They Came to a City
| They Came to a City | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Basil Dearden |
| Produced by |
Michael Balcon Sidney Cole |
| Written by |
Basil Dearden Sidney Cole |
| Starring |
John Clements Googie Withers Raymond Huntley Renee Gadd |
| Music by | Ernest Irving |
| Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
| Edited by | Michael Truman |
Production company | |
Release dates | August 1944 (London) (UK) |
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
They Came to a City is a 1945 British film directed by Basil Dearden adapted from a J. B. Priestley play. It stars John Clements, Googie Withers, Raymond Huntley, Renee Gadd, A. E. Matthews and others, and is notable for including a cameo guest appearance by Priestley as himself. The plot concerns the experiences of various people who have come to live in their "ideal" city, and explores their hopes and reasons for doing so. Many of the cast had also performed their roles in the original stage play. The film's art direction was by Michael Relph.[1][2]
Cast
- Joe Dinmore - John Clements
- Alice Foster - Googie Withers
- Malcolm Stritton - Raymond Huntley
- Dorothy Stritton - Renee Gadd
- Sir George Gedney - A.E. Matthews
- Lady Loxfield - Mabel Terry Lewis
- Philippa Loxfield - Frances Rowe
- Mrs Batley - Ada Reeve
- Cudworth - Norman Shelley
- Himself - J.B. Priestley
Critical reception
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "as symbolism and an outlet for Priestley's philosophy, "They Came to a City" is eloquent and courageous, but as a motion picture it is immobile." [3]
References
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037363/
- ↑ http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b78f9f256
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=950DE7D7143FE23BBC4152DFB466838E659EDE
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