I Thank a Fool

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I Thank a Fool
Original film poster
Directed by	Robert Stevens
Produced by	Anatole de Grunwald Roy Parkinson (associate producer)
Written by	Karl Tunberg Audrey Erskine Lindop (novel)
Starring	Susan Hayward Peter Finch Diane Cilento Cyril Cusack
Music by	Ron Goodwin
Cinematography	Harry Waxman
Editing by	Frank Clarke
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	January 1962 September 14, 1962 (US)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
IMDb profile

I Thank a Fool is a 1962 crime film made by Eaton (De Grunwald Productions) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Robert Stevens and produced by Anatole de Grunwald from a screenplay by Karl Tunberg based on the novel by Audrey Erskine Lindop. The music score was by Ron Goodwin and the cinematography by Harry Waxman.

The film stars Susan Hayward and Peter Finch with Diane Cilento and Cyril Cusack. Also in the cast are Kieron Moore, Richard Wattis, Athene Seyler, Miriam Karlin, Laurence Naismith, J. G. Devlin, Clive Morton, Richard Leech and Brenda De Banzie.

[edit] Plot

Dr. Christine Allison (Hayward) is convicted of manslaughter for the mercy killing of her terminally-ill, married lover. After serving two years in prison, she is unable to find work. Help comes from a surprising source - she is approached by Stephen Dane (Finch), the man who prosecuted her, to look after his disturbed wife Liane (Cilento). Suspicious, she presses him for the reason he wants her. Finally, he admits he wants a trained doctor, but not one who has the power to commit Liane to a mental asylum. Since Christine's medical license has been taken away, she is perfect. Desperate, she accepts the job.

However, Christine's misgivings about Stephen's motives increase as time goes by. The final straw is when Liane's father, Captain Ferris (Cusack), unexpectedly appears while the Danes are out. Christine had been told that his death in a car accident had unhinged Liane. He leaves without seeing his daughter, despite Christine's pleas.

Christine tells Liane the truth and persuades her to go back to her childhood home in Ireland to see her father. When they get there, they find him a drunk and living with a woman. Disillusioned, Liane has another breakdown. When Stephen shows up, she falls while running away. The injury is not serious, and the doctor gives Christine a bottle of pills for her. As instructed, Christine gives Liane two to help her sleep.

The next morning, Liane is found dead and the bottle is missing. At the inquest, the coroner (J. G. Devlin) uncovers Christine's past. In her defense, she accuses Stephen of hiring her to draw suspicion away from him.

During a recess however, she notices Ferris looking at his heirloom pocket watch, though Christine had stolen it and had it with her the night before her death. When she confronts him, he finally admits in front of witnesses that Liane had taken the overdose herself. He found her already dead and took the bottle away with him. In the past, he had been prosecuted by Stephen and had tried to bribe him by sending his then seventeen-year-old daughter to Stephen's hotel room. When the charges were dropped (though Stephen claims it was for other reasons), Ferris began blackmailing Stephen. Stephen finally balked at paying more money, so Ferris took the opportunity to get back at him. As the police try to take him into custody, Ferris leans against a rotted fence and falls to his death. Afterwards, Stephen asks Christine for a lift; they drive away together.