Mine Own Executioner is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.[3] The title is derived from a quotation of John Donne's "Devotions", which serves as an epigraph for the original book.
| Mine Own Executioner | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Kimmins |
| Written by | Nigel Balchin |
| Based on | Mine Own Executioner by Nigel Balchin |
| Produced by | Anthony Kimmins Jack Kitchin Alexander Korda (exec producer) |
| Starring | Burgess Meredith Kieron Moore |
| Cinematography | Wilkie Cooper |
| Edited by | Richard Best |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £295,000[1] |
| Box office | £158,734 (UK)[2] |
Plot
editFelix Milne (Meredith) is an overworked psychologist with psychological problems of his own. Molly Lucian seeks Milne's help in treating her husband Adam, traumatised from his experiences in a Japanese POW camp. Adam is about to become severely schizophrenic. To make matters worse, Felix finds his own home life deteriorating.
Cast
edit- Burgess Meredith as Felix Milne
- Kieron Moore as Adam Lucian
- Dulcie Gray as Patricia Milne
- Michael Shepley as Peter Edge
- Christine Norden as Barbara Edge
- Barbara White as Molly Lucian
- Walter Fitzgerald as Dr. Norris Pile
- Edgar Norfolk as Sir George Freethorne
- John Laurie as Dr. James Garsten
- Martin Miller as Dr. Hans Tautz
- Clive Morton as Robert Paston
- Joss Ambler as Julian Briant
- Jack Raine as Inspector Pierce
- Laurence Hanray as Dr. Lefage
- Helen Haye as Lady Maresfield
- John Stuart as Dr. John Hayling
Production
editThe American actor Burgess Meredith was cast in the lead. At the same time, his wife Paulette Goddard was also hired by Alexander Korda to appear in An Ideal Husband (1947).[4]
Australian Frederic Hilton worked as technical adviser.[5]
Reception
editThe New York Times noted a "serious, adult and highly interesting film drama both in point of view and execution," singling out the work of writer Balchin, director Kimmins, and producer Korda, alongside stars Burgess Meredith and Kieron Moore.[6]
As of 30 June 1949, the film had earned £143,632 in the UK of which £101,963 went to the producer.[1]
The film was picketed on its US release by the Sons of Liberty, an anti-British group active at the time.[7] The picketing was part of the group's call to boycott British films and products, and had little to do with Mine Own Executioner itself.
References
edit- ^ a b Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 354
- ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Mine Own Executioner". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- ^ "British Film News 17-YEARS-OLD OPHELIA FOR SCREEN "HAMLET"". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 15 May 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ "English Studios Didn't Surprise Mr. Meredith". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 15 June 1947. p. 13 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUNDAY TIMES. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ W, -- a (19 January 1949). "Another Cinema Psychological Study" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "UK bitter at US picketing of films". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 21 August 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
External links
edit- Mine Own Executioner at IMDb
- Review of film at Variety