A Place of One's Own main backdrop
A Place of One's Own main poster

A Place of One's Own

Visit website

5.6/10 • 19

1945-03-201h 32m

DramaHorrorMysteryThriller

James Mason brings his genius to the strangest love story that ever haunted two hearts

An elderly couple move into an old, supposedly haunted abandoned house. A young girl comes to live with the pair as a companion for the wife. However, soon the girl is possessed by the spirit of another girl, a wealthy woman who had once lived in the house but who had been murdered there.

Directors
Bernard Knowles
Editors
Charles Knott

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Margaret Lockwood

    Margaret Lockwood

    Annette Allenby

  2. James Mason

    James Mason

    Henry Smedhurst

  3. Barbara Mullen

    Barbara Mullen

    Emilie Smedhurst

  4. Dennis Price

    Dennis Price

    Dr. Robert Selbie

  5. Helen Haye

    Helen Haye

    Florence Manning-Tutthorn

  6. Michael Shepley

    Michael Shepley

    Alistair Manning-Tutthorn

  7. Dulcie Gray

    Dulcie Gray

    Sarah

  8. Ernest Thesiger

    Ernest Thesiger

    Dr. Richard Marsham

  9. Henry B. Longhurst

    Henry B. Longhurst

    Inspector Barlowe

Reviews2

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Mar 15, 2020

6/10

It is unhealthy to take seriously what is morbid superstition. A Place of One's Own is directed by Bernard Knowles and adapted to screenplay by Brock Williams from the novel written by Osbert Sitwell. Out of Gainsborough Pictures it stars James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price and Dulcie Gray. Music is by Hubert Bath and cinematography by Stephen Dade. Retiring couple the Smedhurst's (Mason & Mullen) purchase Bellingham House and hire Annette Allenby (Lockwood) as a companion for Mrs. Smedhurst. Bellingham House had been empty for a number of years, and soon enough the new inhabitants, especially Annette, find out why. A gentle Edwardian ghost story that's full of charm and whimsical romance, it's clearly not a film for horror fans looking for a fright night in by candle light. There are a few nice supernatural touches such as hushed voices, the tinkling of the ivories, interior gust of wind, that sort of thing, while the possession angle is nicely handled by Knowles in what was his first major directing assignment. Gainsborough were hoping to replicate the success of the Man in Grey from two years earlier, which had starred Mason and Lockwood, but A Place of One's Own was a flop, with Mason himself later saying that he dropped the ball with this one. The problem is that the film is often too off-beat, with Mason cast as an elderly man and pretty much hamming it up to the point of detracting from Lockwood's fine work. Still, it's a very pleasing and harmless picture in spite of the mixed tonality, while having a Ernest Thesiger cameo is always a good thing. 6/10

Media

  • A Place of One's Own poster
  • A Place of One's Own poster

Recommendations

  • Die Another Day main backdrop

    Die Another Day

    6.0

  • The House in the Square main backdrop

    The House in the Square

    6.7

  • The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer main backdrop

    The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

    6.1

  • The Interrupted Journey main backdrop

    The Interrupted Journey

    6.0

  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness main backdrop

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    7.2

  • Jungle Cruise main backdrop

    Jungle Cruise

    7.3

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 main backdrop

    The Amazing Spider-Man 2

    6.5

  • Moneyball main backdrop

    Moneyball

    7.3

  • To Kill the Beast main backdrop

    To Kill the Beast

    6.1

  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe main backdrop

    The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    7.1

  • Enola Holmes 2 main backdrop

    Enola Holmes 2

    7.3

  • Taken 2 main backdrop

    Taken 2

    6.4

  • Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear main backdrop

    Beyond Infinity: Buzz and the Journey to Lightyear

    7.0

  • Beauty and the Beast main backdrop

    Beauty and the Beast

    7.0

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End main backdrop

    Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

    7.3

  • Letters to Santa 2 main backdrop

    Letters to Santa 2

    6.1

  • Puss in Boots: The Last Wish main backdrop

    Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

    8.2

  • Project X main backdrop

    Project X

    6.9

  • The Matrix Resurrections main backdrop

    The Matrix Resurrections

    6.4

  • No Backdrop

    Super

    5.9

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
possessionmurderold househaunted manor