The Woman with No Name (U.S.: Her Panelled Door[3]) is a 1950 British drama film directed by Ladislao Vajda and starring Phyllis Calvert, Edward Underdown, Helen Cherry, Richard Burton and James Hayter.[4] It was written by Guy Morgan and Ladislao Vajda based on the 1947 novel Happy Now I Go by Theresa Charles.
| The Woman with No Name | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Ladislao Vajda |
| Written by |
|
| Based on | novel Happy Now I Go by Theresa Charles |
| Produced by | John Stafford |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller |
| Edited by | Richard Best |
| Music by | Allan Gray |
Production company | Independent Film Producers |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £116,500[1] |
| Box office | £113,268 (UK)[2] |
Plot
editYvonne Winter is an amnesiac, a victim of the wartime bombing of the London hotel where she is staying. At a country hospital she meets the pilot, Nick Chamerd, who saved her life. They fall in love and plan to marry, but he is killed on active duty. Yvonne's real husband hires detectives to find her. She is brought home and starts to piece together her past, but not everything she finds there brings her happiness.
Cast
edit- Phyllis Calvert as Yvonne Winter
- Edward Underdown as Lake Winter
- Helen Cherry as Sybil
- Richard Burton as Nick Charmerd
- Anthony Nicholls as doctor
- James Hayter as Captain Bradshawe
- Betty Ann Davies as Beatrice
- Amy Veness as Sophie
- Andrew Osborn as Paul Hammond
- Patrick Troughton as Colin
- Leslie Phillips as 1st sapper officer
- Terence Alexander as 2nd sapper officer
- Richard Pearson as Tony
Production
editCalvert invested her own savings in the film, estimated between £12,000-£15,000.[5]
Reception
editBox office
editThe film earned £105,000 to the producers.[1]
Critical
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A portentous and improbable melodrama, indifferently acted, and complete wich explorations of moorland country in mist and thunder-storm, a nightmare dream sequence in negative, and thundering background music, which fails to supply the suspense lacking in the direction."[6]
Variety wrote: "Boxoffice barometer for Her Panelled Door won't rise much above fair, since it is a somber affair based on the old amnesia gimmick and presented with comparatively little imagination. ... The whole business is acted with a heavy hand, but the uninspired screenplay by Guy Morgan anc Ladislas Vajda seldom affords opportunity for much more thar staid, spotty sequences. Direction by Vajda is no more inspiring than the story; photography by Otto Heller is firstrate; music by Allan Gray is excellont."[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945–1985. Edinburgh University Press p 102. Income is producer's share of receipts.
- ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p493
- ^ Hal Erickson (2012). "The-Woman-with-No-Name - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012.
- ^ "The Woman with No Name". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ "Phyllis Calvert talks of home and career". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 17, no. 50. Australia. 20 May 1950. p. 52. Retrieved 29 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Woman with No Name". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 17 (193): 174. 1 January 1950. ProQuest 1305811708.
- ^ "The Woman with No Name". Variety. 183 (12): 20. 29 August 1951. ProQuest 1401260191.