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The Next of Kin

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5.7/10 • 7

1942-06-151h 42m

DramaWarThrillerMystery

Lots of slogans such as "Be like Dad, Keep Mum" and "Keep it under your Hat" are visible on the walls in various scenes to reinforce the plot of this British wartime movie illustrating how gossipy talk can result in unknowingly giving valuable information to Nazi spies.

Directors
Thorold Dickinson
Writters
Thorold Dickinson, Basil Bartlett, John Dighton, Angus MacPhail
Editors
Thorold Dickinson, Basil Bartlett, John Dighton, Angus MacPhail, Ray Pitt

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Mervyn Johns

    Mervyn Johns

    No 23: Mr Davis

  2. Nova Pilbeam

    Nova Pilbeam

    Beppie Leemans

  3. Reginald Tate

    Reginald Tate

    Maj. Richards

  4. John Chandos

    John Chandos

    No 16

  5. Stephen Murray

    Stephen Murray

    Mr. Barratt

  6. Jack Hawkins

    Jack Hawkins

    Brigade Major Harcourt

  7. Geoffrey Hibbert

    Geoffrey Hibbert

    Pvt. John

  8. Philip Friend

    Philip Friend

    Lt. Cummins

  9. Phyllis Stanley

    Phyllis Stanley

    Miss Clare

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 26, 2022

6/10

This isn't so much an action film, as a series of scenarios that convey a message to the watching public that "careless talk costs lives". It started out life as a training film and you can tell by the rather clunky editing that director Thorold Dickinson was thinking on his feet as this project aimed at the military grew into a very important, and effective, counter-espionage tool. It's got quite a formidable cast of serving (or reservist) soldiers including Mervyn Johns, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Murray, Basil Sydney as well as Torin Thatcher in his typical role as the baddie; and the narrative weaves threads that cleverly expose just how easily the enemy got hold of information and capitalised on it. It uses actuality from time to time, and has a strange sort of excitement especially as the climaxes to each thread are not always favourable to the British which also lends it a considerable authenticity. There is a bit of wartime black humour to enjoy too, and though a curious film to watch, it has an unique plausibility which I found interesting, and to an extent, quite enjoyable.

Media

  • The Next of Kin poster
  • The Next of Kin poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
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