White Corridors is a 1951 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Googie Withers, Godfrey Tearle, James Donald and Petula Clark.[1] It is based on the 1944 novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton.
| White Corridors | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Pat Jackson |
| Based on | novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton |
| Produced by | Joseph Janni John Croydon |
| Starring | Googie Withers |
| Cinematography | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
| Edited by | Sidney Hayers |
Production company | Vic Films Productions |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date | 12 June 1951 (London)(UK) |
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The film is set in a hospital shortly after the establishment of the National Health Service.[2]
Plot
The day-to-day life of the staff and patients at a city hospital.[3] The central story is that of doctors Sophie Dean and Neil Marriner, who are in love, and their fight to save the life of Tommy Briggs, a little boy with blood poisoning.
Cast
- Googie Withers as Dr. Sophie Dean
- James Donald as Dr. Neil Marriner
- Brand Inglis as Tommy Briggs
- Godfrey Tearle as Mr. Groom, Sr.
- Petula Clark as Joan Shepherd
- Jean Anderson as Sister Gater
- Timothy Bateson as Dr. Cook
- Fabia Drake as Miss Farmer
- Henry Edwards as Phillip Brewster
- Gerard Heinz as Dr. Macuzek
- Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Briggs
- Barry Jones as Dr. Shoesmith
- Avice Landone as Sister Jenkins
- Bernard Lee as Burgess
- Moira Lister as Dolly Clark
- Dandy Nichols as char
- Basil Radford as retired civil servant
- Bruce Seton as policeman
- Mary Hinton as matron
- Patrick Troughton as sailor
- Jack Watling as Dick Groom
- Philip Stainton as Sawyer
- Dana Wynter as Margery Brewster [uncredited]
- Deidre Doyle as woman patient [uncredited]
- Mignon O'Doherty as irrascible woman [uncredited]
- Humphrey Howorth as Chandler [uncredited]
Production
The film marked Googie Withers's return to acting after 13 months off following the birth of her child.[4] John Mills at one stage was announced to play the male lead.[5]
Bombardier Billy Wells, the man who bangs the gong on the Rank trademark, had a small role.[6]
Pat Jackson claims making the film was "a joy" and says it was shot in five weeks.[7]
Reception
Box office
White Corridors was the 8th most popular film at the British box office in 1951.[8][9]
Critical
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The material of White Corridors is not distinguished, and its episodic structure emphasises that the characterisation is mainly one-dimensional; the interweaving of a series of glimpsed characters needed a firmer conception if real depth were to be given to them and thus to the whole background of the hospital which the film sets out to explore. But on a surface level the film is remarkably successful, due to the persuasive talents of its director, Pat Jackson."[10]
Accolades
At the 1951 BAFTAS it was nominated for Best Film and Best British Film.[11] Petula Clark was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
References
External links
- White Corridors at IMDb
- White Corridors then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets
