Dead of Night(1945).Architect Walter Craig, seeking the possibility of some work at a country farmhouse, soon finds himself once again stuck in his recurring nightmare. Dreading the end of the dream that he knows is coming, he must first listen to all the assembled guests' own bizarre tales. Written byDoug Sederberg <vornoff@sonic.net>... Synopsis Dead of Night(1945)
Movie Title: Dead of Night(1945)
Run Time: 103 min
Rating: 7.7 / 10
Genres: Horror |Thriller
Release Date: 15 February 1946 (Finland)
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti,Charles Crichton, 2 more credits »
Writer: H.G. Wells (original story),E.F. Benson (original story), ... and other credits
Actor: Mervyn Johns,Michael Redgrave,Roland Culver
For years I've wondered if I really saw a movie that served as the source for innumerable childhood dreams and fears. I tried telling folks about seeing this British film on TV in the 1960s, but it was so jumbled in my memory that I really couldn't describe it properly. I knew it led to a lifelong dread of ventriloquist dummies, but I couldn't figure out how that tied to an architect at a country house party.
For no apparent reason today I put "ventriloquist movie" into yahoo and skimmed down to Dead of Night - British 1945. At long last I knew that I hadn't imagined the whole thing - and boy am I relieved! I'm also delighted to find that I've been "haunted" by a classic of the genre that has had a big impact on so many others.
I'm looking forward to ordering it and watching it again.
