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A Place of One's Own

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5.4/10 • 17

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

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  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

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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

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