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Architect Walter Craig (Mervyn Johns) arrives at country house Pilgrim Farm thinking that he has been hired to remodel it. He finds the building strangely familiar, and upon entering discovers that he recognizes all of the house's occupants from a recurring nightmare he has experienced. One by one, everyone present relates their own horrific nightmare: Grainger (Anthony Baird) dreams that he is a racing driver recuperating from an accident; teenager Sally O'Hara (Sally Ann Howes) dreams of a Christmas party where she discovers a lone crying child; Joan Courtland (Googie Withers) relates a story of an antique mirror linked to an ancient murder; the next story concerns two golfers who vie murderously for the attention of a young lady; and the final, unforgettable tale features a ventriloquist (Michael Redgrave) whose dummy has a life of its own. (British Film Institute (BFI))
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I was mostly struck by the story with the ventriloquist puppet, which, although a bit overused these days, could have had the right effect in its time. I think the creators knew very well why they put it at the end. That's where it truly excels. It's like a cherry on top of an otherwise not-very-tasty cake - nothing offensive, but also not much to get excited about. Dead of Night remains just one of many for me.
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Photo © Ealing Studios
