Windom’s Way ** (1957, Peter Finch, Mary Ure, Natasha Parry, Robert Flemyng, Michael Hordern, Grégoire Aslan, John Cairney) – Classic Movie Review 12,039

Peter Finch.

‘It’s Been So Long… So Long Since I Heard You Say “I Love You.”‘ Director Ronald Neame’s 1957 British drama Windom’s Way stars Peter Finch and Mary Ure as a committed doctor and his estranged wife.

Finch stars as committed doctor Alec Windom who runs a hospital on a troubled Far East island and gets involved with his estranged wife Lee (Ure) and local politics, as violent friction arises between the rubber plantation workers and the authorities.

A patchy, often routine and dull drama is lifted by some absorbing scenes and the smart acting (by the stars and also from Natasha Parry, Robert Flemyng, Michael Hordern, Grégoire Aslan, John Cairney, Marne Maitland and Martin Benson).

The yarn, based on a novel by James Ramsey Ullman, had the virtue of newsworthiness back then in 1957 as Malaya became part of the British Commonwealth that year.

It is directed by the variable Neame, at that time doing his best work.

Also in the cast are Kurt Siegenberg, George Margo, Sanny Bin Hussan as Father Amyan, Olaf Pooley and John A Tinn.

Burt Kwouk appears in his uncredited feature debut as Father Amyan’s aide.

Windom’s Way is directed by Ronald Neame, runs 108 minutes, is made and released by Rank, is written by Jill Craigie, based on a novel by James Ramsey Ullman, is shot by Christopher Challis, is produced by John Bryan and John Hawkesworth, is scored by James Bernard and designed by Michael Stringer.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,039

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