Grand National Night
Grand National Night is a 1953 British thriller film brought to the screen by George Minter, produced by Phil C. Samuel, and based on a play of the same title written by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was directed by Bob McNaught and starred Nigel Patrick, Moira Lister and Beatrice Campbell (Patrick's wife) with support from Michael Hordern, Noel Purcell and a cameo role from Colin Gordon.
| Grand National Night | |
|---|---|
 Nigel Patrick and Beatrice Campbell in the film. | |
| Directed by | Bob McNaught |
| Written by | Val Valentine Bob McNaught |
| Based on | Grand National Night by Campbell Christie Dorothy Christie |
| Produced by | Phil C. Samuel George Minter |
| Starring | Nigel Patrick Moira Lister Beatrice Campbell |
| Cinematography | Jack Asher |
| Edited by | Anne V. Coates |
| Music by | John Greenwood |
Production company | Talisman-George Minter |
| Distributed by | Renown Pictures Allied Artists (US) |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The film was shot at Walton Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Frederick Pusey. Cinematography was by Jack Asher.
Previous to this film version Grand National Night had been presented as a BBC Radio serial as well as the original stage play, which was produced in 1945 and 1946. The cast of the original play was headed by Leslie Banks as Gerald Coates.
Plot
Racehorse trainer Gerald Coates argues with his alcoholic wife Babs on the evening after his horse has won the Grand National. She attacks him with a knife and there is a struggle with the knife. As a result she becomes fatally wounded. He drives her to Liverpool to try and get her medical attention, but he discovers that she had died and leaves her in the car which belongs to a friend of hers. He takes a train home and waits for a police investigation.
Cast
- Nigel Patrick as Gerald Coates
- Moira Lister as Babs Coates
- Beatrice Campbell as Joyce Penrose
- Betty Ann Davies as Pinkie Collins
- Michael Hordern as Inspector Ayling
- Noel Purcell as Philip Balfour
- Leslie Mitchell as Jack Donovan
- Barry MacKay as Sergeant Gibson
- Colin Gordon as Buns Darling
- Gibb McLaughlin as Morton
- Richard Grayden as Chandler
- May Hallatt as Hoskyns
- George Sequira as George
- Ernest Jay as railway official
- Russell Waters as plainclothes detective
- George Rose as plainclothes detective
- Arthur Howard as Hotel Manager
- Edward Evans as garage attendant
Reception
David Parkinson of Radio Times gave the film 3 stars out of 5.[1]
Notes
- Parkinson, David. "Grand National Night". Radio Times.