This week’s mystery movie has been the 1945 Ealing Studios film “Dead of Night,” a supernatural thriller consisting of five separate stories and a sixth story that ties them together. Robert Osborne mentioned it recently in introducing “Went the Day Well?” and fortunately I had a copy in the archives thanks to my binge recording of (almost) everything on TCM before 1960.
The film opened in Los Angeles at the Four Star Theater in August 1946.
The Times’ Edwin Schallert said:
The picture will prove intriguing for those who are willing to “reach” for its purport and plot. However, it will perhaps have only an indifferent appeal for most audiences, unless they are caught by what might be termed its uniqueness….
In many ways, the feature carries less impact than the fine “March of Time” on atomic power, and the John Nesbitt “Passing Parade” about inventions that were due to hunches or accidents.
“Dead of Night” stars Mervyn Johns, Roland Culver, Frederick Valk, with Mary Merrall, Renee Gadd, Judy Kelly, Antony Baird, Miles Malleson, Robert Wyndham, Sally Ann Howes, Michael Allan, Googie Withers, Ralph Michael, Esme Percy, Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Peggy Bryan, Michael Redgrave, Hartley Power, Elisabeth Welch, Garry Marsh, Magda Kun and Allan Jeayes.
It was written by John Baines and Angus MacPhail with additional dialogue by T.E.B. Clarke, based on original stories by H.G. Wells, E.F. Benson, John Baines and Angus MacPhail. Music was by Georges Auric. The film’s segments were directed by Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer.
“Dead of Night” is available on DVD from Amazon (U.S.) paired with “Queen of Spades” or in a Region 2 DVD from Amazon UK at a better price.
For Monday, we have a couple of mysterious gents. Nice lamp.
Update: This is Robert Wyndham and Antony Baird (or Anthony Baird in imdb.)
And for Tuesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is a teenage Sally Ann Howes.
Please congratulate Mike Hawks, who identified the movie and one of Monday’s mystery guests.
And for Wednesday, we have this chap in wide lapels and a fashionably short necktie.
Update: This is Frederick Valk.
Please congratulate Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery guests), Jenny M (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest), Valley Dave (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest), dlhartzog (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery guest), Candy C (Tuesday’s mystery guest), LC (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Bob Hansen (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest). Bob notes: “Excellent film!” and indeed it is.
I wasn’t sure whom to run for Thursday. Should it be M.J., R.C., M.M. or G.W.? Then I recalled this chap in the British version of a newsboy cap. I would show his golfing partner, but he was a Monday mystery guest in January.
Update: This is Basil Radford. His golfing partner is Naunton Wayne, whom you may recall as a mystery guest in “The Hidden Room” earlier this year.
Please congratulate Julie Merholz (mystery movie and guests), Chrisbo (mystery movie and guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Rick (mystery movie and guests), Lee Ann Thom and Megan (mystery movie and guests), Valley Dave (mystery movie and guests) and Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guest).
And for Friday, we have a mystery guest and his charming little friend.
This is Michael Redgrave and his evil little pal, Hugo Fitch.
Please congratulate Mary Mallory (mystery movie and guests), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery golfer), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery golfer), Jenny M (Thursday’s mystery golfer), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery golfer), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery golfer) and Lee Ann, Thom and Megan (Thursday’s mystery golfer).
ladailymirror.com 
Albert Dekker standing?
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Interesting guess, but alas, no.
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Colin Clive?
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Interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Fred Clark, I hope.
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I’m sorry, but no.
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I’ve got it now. The man in the glasses is Franklin Pangborn.
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Alas, no. J. Pinkerton Snoopington is too well-known for a Monday.
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I figured ‘The Bank Dick’ was too easy, but a girl can try.
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A great scene. 🙂
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Dean Jagger
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Anthony Baird in DEAD OF NIGHT.
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John Lupton in agony
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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I’ll guess the bespectacled actor is Alan Napier . . .
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Interesting guess. But, alas, no.
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Nelson Leigh and Harry Dean Stanton in “Voice in the Mirror.”
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Interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Is that Susan Peters in Random Harvest?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Sally Ann Howes in Dead of Night.
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Monday: one-handed Robert Wyndham standing over Anthony Baird in “Hearse Driver” sequence of “Dead of Night.’
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Sally Ann Howes in Dead of Night.
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Tuesday’s lass is Sally Ann Howes
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Looks a bit like Barbara Bel Geddes on Tues – but I’m pretty sure it’s not her.
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Interesting guess. But alas, no.
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Sally Anne Howes says “I feel like singing”
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Today, Sally Ann Howes, Dead of Night?
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Sally Ann Howes on Tuesday.
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Dead of Night 1945 w/Sally Ann Howes, Michael Redgrave, Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers…
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On Tuesday it’s Sally Ann Howes, and the movie is Dead of Night from 1945. Excellent film!
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Frederick Valk
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Dead of Night 1945 with Sally Ann Howes, Patrick Aherne.
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My first instinct yesterday was that it was Sally Ann Howes in Dead of Night, but I second-guessed myself. Now I believe that I should have stuck with it. Today: Frederick Valk, Monday: Robert Wyndham and Michael Redgrave.
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Frederick Valk looking very intense.
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Frederick Valk.
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Frederick Valk today, Sally Ann Howes Tuesday, movie Dead of Night
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Dead of Night with Robert Wyndham for Monday, Sally Ann Howes for Tuesday, and Frederick Valk for Wednesday.
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Monday: I’m guessing it’s Patrick Aherne and Michael Redgrave. Tuesday: Sally Ann
Howes. Wednesday: Frederick Valk. Movie is the great “Dead of Night.”
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Frederick Valk in ‘Dead of Night’.
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Mervyn Johns, Roland Culver, Mary Merrall, Googie Withers, and Basil Radford.
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That’s Basil Radford. I was hoping for Miles Malleson (“Room for one more, sir.”)
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First name that popped into my head this a.m. was Basil Radford.
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Basil Radford
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Basil Radford is about to “tee” off.
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Basil Radford.
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Thursday’s ever-so-British sportsman is the great Basil Radford.
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That’s Hugo! (accompanied by Michael Redgrave)
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Yay! Michael Redgrave and dummy. The dummy is as scary as Otto in the von Stroheim film, THE GREAT GABBO.
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Friday’s mystery guest appears to be the gorgeous and talented Michael Redgrave. And is Tuesday’s mystery lady a young Sally Ann Howes? I’ve been looking at her face all these days to identify her.
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Michael Redgrave with his evil little friend.
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Michael Regrave and Hugo.
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Michael Redgrave and Mortimer Snerd’s English cousin in DEAD OF NIGHT (1945).
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I once combed through YouTube to find the best interpretation of Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” and my favorite was by Sally Anne Howes. She is still with us at 85.
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