Crow Hollow ** (1952, Donald Houston, Natasha Parry, Patricia Owens) – Classic Movie Review 13,210

The 1952 British black and white mystery drama film Crow Hollow is based on the 1950 novel by Dorothy Eden, and stars Donald Houston, Natasha Parry and Patricia Owens.

Director Michael McCarthy’s 1952 British black and white mystery drama film Crow Hollow is based on the 1950 novel by Dorothy Eden, and stars Donald Houston, Natasha Parry and Patricia Owens.

Young bride Ann Amour (Natasha Parry) comes to Crow Hollow, the gloomy family ancestral home of her doctor husband Robert ‘Bob’ Amour (Donald Houston), a place terrorised by three indomitable eccentric spinster aunties, Judith (Esma Cannon), Opal (Nora Nicholson) and Hester (Susan Richmond), who live there. When the attractive young maid called Willow (Patricia Owens) is stabbed to death by hands unknown, Ann decides not to believe her husband and investigates, surviving a number of murder attempts.

Crow Hollow is a decently crafted adaptation of the novel, with Vivian Milroy’s earnest screenplay leading the way in this atmospheric and intriguing if sometimes rather plodding mystery drama film, with the good cast – especially the old ladies – helping it out very considerably.

Also in the cast are R Meadows White, Melissa Stribling, Penelope Munday, Ewen Solon, Denis Webb, Georgie Henschel, Gordon Bell, Janet Barrow, Norman Claridge, Doris Yorke, and Diana Crawford.

Shooting took place at Merton Park Studios, South London, with one scene shot at Gomshall and Shere railway station, Surrey, England.

Crow Hollow is directed by Michael McCarthy, runs 70 minutes, is made by Bruton Film Productions, is released by Eros Films (UK), is written by Vivian Milroy, based on the 1950 novel Crow Hollow by Dorothy Eden, is shot in black and white by Robert LaPresle, is produced by William H Williams (executive), Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy, is scored by De Wolfe, and is designed by George Haslam.

Release date: August 1952.

Michael McCarthy (27 February 1917 – 7 May 1959) died aged only 42.

The cast are Donald Houston as Doctor Robert Amour, Natasha Parry as Ann Amour, Patricia Owens as Willow, Melissa Stribling as Diana Wilson, Esma Cannon as Aunt Judith, Nora Nicholson as Aunt Opal, Susan Richmond as Aunt Hester, R Meadows White as Dexter, Penelope Munday as Cass, Denis Webb as Detective Inspector York, Ewen Solon as Sergeant Jenkins, Georgie Henschel as Nurse Baxter, Gordon Bell as Alec, Janet Barrow as Mrs Wilson, Norman Claridge as Hospital Doctor, Doris Yorke as Hospital Nurse, and Diana Crawford.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,210

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com