Home at Seven (1952)

Ralph Richardson arrives home from work at seven as he does every day, where he finds his wife Margaret Leighton sobbing. When she shows him the newspaper, it hits him: it's not Monday evening but Tuesday evening! He's been missing for an entire day, and he has no recollection of where he's been. While trying to figure out what happened with family doctor Jack Hawkins, they get news that the safe of Richardson's social club has been robbed, and a steward at the club murdered. Inspector Campbell Singer is investigating and all clues seem to lead to Richardson...Based on a play by R.C. Sheriff (and inspired by personal experiences) that also starred Richardson ('The Fallen Idol'), this is the sole movie that he directed. Which is quite a remarkable feat as he's in almost every scene. He does a very nice job tho, both in front of and behind the camera. He gives a great restrained performance and Leighton ('The Good Die Young') is perfectly cast as his wife. Together they make one of the sweetest couples I've seen lately, with some very touching scenes (esp the one where he tries to prepare her for life without him, while having tea and toast). The resolution of Richardson's predicament is quite satisfying and also adds depth to the movie and Richardson's psyche. It also shows how an innocent little white lie between husband and wife (and this one really is innocent), can have grave consequences... Richardson's directing and the camera work by Jack Hilyard ('The Bridge On The River Kwai') and Edward Scaife ('Night of The Demon') is straight-forward and devoid of flourishes but efficient and solid. It's not the most exciting movie ever made as it is primarily dialogue-driven, but it's a good uber-British stiff upper lip take on an amnesia noir thriller, with excellent and touching performances by Richardson and Leighton. Recommended. 7/10

No one could portray the ordinary man plunged into extraordinary circumstances quite like Ralph Richardson. This movie may not appear on any best movie lists but believe me, every performer contributes to make this a gem. The whimsical opening, the tinkling music, Ralph Richardson's fussy little suburban 9 to 5 office worker masks it's genre - I initially thought it was a comedy but within minutes you are thrown into the dramatic world of amnesia. David Preston is always home at seven but tonight his hysterical wife falls into his arms, Richardson lulling the viewer into a false sense of security just by his look of disbelief. Janet is frantic - she hadn't seen him since he left for work - the day before!! She has already called the police and consulted their concerned Dr. Sparling (Jack Hawkins) who, when he examines David finds he really has no idea about the last lost day. Jack Hawkins is just terrific - he just never doubts David's story and looks at things in a logical manner. Into this mix comes darker elements, David's neighbour, an old colonel pops over to inquire if David has the treasury funds that one of the other club members saw him holding last night. This shadowy, mysterious member (who David has developed a real hatred for) has lost no time in hurrying to the neighbour's house to inform on him. A short time later the man's body is found on some waste ground...but where is the money???So many tantalizing tit bits so beloved by British "little" movies turn up. When Janet rings up David's work she is informed that his working day finishes at 5 - not 6, so where does he go for that hour (a perfectly innocent reason). Then when things get grim and a solicitor is called in, Janet has to confess that in reality they are poor - David has been paying back money over the years that his father absconded with. Margaret Leighton matches Richardson in intensity and emotion. From her first appearance she is keyed up to fever pitch and her quavering edginess never leaves her. She is brilliant.Among the memorable scenes - the one where David reveals his true feelings about the mystery member, Richardson has you believing that's the way he really feels - to listen to his emotion was really unsettling. Another, when David realises that he may soon face prison, he tries to organise his business affairs in a calm and rational manner, all the while Janet's nerves are being strung to breaking point and then they plan to spend the evening at the pictures!!Such a tribute to Richardson's acting, he never drops his character for a moment - even at the very end when everything has been settled, you know he doesn't really understand what has happened and will always be wondering about that missing day!!Just brilliant!

Taking a look at UK DVD company Network during their Christmas sale for titles that I could watch with my dad over the X-Mas season,I spotted a Film Noir that I remembered reading a good review for in Empire magazine,which mentioned that this was the lone movie that British actor Ralph Richardson directed,which led to me setting my clock so I could get home and watch the title at 7.The plot:Returning home,banker David Preston starts talking to his wife Janet about how work went.Stopping David in the middle of his stories,Janet asks David where he has been,due to having been away from home (and at work) for an entire day.Telling Janet that he does not know what she is talking about,David picks up the newspaper,and is shocked to discover that he has missed an entire day.Trying to piece together what took place,David finds himself unable to remember anything that happened on his lost day.As he tries to make sense of what has taken place,the police discovery that a member of David's private members club has been found murdered,and that the entire savings of the club have mysteriously disappeared.View on the film:Before I get to the movie,I have to mention that Network have given the title a superb transfer,with the picture being pin-stripe sharp and every forgotten footstep from David being clear to hear. For his lone shot behind the camera, Ralph Richardson (joined by Assistant Director/future Bond director Guy Hamilton) keeps the movie close to its stage roots,as long,stilted takes peel away at David's anxiety over the events that took place.Whilst he does keep things grounded,Richardson boils up a classy Film Noir atmosphere,as elegant low-lighting brightens the fragments of David's memory.Taking R.C. Sheriff's play from the stage to the screen, Anatole de Grunwald gives David & Janet a perfect image,which gradually fractures as David tries to regain his memory.Calming opening up David's "perfect" image, Grunwald casts David off into a shattered post-war Film Noir world,with a wonderfully left-field twist allowing David's PTSD nightmare to be shown in raw daylight. Appearing prim and proper, Richardson gives a great performance as David,whose mild-manner behaviour is given a sharp sense of doubt by Richardson,as David fails to get home at 7.

A long forgotten British film, that has David Preston ( Ralph Richardson) as a lowly bank clerk, who returns home, as usual, only to be told by his wife, that he has been missing for 24 hours.He slowly starts to come to terms with what has happened, only to find out that the steward of his local club has been murdered, and that he has been implicated. Margaret Leighton as his wife, and Campbell Singer,as the police inspector give good support. I find these films from 40's and 50's fascinating, as they show a way of life that has long since disappeared.