The House Across the Lake
| The House Across the Lake | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Heat Wave aka The House Across the Lake film poster | |
| Directed by | Ken Hughes |
| Written by | Ken Hughes |
| Based on | novel High Wray by Ken Hughes |
| Produced by | Anthony Hinds |
| Starring | Alex Nicol Hillary Brooke |
| Cinematography | Walter J. Harvey |
| Edited by | James Needs |
| Music by | Ivor Slaney |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Exclusive Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The House Across the Lake is a 1954 British crime film. The film noir drama, filmed and set in England, stars Alex Nicol and Hillary Brooke, who are the only Americans in the cast, although Brooke plays a British character, as she did in most films. (Her mastery of a "posh" accent caused her to be typecast as British in Hollywood films starting in the 1940s.)[1][2]
Sid James plays a prominent supporting role in which he is, unusually for him, a "good guy".
Plot
An American pulp novelist, Mark Kendrick (Nicol), meets his rich neighbours across the lake and is soon seduced by beautiful blonde Carol (Brooke), the wife of Beverly Forrest (James), despite Beverly treating him as a friend. When Beverly is badly injured by a fall on his boat, Carol fails to persuade Mark to throw him overboard, so Carol does it.
After first refusing to go along with her plan to call it an accident, Mark agrees when Carol tells him that they will meet up again later and live off her dead husband's money. However, after the coroner rules the death an accident, Mark does not hear from her, but the still suspicious CID inspector on the case arranges for Mark to find out that Carol has secretly married another old flame and changed residences. Mark angrily confronts her, but she sneers that she only used him and that there is nothing he can do about it without implicating himself. Mark decides to confess, thinking that, although it will probably mean a prison sentence for him, it will mean the rope for Carol.
Cast
- Alex Nicol as Mark Kendrick
- Hillary Brooke as Carol Forrest
- Sid James as Beverly Forrest (credited as "Sidney James")
- Susan Stephen as Andrea Forrest
- Paul Carpenter as Vincent Gordon
- Alan Wheatley as Inspector MacLennan
- Peter Illing as Harry Stevens
- Gordon McLeod as Doctor Emery
- Joan Hickson as Mrs. Hardcastle
- John Sharp as Mr. Hardcastle
- Hugh Dempster as Frank
Production
The film was based on a novel by Ken Hughes, High Wray, published in 1952.[3]
It was filmed at Bray Studios.[4]
Reception
According to an obituary of Ken Hughes, "The film was praised by critics, and began Hughes's ascent into more important productions. "[5]
Filmink said "It’s quite a fun movie, reminiscent of The Postman Always Rings Twice; one is inclined to wonder if Nicol’s character, a writer under the pump and distracted by lust, was a Hughes self-portrait."[6]
References
- ^ HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 21, Iss. 240, (Jan 1, 1954): 105.
- ^ THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE: Assoc. Brit.-Pathe Picture Show; London Vol. 62, Iss. 1630, (Jun 26, 1954): 10.
- ^ Advertisements The Sphere; London Vol. 209, Iss. 2752, (Nov 8, 1952): 251
- ^ Round the British Studios Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London Vol. 62, Iss. 1614, (Mar 6, 1954): 11.
- ^ OBITUARY: Ken Hughes: [FOREIGN Edition] Vallance, Tom. The Independent 1 May 2001: 6.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 November 2020). "Ken Hughes Forgotten Auteur". Filmink.
External links
- The House Across the Lake at IMDb
- ‹The template AllMovie title is being considered for deletion.› The House Across the Lake at AllMovie
- House Across the Lake at Letterbox DVD
- House Across the Lake at BFI
- The House Across the Lake at Reel Streets
- Review of film at Cinema Retro