| Incident at Midnight | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Norman Harrison |
| Written by | Arthur La Bern |
| Based on | a short story by Edgar Wallace |
| Produced by | Jack Greenwood |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | Derek Holding |
| Music by | Bernard Ebbinghouse |
| Production company | Merton Park Studios |
| Distributed by | Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 56 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Incident at Midnight is a 1963 British crime film directed by Norman Harrison and starring Anton Diffring, William Sylvester and Justine Lord. It was written by Arthur La Bern adapted from an Edgar Wallace's short story, and was made at Merton Park Studios as part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries.
Plot
Old Dr. Schroeder, who has been struck off, attends a late night chemist every night for a prescription, and to observe Dr. Leichner, an ex-Nazi war criminal who has taken a new identity. Leichner has a blonde wife, and a blonde mistress, who is blackmailing him. He is also involved in a drug scam involving two lockers and two keys, and aims to become a millionaire selling drugs. Meanwhile, a wounded bank robber has been taken to the dispensary for treatment, and to rendezvous with his gang leader. Dr. Schroeder finds himself attending to the robber's injuries.
Cast
- Anton Diffring as Dr. Erik Leichner
- William Sylvester as Vince Warren
- Justine Lord as Diane Graydon
- Martin Miller as Dr. Schroeder
- Tony Garnett as Brennan
- Philip Locke as Foster
- Sylva Langova as Vivienne Leichner
- Warren Mitchell as chemist
- Jacqueline Jones as Vanessa Palmer
- Peter Howell as Inspector Macready
- Oliver MacGreevy as Wilkinson
- David Futcher as Whitehead
- Clifford Earl as sergeant
- Geoffrey Palmer as Dr. Tanfield
- Derek Partridge as detective
- Fred Beauman as policeman
- Mike Moyer as policeman
- Roland Curram as soldier
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An all-night chemist is at least a novel setting for a crime drama. Often vague, despite the final clarification, it is quite adequately played. Despite the billing, William Sylvester has only a small, inconsequential role."
Sky Movies wrote that the "harsh black-and-white photography effectively catches the bleak, claustrophobic atmosphere of the all-night chemist's in which some of the drama is set."
Leonard Maltin rated it two stars, calling it a "trim yarn."
References
- "Incident at Midnight". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- "» EDGAR WALLACE AT MERTON PARK – by Tise Vahimagi".
- "Incident at Midnight". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 48. 1 January 1963 – via ProQuest.
- "Incident at Midnight".
- Maltin, Leonard (29 September 2015). Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965: Third Edition. Penguin. ISBN 9780698197299 – via Google Books.