Home at Seven (1952)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Ralph Richardson arrives home from work at seven as he does every day, where he finds his wife Margaret Leighton sobbing. When she shows him the newspaper, it hits him: it's not Monday evening but Tuesday evening! He's been missing for an entire day, and he has no recollection of where he's been. While trying to figure out what happened with family doctor Jack Hawkins, they get news that the safe of Richardson's social club has been robbed, and a steward at the club murdered. Inspector Campbell Singer is investigating and all clues seem to lead to Richardson...Based on a play by R.C. Sheriff (and inspired by personal experiences) that also starred Richardson ('The Fallen Idol'), this is the sole movie that he directed. Which is quite a remarkable feat as he's in almost every scene. He does a very nice job tho, both in front of and behind the camera. He gives a great restrained performance and Leighton ('The Good Die Young') is perfectly cast as his wife. Together they make one of the sweetest couples I've seen lately, with some very touching scenes (esp the one where he tries to prepare her for life without him, while having tea and toast). The resolution of Richardson's predicament is quite satisfying and also adds depth to the movie and Richardson's psyche. It also shows how an innocent little white lie between husband and wife (and this one really is innocent), can have grave consequences... Richardson's directing and the camera work by Jack Hilyard ('The Bridge On The River Kwai') and Edward Scaife ('Night of The Demon') is straight-forward and devoid of flourishes but efficient and solid. It's not the most exciting movie ever made as it is primarily dialogue-driven, but it's a good uber-British stiff upper lip take on an amnesia noir thriller, with excellent and touching performances by Richardson and Leighton. Recommended. 7/10

Ralph Richardson, who both directs and acts in this film, has taken a simple story that depicts a short period in the life of a middle-class couple in post-war England whose routine is suddenly disrupted by the memory lapse of the husband. The story is brought to life by the acting of the three main actors - Richarson and Margaret Leighton as the couple and the medical doctor, Jack Hawkins.A veteran of World War II (1939-45), the dutiful husband is stricken with an anxiety attack that causes him to relive his days in battle. When this mental episode is over, he cannot remember what happened for a full 24-hour period. Husband and wife are perplexed and anxious by this sudden turn of events. They turn to their understanding family doctor for an explanation. The doctor, Jack Hawkins, is sympathetic and not overly worried but eager to find out the source of the problem.As it turns out, a theft and murder occurred that seem to implicate the husband or so the couple fears. Lies and cover-ups complicate the matter and the couple become so upset that they make things worse for themselves. The couple are so used to their routine that a sudden and unexplained twist becomes exaggerated. The story presents us with a puzzle and the reaction of two decent but somewhat docile human beings, who feel they will be unfairly targeted by the authorities. However, the police go about their work very calmly and before long everything is explained.The movie is a throwback to a time when ordinary people enjoyed simple pleasures like going to their club, or taking in the "pictures" and growing their chrysanthemums in the adjoining greenhouse garden...so very British. It is these very ordinary people that I have a great sympathy and admiration for in our often self-serving world. Nothing extraordinary about the movie or the couple but almost 60 years on, the acting still makes it a delight to watch.

"Home at Seven" is the one and only film that Ralph Richardson directed. I would hazard a guess that at the last moment the original director was unavailable and someone suggested to Sir Ralph that he try his hand.You would be hard pressed to find a cinematically more bland, not to mention boring film that this. There is no use at all of lighting or camera movement to enhance to plot, (which certainly could do with some enhancement). It's tantamount to watching a radio play.True there are three top actors at work in Richardson, Margaret Leighton and Jack Hawkins. But it's all so pedestrian that even they hardly make this one to look out for.

A long forgotten British film, that has David Preston ( Ralph Richardson) as a lowly bank clerk, who returns home, as usual, only to be told by his wife, that he has been missing for 24 hours.He slowly starts to come to terms with what has happened, only to find out that the steward of his local club has been murdered, and that he has been implicated. Margaret Leighton as his wife, and Campbell Singer,as the police inspector give good support. I find these films from 40's and 50's fascinating, as they show a way of life that has long since disappeared.