Themes: Race Against Time, Miscarriage of Justice, Fathers and Sons
Main Cast: Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo McKern, Peter Cushing, Alec McCowen
Release Year: 1957
Country: UK
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
Time Without Pity carried the name "Joseph Losey" on the credits -- the first time in three years that the blacklisted director was permitted to use his own name on a film. This British-made suspense film was based on a play by Emlyn Williams. Michael Redgrave stars an anguished father whose son (Alec McCowan) is accused of murder. With time running out, Redgrave struggles to prove his son innocent of the charge. The paranoia prevalent in Time Without Pity can be attributed to Losey's own experience at the hands of the HUAC, though this element never gets out of artistic control. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Time Without Pity is an unusual film noir in that, though it has at its center a murder, it is not a murder mystery. Rather, the film's considerable suspense comes from wondering whether the real killer will be fingered before the accused is put to death. This may seem like a small point, but it actually provides a very high level of tension throughout and also distinguishes Time from many other murder films of the period. Credit goes both to director Joseph Losey and adapter Ben Barzman for the creation and maintenance of the palpable tension, which is crucial to Time's success. Barzman's script is lean and skillful, and peppered with memorable twists. For his part, Losey never lets the viewer forget that time is the real enemy in this picture; few films are as feverishly obsessed with time and its passage. He also gets marvelous performances from Ann Todd and Leo McKern, and a tremendously powerful one from Michael Redgrave. Looking like hell, Redgrave's torment (and deep regret) are painful -- and so is his weakness. Even more than Losey's or Barzman's, Redgrave's contribution is essential to Time's success. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Renee Houston - Mrs. Harker; Paul Daneman - Brian Stanford; Lois Maxwell - Vicky Harker; Richard Wordsworth - Maxwell; George Devine - Barnes; Joan Plowright - Agnes Cole; Ernest Clark - Under Secretary; Peter Copley - Prison Chaplain; Richard Leech - Proprietor of Espresso Bar; Hugh Moxey - Prison Governor; Julian Somers - 1st Warder; John Chandos - 1st Journalist; Dickie Henderson - Comedian; Arnold Diamond - Third Journalist; Vernon Greeves - Second Journalist; Aubrey Richards - Prison Gatekeeper; Dervis Ward - First Mechanic; David Heneker - Pianist; Christina Lubicz - Jenny Cole; Gwynne Whitby - Stanford's Housekeeper; David Lander - Second Mechanic
Credit
Bernard Sarron - Art Director, Colin M. Brewer - First Assistant Director, Joseph Losey - Director, Alan Osbigton - Editor, Leon Clore - Executive Producer, Tristram Cary - Composer (Music Score), Marcus Dods - Composer (Music Score), Marcus Dods - Musical Direction/Supervision, Alex Garfath - Makeup, Arthur Ibbetson - Camera Operator, Reece Pemberton - Production Designer, Freddie Francis - Cinematographer, Leigh Aman - Production Manager, Anthony Simmons - Producer, John Arnold - Producer, Ben Barzman - Screenwriter, Emlyn Williams - Play Author
