Daybreak ** (1948, Ann Todd, Eric Portman, Maxwell Reed) – Classic Movie Review 11,857

Director Compton Bennett’s 1948 thriller Daybreak is based on the play Grim Fairy Tale by Monckton Hoffe, and stars Ann Todd, Eric Portman and Maxwell Reed.

Daybreak is a bizarre British film noir with Portman as barge skipper and occasional public hangman Eddie Mendover, first marrying younger abandoned Frankie (Todd) and then seeing her slip away with his slimy Scandinavian crewman Olaf (Reed). Portman then hatches a plan to kill himself and put the blame on Reed in this convoluted drama that is unrelieved by any black humour or much real suspense.

The performances are adequate but uninspired, the story is gloomy and the direction is dull. That it is meant to be a sombre and bleak film along the lines of pre-war French cinema is honourable, but the result is unimpressive. It even borrows its title from the 1939 French masterwork Le Jour Se Leve [Daybreak]. Maybe it was a much better film before it was hacked by censors who objected to a rape scene, a gory fight and a death cell scene.

The British censor, the BBFC, took two years to agree to release it considerably cut, losing about six minutes of footage and resulting in some jerky cuts where scenes have been removed and leaving noticeable gaps in the plot.

Filming started in March 1946 and went for ten weeks. Shooting was difficult with the three leads not getting along and Sidney Box unhappy with Bennett’s direction and Todd’s performance. He reworked the script’s beginning and ending, and hired Alan Osbiston to reshoot scenes and re-edit the movie. It does happen but it is rare to salvage a film in this way. It was not released till 18 May 1948 (UK).

Also notable in the cast are Edward Rigby, Bill Owen, Jane Hylton, Eliot Makeham, Margaret Withers, John Turnbull, Milton Rosmer, Maurice Denham and Lyn Evans.

Daybreak is directed by Compton Bennett, runs 81 minutes, is made by Sydney Box Productions, is released by General Film Distributors, is written by Muriel Box and Sydney Box, is shot in black and white by Reg Wyer, produced by Sydney Box, and scored by Benjamin Frankel.

Though a moderate British box office success, it failed to recoup its relatively high cost. Other notable big-budget Rank films of the era include Hungry Hill, Odd Man Out and Green for Danger. The difficulties with the censor led J Arthur Rank to refuse to finance Sydney Box’s The Killer and the Slain.

Ann Todd, Sydney Box and Compton Bennett had a huge success with The Seventh Veil (1945).

Daybreak is the first film of Todd’s new 14-film £250,000 contract with J Arthur Rank, making six films with Box and eight with Rank.

It was the first notable role of Maxwell Reed who was in The Company of Youth (Rank Charm School) and later made The Brothers for Box).

The cast are Eric Portman as Eddie Mendover, Ann Todd as Frankie, Maxwell Reed as Olaf, Bill Owen as Ron, Edward Rigby as Bill Shackle, Jane Hylton as Doris, Eliot Makeham as Mr Bigley, Margaret Withers as Mrs. Bigley, John Turnbull as Superintendent, Maurice Denham as Inspector, Milton Rosmer as Governor and Lyn Evans.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,857

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