Grand National Night
Encyclopedia
Grand National Night is a 1953 British
thriller brought to the screen by George Minter under the production of Phil C. Samuel from a play by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was directed by Bob McNaught and starred Nigel Patrick
, Moira Lister
and Beatrice Campbell
(Patricks' wife) with support from Michael Hordern
, Noel Purcell
and a cameo role from Colin Gordon
. Cinematography was by Jack Asher
. Previous to this film version Grand National Night had been presented as a BBC Radio serial as well as a stage play.
) kills his wife Babs (Moira Lister
) during an argument.
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
thriller brought to the screen by George Minter under the production of Phil C. Samuel from a play by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was directed by Bob McNaught and starred Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
, Moira Lister
Moira Lister
Moira Lister de Gachassin-Lafite, Vicomtesse d’Orthez was an Anglo-South African film, stage and television actress, and writer.-Early life:...
and Beatrice Campbell
Beatrice Campbell
Beatrice Campbell was a British stage and film actress. She was born in County Down, Northern Ireland.-Career:After a distinguished London stage career, Campbell entered film in the mid-1940s...
(Patricks' wife) with support from Michael Hordern
Michael Hordern
Sir Michael Murray Hordern was an English actor, knighted in 1983 for his services to the theatre, which stretched back to before the Second World War.-Personal life:...
, Noel Purcell
Noel Purcell (actor)
Noel Purcell was an Irish film and television actor.-Career:Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea....
and a cameo role from Colin Gordon
Colin Gordon
Colin Gordon was a British actor born in Ceylon .He was educated at Marlborough College and Christ Church, Oxford. He made his first West End appearance in 1934 as the hind legs of a horse in a production of “Toad of Toad Hall”. From 1936 to 1939 he was a director with the Fred Melville Repertory...
. Cinematography was by Jack Asher
Jack Asher
For the shinty player and referee, see Jack Asher Jack Asher B.S.C. was an English cinematographer...
. Previous to this film version Grand National Night had been presented as a BBC Radio serial as well as a stage play.
Plot
Racehorse Trainer Gerald Coates (Nigel PatrickNigel Patrick
Nigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
) kills his wife Babs (Moira Lister
Moira Lister
Moira Lister de Gachassin-Lafite, Vicomtesse d’Orthez was an Anglo-South African film, stage and television actress, and writer.-Early life:...
) during an argument.
Cast
- Nigel PatrickNigel PatrickNigel Patrick was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.-Biography:...
as Gerald Coates - Moira ListerMoira ListerMoira Lister de Gachassin-Lafite, Vicomtesse d’Orthez was an Anglo-South African film, stage and television actress, and writer.-Early life:...
as Babs Coates - Beatrice CampbellBeatrice CampbellBeatrice Campbell was a British stage and film actress. She was born in County Down, Northern Ireland.-Career:After a distinguished London stage career, Campbell entered film in the mid-1940s...
as Joyce Penrose - Betty Ann DaviesBetty Ann Davies-Selected filmography:* My Old Duchess * Death at Broadcasting House * Mountains O'Mourne * It Always Rains on Sunday * Escape * The Passionate Friends * Grand National Night...
as Pinkie Collins - Michael HordernMichael HordernSir Michael Murray Hordern was an English actor, knighted in 1983 for his services to the theatre, which stretched back to before the Second World War.-Personal life:...
as Inspector Ayling - Noel PurcellNoel Purcell (actor)Noel Purcell was an Irish film and television actor.-Career:Purcell began his show business career at the age of 12 in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre. Later, he toured Ireland in a vaudeville act with Jimmy O'Dea....
as Philip Balfour - Leslie MitchellLeslie Mitchell (broadcaster)Leslie Mitchell , was famous in the United Kingdom as the first voice heard on BBC Television at its inception on 2 November 1936, and also for making the first announcement on Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV company, on 22 September 1955...
as Jack Donovan - Barry MacKayBarry MacKay (actor)Barry MacKay was a British actor.He was most prominently seen in light comedic roles in the British cinema of the 1930s and is perhaps best known as Jessie Matthews' leading man in Evergreen , Gangway and Sailing Along .Other notable roles include Lieutenant Somerville in Brown on Resolution and...
as Sergeant Gibson - Colin GordonColin GordonColin Gordon was a British actor born in Ceylon .He was educated at Marlborough College and Christ Church, Oxford. He made his first West End appearance in 1934 as the hind legs of a horse in a production of “Toad of Toad Hall”. From 1936 to 1939 he was a director with the Fred Melville Repertory...
as Buns Darling - Gibb McLaughlinGibb McLaughlinGibb McLaughlin was an English film actor. He appeared in 118 films between 1921 and 1959. He was born in Sunderland, England and died in London, England.-Selected filmography:* The Road to London...
as Morton - Richard Grayden as Chandler
- May HallattMay Hallatt-Selected filmography:* Important People * The Lambeth Walk * Black Narcissus * The Spider and the Fly * Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue * Dangerous Afternoon * Bitter Harvest...
as Hoskyns - George Sequira as George
- Ernest Jay as Railway Official
- Russell WatersRussell WatersRussell Waters was a Scottish film actor.Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the Old English Comedy and Shakespeare Company then appeared in repertory theatre, at the Old Vic and in the West End. On screen Waters generally...
as Plainclothes Detective