Cast a Dark Shadow
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
Written by Janet Green from a play by Green and John Creswell
1955/UK
Lewis Gilbert Productions/Angel Productions
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime Cohen Channel
Freda Jeffries: You may not be much of a catch, but, so help me, l love you.
It makes me so happy when I find a new film to love!
Dirk Bogarde is excellent, as usual, as Edward (‘Teddy’) Bare, an amoral fortune-hunting playboy who makes his living, or hopes to, by marrying wealthy women. Their age matters not to him. When an unknown will spoils his plans with regard to his elderly first wife Monica (Mona Washbourne), he must continue his quest.
This takes him to the seaside where he meets Freda Jeffries (Margaret Lockwood), who is not interested in being married for her money. But Teddy is also a facile liar and wedding bells are soon ringing. Unfortunately for him, Freda is in the relationship “pound for pound” and insists on keeping her money separate. The third woman he tries to catch in his web is Charlotte Young (Kay Walsh). It wouldn’t be fair to reveal more of the story.
This is a beautifully photographed late noir and the cast and script are both fantastic. Bogarde’s face is so wonderful. It is extremely expressive but also does the empty dead-eyed gaze of pure evil amazingly well. Recommended.
Restoration trailer
