Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

Dawson In Villain Role Being an actor himself, Anthony Bushell, who directed "The Long Dark Hall," which will open at the Theatre, is a very shrewd judge of actors and their potentialities, so although his casting might at times seem unconventional, his hunches usually come off. When Bushell cast Anthony Dawson as "the Man" who is in fact the murderer in "The Long Dark Hall," there were a number of raised eyebrows in the front office, because Dawson had never tackled a role of that nature before. Once the first rushes of Dawson's work had been seen it became clear that the director's hunch had paid off again. From the appearance point of view Dawson as "The Man" might almost be called type casting: well over six feet tall with intense eyes and a mobile, expressive face, he gives the murderer the uncanny combination of charm and madness which Nunnally Johnson's screenplay called for. From his own point of view, the role in "The Long Dark Hall" Dawson claims, is exactly the type he has tried to land for a long time. "The Long Dark Hall" stars Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer. Mat 2C Stills LDH-69A-70A Patricia Wayne turns, terrified to find a killer stalking in her room. Scene is from the Rex Harrison-Lillie Palmer starrer, "The Long Dark Hall," which opens at the Theatre. Famous Author Johnson Scripts 'Long Dark Hall' One of Hollywood's foremost writer-producers, Nunnally Johnson is the author of the screenplay for the first Rex Harrison-Lilli Palmer picture in five years, a drama of murder, love and deception, "The Long Dark Hall," which will open at the Theatre. THE CAST Arthur Croome REX HARRISON Mary Croome LILLI PALMER The Man ANTHONY DAWSON Sir Charles Morton DENNIS O DEA Rose Mallory PATRICIA WAYNE Chief Inspector Sullivan RAYMOND HUNTLEY THE CREDITS Peter Cusick presents Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer in "The Long Dark Hall" with Denis O'Dea and Raymond Huntley. Screenplay by Nunally Johnson. Directed by Anthony Bushell and Reginald Beck. Produced by Peter Cusick. A Huntington Hartford Production. Released through Eagle Lion. THE STORY (Mot for publication) When Arthur Groome's (Rex Harrison) girl friend (Patricia Wayne is murdered by a maniacal killer (Anthony Dawson), Groome is accused of the crime and stands trial. His wife (Lilli Palmer), although shaken by his unfaithfulness, stands by him and believes in his innocence. The jury finds him guilty and he is sentenced to be hanged. However, unknown to the killer, who writes an incriminating letter to Inspector Sullivan (Raymond Huntley), Groome has a stay of execution. The killer is traced through his letter and Groome is freed. Kind Killer Making a strong bid for the title of the "most understanding murderer in films" is a six foot three inches, 34 year old Anthony Dawson. In Peter Cusick's "The Long Dark Hall," which Eagle Lion Classics is releasing this at the Theatre, starring Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, he plays the man who commits the murder for which Rex Harrison stands trial. Directors Anthony Bushell and Reginald Beck were very happy about Dawson's performance which they said "gives an especially spine-chilling quality to his charming approach to murder." It is entirely possible that "The Long Dark Hall" will prove the turning point in the career of this talented actor who trained race horses and studied music before he finally took up acting. Johnson, whose script so impressed Harrison and Palmer that they accepted the roles without a moment's hesitation, started work as a reporter on his hometown newspaper in Columbus, Georgia. After service in the first world war he went to New York where he ran a column on the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Later he worked for the New York, Herald Tribune and the Evening Post as a colunmist. He was also successful as a short story writer. Over one hundred of his stories appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and other famous magazines. He first entered films as a writer when he was assigned by Paramount to write "A Bedtime Story" for Maurice Chevalier. In 1933 he joined Fox Films where he wrote a succession of topranking pictures including "Cardinal Richelieu," "Thanks a Million," "Grapes of Wrath" and "Tobacco Road." By now he had abandoned fiction writing and devoted all his time and talent to films. From 1942 onwards Nunnally Johnson produced as well as wrote for films, his successes in this field including "The Pied Piper," "The Moon is Down," "Holy Matrimony," "The Woman in the Window," and "Three Came Home." Recently he produced "The Mudlark." Busiest Lady Title Goes to Lilli Palmer One of the busiest people in the entertainment world these days is lovely Lilli Palmer who is currently co-starring with her husband Rex Harrison in a poignant drama, "The Long Dark Hall," which will open at the Theatre. In addition to her film work, Miss Palmer has her own television show which requires many hours of rehearsal plus her role in the Broadway hit, "Bell Book and Candle," in which she also co-stars with her actor-husband. "The Long Dark Hall," which is being released by Eagle Lion Classics, tells the story of a man tried for a murder which he didn't commit. Although the murder and subsequent trial show that this respectable married man had been unfaithful, his wife (Miss Palmer's role) not only forgives him but is determined to prove his innocence. Mat 1A Still LDH-BA Lilli Palmer is cast as the wife of an unfaithful man who stands trial for murder, in the new film, "The Long Dark Hall," which opens at the Theatre. Rex Harrison co-stars. Page Four "LONG DARK HALL" Eagle Lion Section