Death at Broadcasting House: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m Added two links |
→References: add category |
||
| (25 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} |
|||
| ⚫ | '''''Death at Broadcasting House''''', also known as '''''Death at a Broadcast''''', is a 1934 [[UK|British]] [[mystery film |
||
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}} |
|||
{{short description|1934 film}} |
|||
{{Infobox film |
|||
| name = Death at Broadcasting House |
|||
| image = "Death_at_Broadcasting_House"_(1934).png |
|||
| alt = |
|||
| caption = [[Jack Hawkins]] as Herbert Evans |
|||
| native_name = |
|||
| director = [[Reginald Denham]] |
|||
| producer = [[Hugh Perceval]] |
|||
| writer = |
|||
| screenplay = [[Val Gielgud]], [[Holt Marvell]] & Basil Mason |
|||
| story = |
|||
| based_on = {{based on|''Death at Broadcasting House''|Val Gielgud & Holt Marvell}} |
|||
| starring = [[Ian Hunter (actor)|Ian Hunter]]<br>[[Austin Trevor]]<br/>[[Lilian Oldland]] |
|||
| music = Ord Hamilton |
|||
| cinematography = [[Günther Krampf]] |
|||
| editing = [[Reginald Beck]] |
|||
| production_companies = Phoenix Films |
|||
| distributor = [[Associated British Film Distributors]] |
|||
| released = {{Film date|1934|11||UK|df=y}} |
|||
| runtime = 75 minutes |
|||
| country = United Kingdom |
|||
| language = English |
|||
| budget = |
|||
| gross = |
|||
}} |
|||
| ⚫ | '''''Death at Broadcasting House''''', also known as '''''Death at a Broadcast''''', is a 1934 [[UK|British]] [[mystery film]] directed by [[Reginald Denham]] and starring [[Ian Hunter (actor)|Ian Hunter]], [[Austin Trevor]], [[Henry Kendall (actor)|Henry Kendall]], and [[Jack Hawkins]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025038/ |title=Death at Broadcasting House (1934) |work=IMDb |year=2014 |accessdate=15 November 2014}}</ref> |
||
==Novel== |
|||
The original plot comes from a novel of the same name, set in what was then the mysterious world of radio in what was then the [[BBC]]'s new broadcasting centre, [[Broadcasting House]]. It was written in 1934 by [[ |
The original plot comes from a novel of the same name,<ref>{{cite book |title=Death at Broadcasting House |first1=Val |last1=Gielgud |first2=Holt |last2=Marvell |publisher=Rich & Cowan |year=1934}}</ref> set in what was then the mysterious world of radio in what was then the [[BBC]]'s new broadcasting centre, [[Broadcasting House]]. It was written in 1934 by [[Val Gielgud]] – brother of [[John Gielgud]] and at that time the BBC's Head of Productions – and "Holt Marvell" - actually [[Eric Maschwitz]], a lyricist and writer for films and the BBC. |
||
==Film== |
|||
The plot revolves round a live broadcast of a play, using multiple studios (as was common at the time). One actor has a scene by himself, at the end of which the script calls for him to be strangled: he plays this alone in a separate studio, but at the end of the play is discovered to have been strangled in reality. The book goes through all the usual procedures of a detective novel, tracking the motives and opportunities of the suspects. The book isn't at all badly written, though perhaps a little plodding in places, but is of particular interest because the authors have been careful to keep it realistic: the exact layout of Broadcasting House is made use of (floor plans are provided) and the technique of radio drama is accurately represented: it does provide an intriguing glimpse into the workings of the BBC. |
|||
| ⚫ | In the same year, it was made into the film, directed by Reginald Denham, with Ian Hunter (best known as King Richard I in the 1938 ''[[The Adventures of Robin Hood (film)|Adventures of Robin Hood]]'') as the detective, [[Donald Wolfit]] as the murder victim, and Val Gielgud himself as the drama producer, Julian Caird. The film sticks closely to the plot of the book, but is lighter in tone, and capitalizes on the glamour of broadcasting by including a number of cameo appearances by radio stars, among them [[Hannen Swaffer]], [[Gillie Potter]], [[Elisabeth Welch]] and [[Percival Mackey]]. During the investigation, the detective uses a recording of the radio programme during which the murder occurred, and he refers to the [[Tape recorder#Early steel tape recorders|"Blattnerphone"]], one of the first sound-recording machines, and one of which had actually been installed at Broadcasting House in March 1932. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
Again, the feeling of period broadcasting is reasonably authentic: but when it was last shown on television (many years ago) a well-respected technical journalist was trapped into recommending readers to watch it because it provides a 'fascinating glimpse into Broadcasting House in the 1930s'. Of course it does nothing of the sort. Quite apart from the technical difficulties in filming in relatively small studios (the camera wouldn't have been able to get far enough back) the BBC would hardly have welcomed a large film crew underfoot for the month it took to shoot. |
|||
All the interiors were created at a small film studio in Wembley. Though the general atmosphere of the sets is correct, there are many small details which are wrong (if you want to be picky). The plot makes play of the fact that the drama was recorded on the [[Tape recorder#Early steel tape recorders|Blattnerphone]] (an early tape recorder using huge reels of steel tape), but unfortunately they weren't able to show it - either it was technically impracticable, or perhaps the BBC wouldn't co-operate. |
|||
The most dramatic difference caused a lot of amusement among Control Room staff at the time<ref> I was told this by my first line manager, George Petty, who was an engineer at Broadcasting House during the 1930s.</ref> When the murderer is revealed there is a chase through Broadcasting House, including the Control Room on the eighth floor. In the book, the murderer makes his way onto the roof, is shot after himself shooting at a policeman, and falls 'a hundred and twelve feet sheer to the pavement below'. |
|||
In the film he rushes into a small room off Control Room, and evidently flings himself across some terminals as there is a flash, all the lights go out, and he is dead by electrocution. |
|||
This was the 50 volt relay supply. |
|||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
||
| Line 30: | Line 48: | ||
* [[Bruce Lester]] as Peter Ridgewell |
* [[Bruce Lester]] as Peter Ridgewell |
||
==Adaptations== |
|||
It was adapted for Australian radio as ''[[Murder at 2FC]]''. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* {{ |
* {{IMDb title|0025038|Death at Broadcasting House}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:1934 films]] |
[[Category:1934 films]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:British mystery films]] |
[[Category:British mystery films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1934 mystery films]] |
||
[[Category:Films based on British novels]] |
|||
[[Category:Films directed by Reginald Denham]] |
|||
[[Category:Films set in London]] |
|||
[[Category:British black-and-white films]] |
|||
[[Category:1930s English-language films]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
{{mystery-film-stub}} |
|||
Revision as of 10:36, 8 February 2024
| Death at Broadcasting House | |
|---|---|
.png) Jack Hawkins as Herbert Evans | |
| Directed by | Reginald Denham |
| Screenplay by | Val Gielgud, Holt Marvell & Basil Mason |
| Based on | Death at Broadcasting House by Val Gielgud & Holt Marvell |
| Produced by | Hugh Perceval |
| Starring | Ian Hunter Austin Trevor Lilian Oldland |
| Cinematography | Günther Krampf |
| Edited by | Reginald Beck |
| Music by | Ord Hamilton |
Production company | Phoenix Films |
| Distributed by | Associated British Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 minutes |
| Land | Vereinigtes Königreich |
| Sprache | Englisch |
Death at Broadcasting House, also known as Death at a Broadcast, is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Ian Hunter, Austin Trevor, Henry Kendall, and Jack Hawkins.[1]
Novel
The original plot comes from a novel of the same name,[2] set in what was then the mysterious world of radio in what was then the BBC's new broadcasting centre, Broadcasting House. It was written in 1934 by Val Gielgud – brother of John Gielgud and at that time the BBC's Head of Productions – and "Holt Marvell" - actually Eric Maschwitz, a lyricist and writer for films and the BBC.
Film
In the same year, it was made into the film, directed by Reginald Denham, with Ian Hunter (best known as King Richard I in the 1938 Adventures of Robin Hood) as the detective, Donald Wolfit as the murder victim, and Val Gielgud himself as the drama producer, Julian Caird. The film sticks closely to the plot of the book, but is lighter in tone, and capitalizes on the glamour of broadcasting by including a number of cameo appearances by radio stars, among them Hannen Swaffer, Gillie Potter, Elisabeth Welch and Percival Mackey. During the investigation, the detective uses a recording of the radio programme during which the murder occurred, and he refers to the "Blattnerphone", one of the first sound-recording machines, and one of which had actually been installed at Broadcasting House in March 1932.
Cast
- Ian Hunter as Detective Inspector Gregory
- Austin Trevor as Leopold Dryden
- Lilian Oldland as Joan Dryden
- Henry Kendall as Rodney Fleming
- Val Gielgud as Julian Caird
- Peter Haddon as Guy Bannister
- Betty Ann Davies as Poppy Levine
- Jack Hawkins as Herbert Evans
- Donald Wolfit as Sydney Parsons
- Robert Rendel as Sir Herbert Farquharson
- Bruce Lester as Peter Ridgewell
Adaptations
It was adapted for Australian radio as Murder at 2FC.
References
- ^ "Death at Broadcasting House (1934)". IMDb. 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Gielgud, Val; Marvell, Holt (1934). Death at Broadcasting House. Rich & Cowan.
External links
 | This article related to a British film of the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about a mystery film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |