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The Astonished Heart (film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Astonished Heart' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Terence Fisher and Antony Darnborough. Starring Celia Johnson, Nol Coward, and Margaret Leighton, the film is based on Coward's play 'The Astonished Heart' from his cycle of ten plays, 'Tonight at 8.30'.
Inspired by the great success of the 1945 film 'Brief Encounter', which also had been adapted from 'Tonight at 8:30', Coward agreed to have 'The Astonished Heart' produced as a motion picture. As with the previous film, Coward also wrote the screenplay. Production began in 1949 and featured not only Nol Coward in one of his rare film appearances, but also actor-singer Graham Payn in a supporting role. 'The Astonished Heart' was released in 1950 to indifferent reviews and was a commercial failure.
Plot
The film follows the growing obsession of a psychiatrist (Coward) for an impulsive younger woman (Leighton) and the resulting tragedy this leads to.
The doctor quotes : "The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart," foreshadowing his path while making reference to the movie title.
The MayDecember affair between a psychiatrist and young blonde destroys his seemingly blissful relationship with his wife (Celia Johnson). In the end, Dr. Christian Faber's obsession with his beautiful mistress, Leonora Vail, leads him to commit suicide by jumping from the roof of the block of flats where he was living with his wife, and also where he conducted business with his partner Tim and assistant Susan. He lives long enough to ask for Leonora, but when she comes to his deathbed he does not know her, and thinks she is his wife (Barbara). He says a few words and dies.
Cast
*Celia Johnson as Barbara Faber
*Nol Coward as Dr. Christian Faber
*Margaret Leighton as Leonora Vail
*Joyce Carey as Susan Birch
*Graham Payn as Tim Verney
*Amy Veness as Alice Smith
*Ralph Michael as Philip Lucas
*Michael Hordern as Ernest
*Patricia Glyn as Helen
*Alan Webb as Sir Reginald
*Everley Gregg as Miss Harper
*John Salew as Mr. Bowman
Production
In July 1948, Sydney Box, head of Gainsborough Studios, paid 10,000 to Nol Coward to script four plays from 'Tonight at 8:30' and a revue, 'Nothing New'. Box was happy with the script for 'Astonished Heart' and put it into production with Michael Redgrave in the lead, with Coward's approval. Coward returned from Jamaica a week into filming, saw the rushes, and demanded Redgrave be sacked. Coward's contract gave him the power to do this. He then persuaded J. Arthur Rank to allow Coward to take over the lead role for a fee of 15,000.[https://www.academia.edu/6432156/Sydney_Box Andrew Spicer, "The Apple of Mr. Ranks Mercatorial Eye: Managing Director of Gainsborough Pictures]
Critical reception
'The New York Times' wrote, "Mr. Coward is capable of doing better, though there are moments when the dialogue lets off caustic sparks."
References
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