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Life for Ruth
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Wikipedia article
'Life for Ruth' is a 1962 British drama film produced by Michael Relph directed by Basil Dearden and starring Michael Craig, Patrick McGoohan and Janet Munro.LIFE FOR RUTH
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 29, Iss. 336, (Jan 1, 1962): 114.
It was released in the US as 'Walk in the Shadow'.
Plot
John Harris finds himself ostracized and placed on trial for allowing his daughter Ruth to die. His religious beliefs forbade him to give consent for a blood transfusion that would have saved her life. Doctor Brown is determined to seek justice for what he sees as the needless death of a young girl.
Cast
* Michael Craig as John Harris
* Patrick McGoohan as Doctor Brown
* Janet Munro as Pat Harris
* Paul Rogers as Hart Jacobs
* Malcolm Keen as Mr. Harris Sr
* Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Gordon
* Michael Bryant as John's counsel
* Leslie Sands as Clyde
* Norman Wooland as Counsel for the Crown
* John Barrie as Mr. Gordon
* Walter Hudd as Judge
* Michael Aldridge as Harvard
* Basil Dignam as Mapleton
* Maureen Pryor as Teddy's mother
* Kenneth J. Warren as Sergeant Finley
* Ellen McIntosh as Duty sister
* Frank Finlay as Teddy's father
* John Welsh as Marshall
* Maurice Colbourne as Vicar
* Freddy Ramsey as Teddy
* Lynn Taylor as Ruth
* Brian Wilde as Newspaper photographer (uncredited)
Production
The film was based on an original script by the husband and wife team of Janet Green and John McCormick, who had written 'Sapphire' and 'Victim' for Dearden and Relph. They wrote it in 1961 under the title 'God the Father' then 'A Matter of Conscience'.
Michael Craig had worked with Dearden and Relph on 'Sapphire'. He says he was "surprised to be offered the film - playing a North country working class chap seemed against type - but I was delighted to do it."
Filming took place in Sunderland and Seaham Harbour Co Durham,
Reception
The film had its World Premiere on 30 August 1962 at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End.The Times online archive 30/8/1962 page 2
Box Office
The film was a failure at the box office, contributing to the collapse of Allied Film Makers.Critical reception
'The New York Times' wrote of the film, "in avoiding blatant bias, mawkish sentimentality and theatrical flamboyance, it makes a statement that is dramatic, powerful and provocative."See also
* Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions
References
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