Incident at Midnight
| Incident at Midnight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Norman Harrison |
| Written by | Arthur La Bern |
| Based on | a short story by Edgar Wallace |
| Produced by | Jack Greenwood |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | Derek Holding |
| Music by | Bernard Ebbinghouse |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 56 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Incident at Midnight is a 1963 British crime film directed by Norman Harrison and starring Anton Diffring, William Sylvester and Justine Lord.[1] It was written by Arthur La Bern adapted from an Edgar Wallace's short story,[2] and was made at Merton Park Studios as part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries.[3]
Plot
[edit]Old Dr. Schroeder, who has been struck off, attends a late night chemist every night for a prescription, and to observe Dr. Leichner, an ex-Nazi war criminal who has taken a new identity. Leichner has a blonde wife, and a blonde mistress, who is blackmailing him. He is also involved in a drug scam involving two lockers and two keys, and aims to become a millionaire selling drugs. Meanwhile, a wounded bank robber has been taken to the dispensary for treatment, and to rendezvous with his gang leader. Dr. Schroeder finds himself attending to the robber's injuries.
Cast
[edit]- Anton Diffring as Dr. Erik Leichner
- William Sylvester as Vince Warren
- Justine Lord as Diane Graydon
- Martin Miller as Dr. Schroeder
- Tony Garnett as Brennan
- Philip Locke as Foster
- Sylva Langova as Vivienne Leichner
- Warren Mitchell as chemist
- Jacqueline Jones as Vanessa Palmer
- Peter Howell as Inspector Macready
- Oliver MacGreevy as Wilkinson
- David Futcher as Whitehead
- Clifford Earl as sergeant
- Geoffrey Palmer as Dr. Tanfield
- Derek Partridge as detective
- Fred Beauman as policeman
- Mike Moyer as policeman
- Roland Curram as soldier
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An all-night chemist is at least a novel setting for a crime drama. Often vague, despite the final clarification, it is quite adequately played. Despite the billing, William Sylvester has only a small, inconsequential role."[4]
Sky Movies wrote that the "harsh black-and-white photography effectively catches the bleak, claustrophobic atmosphere of the all-night chemist's in which some of the drama is set."[5]
Leonard Maltin rated it two stars, calling it a "trim yarn."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Incident at Midnight". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- ^ "» EDGAR WALLACE AT MERTON PARK – by Tise Vahimagi".
- ^ "Incident at Midnight". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 48. 1 January 1963 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Incident at Midnight".
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (29 September 2015). Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965: Third Edition. Penguin. ISBN 9780698197299 – via Google Books.