By Glenn Erickson
The Walking Stick
Brief Synopsis
A beautiful polio victim is seduced into helping with a robbery.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Eric Till
Director
David Hemmings
Leigh Hartley
Samantha Eggar
Deborah Dainton
Emlyn Williams
Jack Foil
Phyllis Calvert
Erica Dainton
Ferdy Mayne
Douglas Dainton
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Release Date
Jan
1970
Premiere Information
San Francisco opening: 15 Apr 1970
Production Company
Winkast Film Productions, Ltd.
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United Kingdom
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Walking Stick by Winston Graham (London, 1967).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Metrocolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Synopsis
Leigh Hartley, an untalented young painter, meets polio victim Deborah Dainton, a cripple since childhood. Deborah, an appraiser for an antique dealer, at first spurns Leigh's attempts to date her, but finally, with the encouragement of her parents, she begins to go out with him. She agrees to sit for a portrait, and their relationship develops into love, but Deborah is puzzled by Leigh's relationship with Jack Foil, an art collector who is his patron. Leigh persuades Deborah to move into his London apartment, despite the fact that he is married, and then tells her that he and Jack need her help in robbing the auction gallery where she works. Aware that the money might enable them to start an antique shop of their own, Deborah hides in a closet, although she suffers from claustrophobia, and when the gallery is closed for the night, she opens the door for Jack and Leigh. The robbery is successful, but Deborah realizes that Leigh's courtship was just part of a plan for the robbery, and she writes a full confession to Scotland Yard, exposing all three of them.
Director
Eric Till
Director
Cast
David Hemmings
Leigh Hartley
Samantha Eggar
Deborah Dainton
Emlyn Williams
Jack Foil
Phyllis Calvert
Erica Dainton
Ferdy Mayne
Douglas Dainton
Francesca Annis
Arabella Dainton
Bridget Turner
Sarah Dainton
Dudley Sutton
Ted Sandymount
John Woodvine
Bertie Irons
David Savile
David Talbot
Derek Cox
1st guard
Harvey Sambrook
2d guard
Gwen Cherrel
Mrs. Hartley
Walter Horsbrugh
Maitland
Basil Henson
Inspector Malcolm
Anthony Nicholls
Lewis Maude
Nan Munro
Mrs. Stevenson
Donald Sumpter
Max
David Griffin
Benjy
Susan Payne
Deborah as a child
Crew
George Bluestone
Screenwriter
Colin Brewer
Assistant Director
Pamela Cornell
Set Decoration
Mike Curb
Composer
Mia Fonssagrives
Miss Eggar's Costume
Jerry Gershwin
Company
Gladys Goldsmith
Cont
John Graysmark
Art Director
Ben Harrison
2d Assistant Director
Harley Hatcher
Composer
Denis Holt
Associate Producer
John Howell
Production Design
Arthur Ibbetson
Director of Photography
John Jympson
Film Editor
Elliott Kastner
Company
Alan Ladd Jr.
Producer
Alfredo Lettieri
Dial coach
Ted Lloyd
Prod Supervisor
Stanley Myers
Music comp & Conductor
Barbara Ritchie
Hairstylist
Marion Rosenberg
Assistant to the prod
Tom Sachs
Loc Manager
Tony Sforzini
Makeup
Don Sharpe
Sound Editing
J. B. Smith
Dub mix
Alan Strachan
Film Editor
Ron Taylor
Camera Operator
H. A. R. Thomson
2nd unit Photographer
Vicki Tiel
Miss Eggar's Costume
Gerry Turner
Sound Recording
Sue Yelland
Costume Design
Videos
Movie Clip
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Release Date
Jan
1970
Premiere Information
San Francisco opening: 15 Apr 1970
Production Company
Winkast Film Productions, Ltd.
Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
Country
United Kingdom
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Walking Stick by Winston Graham (London, 1967).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Metrocolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Articles
The Walking Stick -
When Hollywood reduced its investment in foreign film production at the end of the 1960s, the British movie industry went into a tailspin. London-based film producer Alan Ladd Jr.'s worthy first effort The Walking Stick (1970) was lost in the shuffle and seen by almost nobody. From a book by Winston Graham, the author of Marine), it's another story of dark romantic secrets, sex and crime. Artist Leigh Hartley (David Hemmings) and antiques appraiser Deborah Dainton (Samantha Eggar) meet at a party. A polio victim, she's needed a wheelchair and cane since childhood. Their romance blossoms, although Deborah has unanswered questions about Leigh's patron Jack Foil (Emlyn Williams). Only after she is deeply involved does Leigh explain that he and Jack want to rob the auction gallery where she works. For love of Leigh, Deborah becomes an accomplice. Director Eric Till had earned positive notices for Hot Millions (1968), andVariety praised this film's "tastefully executed sex encounter." Samantha Eggar's sensitive performance reminded audiences of Audrey Hepburn's blind and vulnerable heroine in Wait Until Dark. Although impressed by the unusual relationships critics thought the film too slowly paced, and expressed resentment when it unexpectedly changes genres to transform into a conventional crime thriller.
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
The Walking Stick -
When Hollywood reduced its investment in foreign film production at the end of the 1960s, the British movie industry went into a tailspin. London-based film producer Alan Ladd Jr.'s worthy first effort The Walking Stick (1970) was lost in the shuffle and seen by almost nobody. From a book by Winston Graham, the author of Marine), it's another story of dark romantic secrets, sex and crime. Artist Leigh Hartley (David Hemmings) and antiques appraiser Deborah Dainton (Samantha Eggar) meet at a party. A polio victim, she's needed a wheelchair and cane since childhood. Their romance blossoms, although Deborah has unanswered questions about Leigh's patron Jack Foil (Emlyn Williams). Only after she is deeply involved does Leigh explain that he and Jack want to rob the auction gallery where she works. For love of Leigh, Deborah becomes an accomplice. Director Eric Till had earned positive notices for Hot Millions (1968), andVariety praised this film's "tastefully executed sex encounter." Samantha Eggar's sensitive performance reminded audiences of Audrey Hepburn's blind and vulnerable heroine in Wait Until Dark. Although impressed by the unusual relationships critics thought the film too slowly paced, and expressed resentment when it unexpectedly changes genres to transform into a conventional crime thriller. By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Of course you can. What's love!? love is sex, hate, ambitious, selfishness, you name it.- Deborah
Trivia
The film's composer Stanley Myers originally wrote his classic "Cavatina" for this film, but instead it ended up as the theme music on the soundtrack for Deer Hunter, The (1978).
Notes
Filmed on location in London. Released in Great Britain in June 1970.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1970
Released in United States 1970
