Dance Hall (1950)
6/10
Not Charles Crichton's finest hour!
18 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Admittedly, Crichton's direction is occasionally fluid, but his contribution to the screenplay itself is nowhere in evidence. It comes across as a muddled, triangular romantic melodrama in which uninteresting players such as Natasha Parry, Donald Houston and most particularly Bonar Colleano hog the camera, while people like the super-lovely Diana Dors are wasted in some feeble supporting role.

Fortunately, Douglas Slocombe's photography is effective, but the film's best feature is Seth Holt's masterful film editing which almost single-handedly manages to whip up a bit of audience interest in the proceedings.

True, there are also some nice musical interludes by Geraldo and his Orchestra, plus Ted Heath and his Music.

And I really enjoyed Hy Hazell's song, "You're Only Dreaming" (music by Ernest Irving and Joyce Cochrane, lyrics by Christopher Hassall).
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