Albert Finney's stunning performance is the reason to see Karel Reisz's tightly wound version of the Emlyn Williams play. Finney plays a diabolic young man who insinuates himself into the household of wealthy widow Mona Washbourne. He's soon her favorite and he soon has her wrapped around his demented finger. Things are further complicated by the fact that Washbourne's nubile daughter Susan Hampshire is smitten with the loony Finney. Deliberately paced but never boring, this film sets a grim tone from the get go and keeps it up throughout. Reisz and Finney produced and there's a creepy music score by Ron Grainer. The great Freddie Francis did the cinematography (his last for sixteen years, during which time he spent directing various horror films). Sheila Hancock plays Finney's pregnant girlfriend.
Review of Night Must Fall
