Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

Mat 2B Still LDH-15A Lilli Palmer, whose husband is on trial for murder, is confronted by the real killer in this scene from "The Long Dark Hall," which is coming this to the Theatre. Rex Harrison is cast as her husband. Anthony Dawson plays the part of the murderer. Directs and Performs For 'Long Dark Hall' Anthony Bushell claims that he should have collected double salary for his work in the Rex Harrison-Lilli Palmer starrer, "The Long Dark Hall," which is scheduled to open at the Theatre through Eagle Lion Classics release. Not only did he serve as co-director of the picture with Reginald Beck, but he played the role of Rex Harrison's attorney when Harrison is brought to trial for the murder of a chorus girl. Bushell has appeared in many stage and film hits on both sides of the Atlantic, having come here with the British "Journey's End" company and remaining for several years. After making many films in Hollywood he returned to England where he appeared in such pictures as "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Dark Journey." Mat IB Still LDH-P33A Patricia Wayne is featured in "The Long Dark Hall," coming to the Theatre. Olivier's Assistant While with Laurence Olivier as co-director of "Hamlet," he met and formed the partnership with Reginald Beck. It was also Beck's "Hamlet" work that inspired producer Peter Cusick to use a similar co-directorial setup for "The Long Dark Hall." Reginald Beck's approach to film production is almost scientific. He is also second to none in his knowledge of the camera, film cutting and film editing possibilities. He visualizes the pictorial aspect of every scene, leaving his co-director free to concentrate on the actors' performances (in this case including that of the co-director!) 'Hall' Here The story of a rather staid, married man who strays from the set path of domesticity and falls in love with a chorus girl is the moving tale of Peter Cusick's drama, "The jong Dark Hall." Reuniting Rex Harrison and his actress wife, Lilli Palmer on the screen, "The "-.ong Dark Hall," an Eagle Lion Classics release will open at the Theatre. Writer-producer Nunnally Johnson adapted Edgar Lustgarten's novel to the screen. Anthony Bushell, who plays a featured role in the "picture co-directed with Reginald Beck. The last time Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer were co-starred in a picture was five years ago in "The Notorious Gentleman." Reunited Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, who were last seen together on the screen five years ago in the picture "The Notorious Gentleman," are reunited once again in Peter Cusick's drama of a man involved in murder and an indiscreet love affair, "The Long Dark Hall," which will be shown this at the Theatre. Success Although a number of British producers had tried to lure Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer to make another picture at British studios (their last was "The Notorious Gentleman," made five years ago) it was an American, Peter Cusick who succeeded in doing so. The picture, "The Long Dark Hall," which tells of a man's indiscretion and how it backfired by involving him in a murder trial, will open at the Theatre. Palmer Stars Lilli Palmer plays the role of a woman who not only forgives her husband for having been indiscreet with a chorus girl, but fights furiously to prove his innocence when he is tried for the girl's murder, in Peter Cusick's "The Long Dark Hall," which will open at the Theatre. Rex Harrison, Miss Palmer's husband off-screen, is cast as the erring spouse in the film, and this is their first co-starring picture in five years. Easy Does It Lilli Palmer's first two days of shooting for "The Long Dark Hall," in which she stars with her husband Rex Harrison which opens at the Theatre were exceedingly comfortable ones. She spent them in bed! The scene showed Rex Harrison's return home after he has found his girl friend murdered and all Lilli had to do was call to him from her bed. Movie Cop Has a Heart For Accused A policeman with a heart is Raymond Huntley's role in "The Long Dark Hall," Peter Cusick's drama of a man unjustly accused of murder, which will open at the Theatre. Without suggesting that the average policeman has no heart, Inspector Sullivan is unconventional for at least one reason— he is not convinced that the evidence he unearths during his investigation into the murder of a chorus girl is right. It points clearly to the guilt of a man whom he does not consider "to be the type" for the crime in question. Nevertheless, clues and evidence being what they are, he has to follow the case through to its logical conclusion and make the arrest, but he is far from happy about it. Raymond Huntley has had so many distinguished performances chalked up to his credit that it would be difficult to single out any one of them as being more outstanding than the rest and it would be difficult to single any one in whatever role he is cast he is sure to play it with polish and conviction. Two of his most recent and memorable performances have been that of the bank manager in "Passport to Pimlico" and the bad-tempered tuberculosis sufferer in "Sanatorium" an episode in W. Somerset Maugham's "Trio." Starring in "The Long Dark Hall," which Eagle Lion is releasing, are Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer. Nunnally Johnson wrote the screenplay. Same Set When Rex Harrison made his last film in England, "Escape," he stood in the dock of the Old Bailey (Criminal Courts Building), accused of murder. In "The Long Dark Hall," opening .... at the Theatre, in which he co-stars with his wife, Lilli Palmer, he again stands in the prisoner's dock of the famous court. Although the stories of the two films are entirely different, the dock was the same, being a set that has been seen in a number of films. The prison garb in which Harrison is seen in a later scene has been worn by him before also in "Escape." Anthony Bushell and Reginald Beck directed "The Long Dark Hall" which Peter Cusick produced. Eagle Lion Section "LONG DARK HALL" Page Five