Obsession (1949 film)

Obsession

Theatrical release poster (USA)
Directed by Edward Dmytryk
Produced by
Screenplay by Alec Coppel
Based on the novel A Man About A Dog
by Alec Coppel
Starring Robert Newton
Music by Nino Rota
Cinematography C.M. Pennington-Richards
Edited by Lito Carruthers
Production
company
Independent Sovereign Films
Distributed by General Film Dist.
Release dates
  • 3 August 1949 (1949-08-03)
Running time
 96 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

Obsession, released in the US as The Hidden Room, is a 1949 British crime film directed by Edward Dmytryk,[1] based on the book A Man About A Dog by Alec Coppel, who also wrote the screenplay for the film, and turned the story into a novel.[2] Obsession was entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Plot

Dr Riordan's wife Storm is cheating on him with American Bill Kronin. He determines to get the perfect revenge.

Cast

Play and novel

Alec Coppel originally wrote the story as a play when living in Sydney during World War Two. He adapted the work into a novel while travelling to London. Both play and novel were called A Man About a Dog.[4] (Although in the US the novel would be known as Over the Line.)

The play opened in London in April 1946.[5]

The novel was published in 1948. Many critics commented that it felt similar to a play.[6][7]

Production

Film rights were bought by British producer Noel Madison. He also bought the rights to two other thrillers, Four Hours to Kill by Norman Krasna and The Last Mile by John Wexley.[8]

The director was Edward Dmytryk, who had just left Hollywood following his appearance in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee.[9] He went to England in mid 1948, where he was granted a work permit under the Ministry of Labour - he was permitted the work there under the foreign directors quota agreement between producers and the local unions. He signed a contract to direct the film with Nat Bronstein of Independent Sovereign Films on 1 October 1948.[10]

Filming took place near the house of Alec Coppel, who wrote the script, near Grovesnor House. The Coppel's home was turned into a temporary dressing room.[11]

The plot involved disposing a body by dissolving it in acid. This had similarities to the John George Haigh case. Accordingly the British Board of Film Censors refused to grant the film a certificate for a time and its release was held up.[12]

Reception

Variety wrote that the film is slow paced at first but becomes suspenseful.[13] The New York Times called it "a first-rate study in suspense and abnormal psychology".[14] Kendal Patterson of the Los Angeles Times described it as an early predecessor of Fatal Attraction.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Obsession". NY Times. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "New Novels of the Week on the Good Earth.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 3 January 1948. p. 22. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Obsession". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Sydney's Talking About—.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 July 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "VARIETY.". Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954). Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 March 1946. p. 32. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "NEW NOVELS OF THE WEEK On the Good Earth.". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 3 January 1948. p. 22. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "New Fiction.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). NSW: National Library of Australia. 24 April 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Schallert, E. (1948, May 04). Pal dreams of unique glamour star reunion. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/165832783
  9. ↑ HOLLYWOOD WIRE: Dmytryk Reports on His Year in England -- Story for Sale -- 'Annie' Goes Again By THOMAS F. BRADYHOLLYWOOD.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 04 Sep 1949: 47.
  10. ↑ "Dmytryk Inked to Direct British Film", Variety 6 October 1948 p 2
  11. ↑ "HOME AS DRESSING ROOM FOR ACTORS.". Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954). Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 12 December 1948. p. 34. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Film of Austn. novel held up.". News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 27 April 1949. p. 16. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Review: 'Obsession'". Variety. 1949. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  14. ↑ "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'The Hidden Room,' British-Made Psychological Drama, Opens at Broadway Embassy". The New York Times. 1950-01-09. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  15. ↑ Patterson, Kendal (1993-08-19). "'Hidden Room': Terror With a Twist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
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