Fortune Is a Woman (1957)

Director:

Sidney Gilliat

Writers:

Sidney Gilliat (writer)
Winston Graham (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

8 July 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

They Can't Kiss Away Their Conscience

Plot:

An insurance investigator runs into an ex-girlfriend, who is still as beautiful as he remembered her but is now married. He soon finds himself involved in arson, blackmail and murder.

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Beautiful Woman | Murder | Arson | Based On Novel

Cast

Jack Hawkins	...	Oliver Branwell
Arlene Dahl	...	Sarah Moreton Branwell
Dennis Price	...	Tracey Moreton
Violet Farebrother	...	Mrs. Moreton
Ian Hunter	...	Clive Fisher
Malcolm Keen	...	Old Abercrombie
Geoffrey Keen	...	Michael Abercrombie aka Young Abercrombie
Patrick Holt	...	Fred Connor
John Robinson	...	Berkeley Reckitt
Michael Goodliffe	...	Detective Insp. Barnes
Martin Lane	...	Det. Constable Watson
Bernard Miles	...	Mr. Jerome
Christopher Lee	...	Charles Highbury
Greta Gynt	...	Vere Litchen
John Phillips	...	Willis Croft
Patricia Marmont	...	Ambrosine
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rosalind Knight	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Gilliat

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sidney Gilliat		writer
Winston Graham		novel
Frank Launder		writer
Val Valentine		writer

Produced by
Leslie Gilliat	....	associate producer
Sidney Gilliat	....	producer
John Harvel	....	executive producer
Frank Launder	....	producer

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Gerald Gibbs

Film Editing by
Geoffrey Foot

Art Direction by
Wilfred Shingleton
Frank Willson

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Colin Garde	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
John Aldred	....	sound
John Cox	....	sound supervisor

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Individual Pictures
• John Harvel Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (1957) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• R&B Video (2005) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

She Played with Fire (USA)
Am seidenen Faden (West Germany) [de]
Hun legede med ilden (Denmark) [da]
Indagine pericolosa (Italy) [it]
Manoir du mystère, Le (France) [fr]
Murhapoltto? (Finland) [fi]
Natten det brann (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Individual Pictures

50s minor classic

Hawkins is an insurance investigator who coincidentally meets old flame Dahl who is married to dennis Price. The aftermath of this meeting includes two fires, a possible murder , blackmail and bigamy?? Sterling support from Geoffrey Keen and his real life father as Hawkins employers. There are enough red herrings here to keep everyone happy and Hawkins as always is superb. This is the kind of film that reminds everyone of an England that is no more. Slow cars, fur coats ,dancing and supper at a nightclub. Where Scotland yard looks it should and the coppers look like michael goodlife. The minor characters are well rounded and blend into a believable plot. And the old house in the fog coupled with the smoke from the fires remind us of the smog filled London of the 50s.

Oh how I love old British films.