Hell is Empty is a 1967 British crime film directed by Bernard Knowles and John Ainsworth, and starring Martine Carol, Anthony Steel, Shirley Anne Field and James Robertson Justice.[1][2]
| Hell Is Empty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Ainsworth Bernard Knowles |
| Screenplay by | John Ainsworth |
| Based on | a screenplay by Bernard Knowles & George Fowler; and the novel Hell Is Empty by J.F. Straker (1958) |
| Produced by | Michael Eland |
| Starring | Anthony Steel Shirley Anne Field James Robertson Justice Jess Conrad Martine Carol |
| Cinematography | Sasa Hunka Jan Stallich |
| Edited by | Jim Connock |
| Music by | Georges Garvarentz |
Production company | Dominion Films |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date | December 1967 |
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Filming began in 1965 under the direction of Bernard Knowles, but was suspended on the death of Martine Carol. Production was later resumed with John Ainsworth as director.[3]
Premise edit
On the run from the police, thieves stumble upon an abandoned mansion on a deserted island.[4]
Cast edit
- Martine Carol as Martine Grant
- Anthony Steel as Major Morton
- James Robertson Justice as Angus McGee
- Shirley Anne Field as Shirley McGee
- Isa Miranda as Isa Grant
- Carl Möhner as Carl Schultz
- Robert Rietti as Robert Grant
- Jess Conrad as Jess Shepherd
- Anthony Dawson as Paul Grant
- Catherine Schell as Catherine Grant (as Catherine von Schell)
- Irene von Meyendorff as Helen McGee
- Patricia Viterbo as Patricia
- Anna Gaël as Anna
- Eugene Deckers as counsel
- Sheila Burrell as judge
Production edit
The film was made by Absorbing Films, which had been set up by Michael Eaton-Eland, a prominent London figure[citation needed], who wanted to move into filmmaking. Filming started in December 1965 on the isle of Capri. It was Martine Carol's first movie in three years[5] and one of a number of films Steel made in Europe.[6]
The film was shot in Italy and Yugoslavia. However several of the actors and technicians claimed they had not been paid. Filming came to a halt. Carole married Eaton-Eland in June 1966, at which stage the film had not been completed.[7]
Carol died of a heart attack in February 1967.[8] Production resumed under director John Ainsworth.
Reception edit
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The nonsensical story, which ten years ago might at least have had an overtone of reality within a small budget black-and-white framework, has here exploded into sumptuous colour, extravagant locations and a gimcrack way with camera zooms. But beneath the reconditioned exterior, the old-fashioned gears set up an awful grinding: the crooks are a coarse lot, their robbery is by modern standards very rudimentary, and their hostages make a determined English parlour setting out of their indeterminate foreign locale. James Robertson Justice's Shakespearian authority is as tedious as his usual blustery impersonations; but no one could be expected to perform any miracles with the dilapidated dialogue, and no one does. "[9]
References edit
- ^ "Hell Is Empty". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "Hell Is Empty (1967)". Archived from the original on 27 October 2017.
- ^ HELL IS EMPTY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 37, Iss. 432, (Jan 1, 1970): 226.
- ^ "Hell Is Empty (1967) - John Ainsworth, Bernard Knowles - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ Martine Has All Clothes in This Role Los Angeles Times 27 Dec 1965: d17.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (23 September 2020). "The Emasculation of Anthony Steel: A Cold Streak Saga". Filmink.
- ^ DAVID WYNNE-MORGAN London Life; London (Jul 30, 1966): 10, 12.
- ^ MARTINE CAROL, FRENCH ACTRESS: Screen Star Who Appeared in Over 40 Films Dies New York Times 7 Feb 1967: 39.
- ^ "Hell Is Empty". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 37 (432): 226. 1 January 1970 – via ProQuest.
Bibliography edit
- Chibnall, Steve & Murphy, Robert. British Crime Cinema. Routledge, 2005.
External links edit
- Hell Is Empty at IMDb
- Hell is Empty at Letterbox DVD
- Hell is Empty at BFI
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