Laughter in the Dark
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Tony Richardson
Nicol Williamson
Anna Karina
Jean-claude Drouot
Peter Bowles
Sian Phillips
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Sir Edward More, a wealthy art dealer, becomes infatuated with a young cinema usherette, Margot, and tries to initiate a discreet affair. But the young woman telephones him at his home, visits his art gallery when his wife, Elizabeth, is there, and even wires him a declaration of her love. After his wife has left him, taking with her their small daughter, Edward submits to Margot, unaware that she is once more involved sexually with her ex-lover, Hervé Tourace. As part of a plan to bilk Edward of his fortune, Margot tells him that Hervé is a homosexual (and therefore no threat to their love) and then persuades him to hire the younger man as his assistant. Following the sudden death of his daughter, Edward becomes totally dependent upon Margot and yields to her wish that they take a holiday abroad--with Hervé as their chauffeur. Then Edward learns of her secret affair with Hervé. He threatens to shoot Margot but is dissuaded when she promises never to see Hervé again. But in his haste to leave with Margot, Edward crashes his car and is left blinded by the accident. Margot now deceives Edward into believing that Hervé has left the country and persuades Edward that he needs a long rest; then Hervé, his presence unknown to Edward, drives them to a secluded villa. There the lovers not only relieve Edward of his wealth but play sadistic tricks upon him. Then Edward's brother-in-law, Paul, arrives to learn the reason for all the exorbitant bank withdrawals. With the plot exposed, Hervé flees as Edward asks Paul to leave him alone so that he can say goodby to Margot in private. But when Margot returns to the villa, Edward is waiting with a gun; as the terrified girl tries to flee, he accidentally shoots himself dead.
Director
Tony Richardson
Cast
Nicol Williamson
Anna Karina
Jean-claude Drouot
Peter Bowles
Sian Phillips
Sebastian Breaks
Kate O'toole
Edward Gardener
Helen Booth
Sheila Burrell
Willoughby Goddard
Basil Dignam
John Atkinson
Donald Bisset
John Golightly
Mavis Villiers
Allison Blair
Diana Harris
Celia Brook
Crew
Edward Bond
Eddie Boyce
Iain Bruce
Dick Bush
Graham Cottle
Andrew Grieve
Gerry Harrison
Neil Hartley
Terry Hodgkinson
Raymond Leppard
Gavrik Losey
Julia Trevelyan Oman
Charles Rees
Ian Whittaker
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Filmed on location in Majorca and England. Opened in London in August 1969; running time: 104 min. French title: La chambre obscure.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Spring May 1969
Released in United States 1994
Released in United States Spring May 1969
Released in United States 1994 (Shown in New York City (Walter Reade) as part of program "Laughter in the Dark: Tony Richardson" August 26 - September 13, 1994.)
