz
Director
Cast
Albert Finney
Danny
Mona Washbourne
Mrs. Bramson
Susan Hampshire
Olivia
Sheila Hancock
Dora
Michael Medwin
Derek
Joe Gladwin
Dodge
Martin Wyldeck
Inspector Willet
John Gill
Foster
Crew
Lawrence P. Bachmann
Executive Producer
Philip Barnikel
Film Editor
Timothy Burrill
Production Manager
Malcolm Cooke
Sound Editing
Lionel Couch
Art Director
Clive Exton
Screenwriter
Albert Finney
Producer
Gerry Fisher
Camera Operator
Freddie Francis
Director of Photography
Ron Grainer
Music comp & Conductor
Fergus Mcdonell
Editingsupervisor
Timothy O'brien
Production Design
Karel Reisz
Producer
J. B. Smith
Dub mix
Cyril Swern
Sound Recording
David Tomblin
Assistant Director
A. W. Watkins
Recording Supervisor
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Thriller
Release Date
Jan
1964
Premiere Information
New York opening: 18 Mar 1964
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United Kingdom
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Night Must Fall by Emlyn Williams (London, 31 May 1935).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Articles
Night Must Fall (1964)
A psychopath worms his way into an elderly woman's household.
Night Must Fall (1964)
A psychopath worms his way into an elderly woman's household.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Copyright length: 101 min. Released in Great Britain in 1964 at 101 min. This is a remake of the 1937 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1964
Released in United States 2000
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1964
Released in United States 2000 (Shown in New York City (Film Forum) as part of program "The British New Wave: From Angry Young Men to Swinging London" October 27 - November 16, 2000.)
