ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

LeonLouisRicci Late Film-Noir from Britain Starring a Stellar Cast (Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lockwood, and Kay Walsh) and Directed by the More Than Competent Lewis Gilbert, with the Cinematography by the Always Interesting and Hammer Regular John Asher.While Our Friends Across the Pond Struggled Somewhat in Delivering Quintessential Film-Noir, it Wasn't for Lack of Trying. It Just Seems that the Noir Genre, was Creatively More at Home in Hollywood Portraying the Inner Cities of the USA.Anyway, This is a Wholly Enjoyable, Well Acted, and Engaging Story of a Beautiful, Boyish, Homicidal, Homosexual, Madman Played by the Charming Bogarde. His Looks and Demeanor Help the Odd Fellow Attract the Aging Lonely Hearts Type, Although Beneath It All He is Clearly Looney Tunes.He Tries Hard to Manage His New Prey (Lockwood), After He's Done Away With His First Wife and Found That Her Will has Left Him Out Without a Pound. But She is Having None of It and This is Where the Film Intrigues and Explodes Into Confrontations and a Battle of Wits.Some Do Not Like the Contrived Ending, but Certainly Getting There is All the Fun. After a Stunning Opening at an Amusement Park that is Visually Quite Startling and Different, the Movie Retreats to the Drawing Room Most of the Time. A Bit Stagy but the Dialog and the Things Going On and About the Stuffy Mansion are Noirish and it's All Done with a Sarcastic Sting.

wes-connors Learning she's about to change her will, handsome young Dirk Bogarde (as Edward Bare) decides to dispose of his wealthy older wife. What he doesn't know is that rich Mona Washbourne (as Monica Bare) intends to leave him her money as well as her property. Left with a fine mansion and doting maid Kathleen Harrison (as Emmie), but no funding, Mr. Bogarde goes out to read a muscle magazine in public and arouses well-heeled Margaret Lockwood (as Freda Jeffries). Although she adores Bogarde, Ms. Lockwood is not generous with her cash. Looking for greener pastures, Bogarde turns to house-hunting Kay Walsh (as Charlotte Young)...This British melodrama gets more predictable and silly as time goes by, but is immensely enjoyable throughout. Adding suspicious lawyer Robert Flemyng (as Phillip Mortimer) to the above mentioned, director Lewis Gilbert gets engaging performances from Bogarde and company. The interplay between Bogarde, Lockwood and housekeeper Harrison is especially satisfying. Listen for British pop singer Lita Roza to sing "Leave Me Alone", a bluesy and appropriate theme song. Helping it live up to the title, cinematographer Jack Asher photographs "Cast a Dark Shadow" in beautiful black-and-white.******** Cast a Dark Shadow (9/20/55) Lewis Gilbert ~ Dirk Bogarde, Margaret Lockwood, Kay Walsh, Kathleen Harrison

kingrahl Cast a dark shadow is perhaps the most underrated film ever made. Margret Lockwood and Dick Bogarde give two Oscar winning performances in thins surprisingly dark thriller. Edward Bare is a man who has suffered great tragedy. When his wife suddenly passes away, Edward strives to find comfort and contentment where ever he possibly can. He finds such grace within the arms of Freda Jeffries, a middle aged widow who is looking for love after the death of her late husband. The two characters become entangled with one another. They need each other in a sense. Freda for the majority of the film comes off as snobbish and stubborn, but towards the end we learn that her Behavior is simply a defense against her own insecurities. This characterization i found to be very appealing. Margret Lockwood truly does manage to captivate with her multilayer performance. As the film continues, we dove deep into the mind of Edward Bear. the film portrays him as a charming, but damaged man. He is a man who seems to be trapped emotionally. He murdered his wife because she would not include him in her will, or so it seemed. To spite his monstrous act, Edward still feels great love towards his first wife. He even preserves the room she died in in her honor. His mind seems to be quit warped. In someways, Mister bear is a less extreme version of Norman Bates, who also could not let go of the past. The film never attempts to drag and always meets its mark. Edward bear eventually becomes quite mad when his former sister in law comes back into his life. the contempt he feels for her runs strong throughout the remaining scenes of the film. I must note that Margret Lockwood character remains quite clueless throughout the film and does not discover the true character of her husband until the final moments. Even then she still remains faithful and loyal to a husband who never cared for her, Who planned her demise and nearly carried his evil scheme out. Sadly, this film does end quite tragically. Irony plays a large hand within the conclusion. Edward bear manages to destroy himself in the end. Their is a certain Shakespearean air to this film and that is why i give it nine stars. The writing was great and the acting and directing even greater. This film deserves great praise and i highly recommend it.

blanche-2 Interesting. Until reading these comments, I hadn't realized that this originally was a play in which the lead woman had a dual role - that of victim and nemesis. Interesting because a 1970's "Thriller" episode, "Coffin for the Bride" starring Helen Mirren reminded me very much of this film, "Cast a Dark Shadow" - except that in this case, the star is the male character, and in "Coffin," the star, of course, is Mirren. Nevertheless, "Coffin" seems to have had its roots in this work.The film concerns a younger man married to an older woman who meets her demise earlier than planned due to the fact that, while drunk, her husband misinterprets her intentions regarding a new will. He thinks he's about to be cut out, when in fact, she wants her new will to disinherit her sister and give him even more. He finds out his mistake too late. Never one to dwell on the past, he very soon picks up with a wealthy widow, but though she's in love with him and marries him, she has his number and he can't get his way with her money. Frustrated, he picks up with an attractive, sympathetic, and - need it be said - monied woman looking for real estate in the area.There are some wonderful performances in this film. Dirk Bogarde is a very attractive, if a somewhat obvious slimeball, in a role that has gay overtones with his love of muscle magazines. The real star role belongs to Margaret Lockwood as his lower class wife. She's fantastic with her overly made up face, the cigarette dangling from her hand, her crass voice and her loud laugh. Can this be the sweet young thing of "The Lady Vanishes?" Others in the cast are Mona Washbourne as Bogarde's victim, Robert Flemyng as her suspicious lawyer, Kay Walsh as Bogarde's next target, and Elizabeth Harrison as the maid, who gives a totally believable performance while staying in the background.Unfortunately I guessed the entire plot, including the twist ending, having figured out early on its resemblance to the Thriller episode. However, if you lack that knowledge, you will probably enjoy it even more.