Hell Is Empty
1967 British film by John Ainsworth and Bernard Knowles
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Hell is Empty is a 1967 British crime film directed by Bernard Knowles and John Ainsworth, and starring Martine Carol, Anthony Steel, Shirley Anne Field and James Robertson Justice.[1][2] It was written by Ainsworth from a screenplay by Knowles and George Fowler, based on the 1958 novel of the same title by J.F. Straker.
Bernard Knowles
& George Fowler;
and the novel Hell Is Empty by J.F. Straker (1958)
| Hell Is Empty | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | John Ainsworth Bernard Knowles |
| Screenplay by | John Ainsworth |
| Based on | a screenplay by Bernard Knowles & George Fowler; and the novel Hell Is Empty by J.F. Straker (1958) |
| Produced by | Michael Eland |
| Starring | Anthony Steel Shirley Anne Field James Robertson Justice Jess Conrad Martine Carol |
| Cinematography | Sasa Hunka Jan Stallich |
| Edited by | Jim Connock |
| Music by | Georges Garvarentz |
Production company | Dominion Films |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Premise
On the run from the police, thieves stumble upon an abandoned mansion on a deserted island.[3]
Cast
- Martine Carol as Martine Grant
- Anthony Steel as Major Morton
- James Robertson Justice as Angus McGee
- Shirley Anne Field as Shirley McGee
- Isa Miranda as Isa Grant
- Carl Möhner as Carl Schultz
- Robert Rietti as Robert Grant
- Jess Conrad as Jess Shepherd
- Anthony Dawson as Paul Grant
- Catherine Schell as Catherine Grant (as Catherine von Schell)
- Irene von Meyendorff as Helen McGee
- Patricia Viterbo as Patricia
- Anna Gaël as Anna
- Eugene Deckers as counsel
- Sheila Burrell as judge
Production
The film was made by Absorbing Films, which had been set up by Michael Eaton-Eland, a prominent London figure, who wanted to move into filmmaking.[citation needed] Filming started in December 1965 on the isle of Capri. It was Martine Carol's first movie in three years[4] and one of a number of films Steel made in Europe.[5]
Filmink called the movie "one of several thrillers made by Rank that were co-productions partly shot in Europe using international 'names'."[6]
The film was shot in Italy and Yugoslavia. However several of the actors and technicians claimed they had not been paid. Filming came to a halt. Carol married Eaton-Eland in June 1966, at which stage the film had not been completed.[7]
Carol died of a heart attack in February 1967.[8] Production resumed under director John Ainsworth.[9]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The nonsensical story, which ten years ago might at least have had an overtone of reality within a small budget black-and-white framework, has here exploded into sumptuous colour, extravagant locations and a gimcrack way with camera zooms. But beneath the reconditioned exterior, the old-fashioned gears set up an awful grinding: the crooks are a coarse lot, their robbery is by modern standards very rudimentary, and their hostages make a determined English parlour setting out of their indeterminate foreign locale. James Robertson Justice's Shakespearian authority is as tedious as his usual blustery impersonations; but no one could be expected to perform any miracles with the dilapidated dialogue, and no one does."[9]