“Nuclear Nightmare”
By Raymond Benson
It was a surprise to discover this engaging, tightly-written and directed thriller—released in 1950!—about a possible nuclear nightmare taking place in London. In fact, the film was awarded the Oscar for Best Story (back when that category still existed). The writers were Paul Dehn and James Bernard.
The Boulting Brothers (identical twins!) were a sort of British Coen Brothers at the time, having made numerous quality movies from the late 1930s to the 1970s, usually directing separately. Seven Days to Noon is the only picture on which both brothers are credited as directors.
While the tale is fiction (and based on a novel), it plays as if it’s a true story. A brilliant nuclear physicist, Professor Willingdon (Barry Jones) has written a letter to the Prime Minister, saying that he’s stolen one of the suitcase-sized nuclear bombs from the British weapons development facility,...
By Raymond Benson
It was a surprise to discover this engaging, tightly-written and directed thriller—released in 1950!—about a possible nuclear nightmare taking place in London. In fact, the film was awarded the Oscar for Best Story (back when that category still existed). The writers were Paul Dehn and James Bernard.
The Boulting Brothers (identical twins!) were a sort of British Coen Brothers at the time, having made numerous quality movies from the late 1930s to the 1970s, usually directing separately. Seven Days to Noon is the only picture on which both brothers are credited as directors.
While the tale is fiction (and based on a novel), it plays as if it’s a true story. A brilliant nuclear physicist, Professor Willingdon (Barry Jones) has written a letter to the Prime Minister, saying that he’s stolen one of the suitcase-sized nuclear bombs from the British weapons development facility,...
- 11/5/2019
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Is this movie ground zero for Atom-fear science fiction? The Boulting Brothers assemble the very first movie about a nuclear terror plot, without cutting corners or wimping out. The incredibly dry, civilized André Morell must track down a rogue scientist who threatens to nuke London; the entire city must be evacuated. Barry Jones is the meek boffin with a bomb in his satchel. The impressively produced thriller won an Oscar for Best Story; it’s practically a template for the ‘docu-real’ approach of the first Quatermass films. It’s also the link between ordinary postwar thriller intrigues and the high-powered, science fiction- styled terrors to come.
Seven Days to Noon
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1950 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date November 5, 2019 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Barry Jones, Olive Sloane, André Morell, Sheila Manahan, Hugh Cross, Joan Hickson, Ronald Adam, Marie Ney, Wyndham Goldie, Russell Waters, Martin Boddey,...
Seven Days to Noon
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1950 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date November 5, 2019 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Barry Jones, Olive Sloane, André Morell, Sheila Manahan, Hugh Cross, Joan Hickson, Ronald Adam, Marie Ney, Wyndham Goldie, Russell Waters, Martin Boddey,...
- 11/2/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
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