Windom's Way
| Windom's Way | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ronald Neame |
| Produced by |
John Bryan John Hawkesworth executive Earl St. John |
| Written by | Jill Craigie |
| Based on | novel by James Ramsey Ullman |
| Starring | Peter Finch |
| Music by | James Bernard |
| Cinematography | Christopher Challis |
| Edited by | Reginald Mills |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Rank |
Release dates | December 1957 |
Running time | 108 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Windom's Way is a 1957 British thriller film directed by Ronald Neame set during the Malayan Emergency. It was nominated for four British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards in 1958.[1]
Cast
Main cast
- Peter Finch as Alec Windom
- Mary Ure as Lee Windom
- Natasha Parry as Anna Vidal
- Robert Flemyng as Colonel George Hasbrook
- Michael Hordern as Patterson
- Grégoire Aslan as Mayor Lollivar
Supporting cast
- John Cairney as Jan Vidal
- Marne Maitland as Commissioner Belhedron
- George Margo as Police Officer Lansang
- Kurt Siegenberg as Kosti
Cameo/Uncredited cast
- Martin Benson as Samcar, Rebel Commander
- Sanny Bin Hussan as Father Amyan
- Burt Kwouk as Father Amyan's Aide
- Olaf Pooley as Colonel Lupat
- John A. Tinn as Patrol Leader
Production
The film was based on a novel by James Ramsey Ullman. Film rights to Windom's Way were bought by Carl Foreman, who wrote the script. He sold the rights to this and two others to Earl St John of Rank Film Productions. The script was rewritten and 'Anglicized' by Anthony Perry. Perry's draft was considered too "political" and was rewritten by Jill Craigie to be softened. However the resulting work was considerably more left wing than Rank's other colonial war films of this time such as The Planter's Wife and Simba.[2]
Ronald Neame had just left The Seventh Sin (1957) during production. He was contacted by his old producing partner John Bryan who suggested Neame make Windom's Way with Peter Finch.
"It was not a successful picture, I'm afraid," said Neame later. "I think it fell between two stools, neither politically profound nor exciting enough as an action film. John just liked the book very much and I would have directed anything to get back to the studios again."[3]
Finch made the film immediately after returning from Australia where he made Robbery Under Arms. Part of the location shoot took place in Corsica.[4]
References
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052398/awards
- ↑ British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference by Sue Harper, Vincent Porter Oxford University Press, 2003 p 43-45
- ↑ Brian McFarlane, Autobiography of British Cinema p 433
- ↑ BRITISH SCREEN SCENE.: Televised Feature Results in Lawsuit --New Projects--Bright Inventory Work in Progress "Comeback" Rebuttal By STEPHEN WATTS. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 23 June 1957: 93.
External links
- Windom's Way at the Internet Movie Database
- Windom's Way at TCMDB
- Windom' Way at Colonial Film
- New York Times review of film
- Variety review of film