The Phantom Light (1935)
This black and white film from 1935 must have been responsible for my fascination with lighthouses. It starred Gordon Harker - veteran of many fine black and white British films including "Inspector Hornleigh", "Boys will be boys" "Squibs." His face was perfect for playing all manner of typical British bloke in the street. The other star was Binnie Hale who did not star in many other films but was mostly famous for her roles in West End plays. Perhaps the most famous (feel free to correct me here) was "Nippy", the musical which was produced in 1931. Binnie Hale played the starring role of Nippy. The actor who almost steals the show is Claff Owen played by Herbert Lomas, his face on hearing footsteps on the stairs is superb. The film was directed by Michael Powell who directed such great films as The Red Shoes and A Matter of Life and Death (click here to read more)
The film concerns the events which take place at a lighthouse called the North Stack. A new chief lighthouse keeper is required to take over the lighthouse after the previous two keepers vanish under mysterious circumstances. Sam Higgins arrives at the small Welsh village called Tan-y-bwlch on the coast meeting a young woman called Alice Bright. Together they must solve the mystery of the Phantom light to prevent wreckers from destroying shipping and claiming the insurance.
Sadly this little film is seldom seen these days. In fact the last time I saw it on terrestrial television was back in 1994. Still it proved to have a great effect on my upbringing (even today I love lighthouses and will travel hundreds of miles to visit one). It remains today a superb little film which sits nicely alongside "The Ghost Train" in my all time top ten films.
Characters
Alice Bright |
Sam Higgins |
David Owen |
Dr. Carey |
Jim Pearce |
Claff Owen |
Tom Evans |
Mary Fern-Captain Pearce |
Bob Peters |
Mrs. Owen |
Griffith Owen |
Police Sergeant Owen |
Station Mistress |
Fishermen |
Railway Worker |
Mary Fern-Cabin Boy |
Cab Driver |
Mary Fern-Ship's Mate |
Click below image to read and see the story unfold
Credits
The Phantom Light | Adapted from the play "The Haunted Light" by Evadne Price & Adapted from the play "The Haunted Light" by Joan Roy Byford |
Cast | |
Alice Bright | Binnie Hale |
Sam Higgins | Gordon Harker |
David Owen | Donald Calthrop |
Dr. Carey | Milton Rosmer |
Jim Pearce | Ian Hunter |
Claff Owen | Herbert Lomas |
Tom Evans | Reginald Tate |
Captain Pearce | Barry O'Neill |
Bob Peters | Mickey Brantford |
Mrs. Owen | Alice O'Day |
Griffith Owen | Fewlass Llewellyn |
Police Sergeant Owen | Edgar K. Bruce |
Station Mistress | Louie Emery |
Railway Worker | Ernest Jay |
Mr. Mason | Anthony Holles |
Cabin Boy | John Singer |
Scenario | Ralph Smart |
Dialogue | J. Jefferson Farjeon & Austin Melford |
Editor | Derek. N. Twist |
Art Direction | A. Vetchinsky |
Cinematography | Roy Kellino |
Recordist | A. Birch |
Original Music | Louis Levy |
Associate Producer | Jerome Jackson |
Directed by | Michael Powell |
Production Company | Gainsborough Pictures |
Production Studio | Gainsborough Studios |