| They Came to a City | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Basil Dearden |
| Written by | Basil Dearden Sidney Cole |
| Based on | They Came to a City by J.B. Priestley |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon Sidney Cole |
| Starring | John Clements Googie Withers Raymond Huntley Renee Gadd |
| Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
| Edited by | Michael Truman |
| Music by | Ernest Irving |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Ealing Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
They Came to a City is a 1944 British film directed by Basil Dearden adapted from the 1943 play of the same title by J. B. Priestley. It stars John Clements, Googie Withers, Raymond Huntley, Renee Gadd, A. E. Matthews and others, and is notable for including a cameo guest appearance by Priestley as himself. The plot concerns the experiences of various people who have come to live in their "ideal" city, and explores their hopes and reasons for doing so. Many of the cast had also performed their roles in the original stage play. The film's art direction was by Michael Relph.[1][2]
Cast
- John Clements as Joe Dinmore
- Googie Withers as Alice Foster
- Raymond Huntley as Malcolm Stritton
- Renee Gadd as Dorothy Stritton
- A. E. Matthews as Sir George Gedney
- Mabel Terry Lewis as Lady Loxfield
- Frances Rowe as Philippa Loxfield
- Ada Reeve as Mrs Batley
- Norman Shelley as Cudworth
- J.B. Priestley as himself
Critical reception
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "as symbolism and an outlet for Priestley's philosophy, "They Came to a City" is eloquent and courageous, but as a motion picture it is immobile."[3]
References
- ↑ "They Came to a City". 5 February 1945. Retrieved 30 March 2017 – via IMDb.
- ↑ "They Came to a City (1945)". Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ↑ "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'Here Come the Co-Eds,' Lively Burlesque, is Presented at the Criterion, With Abbott and Costello in Chief Roles 'They Came to a City,' Film Made From a Priestley Play Depicting Haman Problems, Appears at Little Carnegie". New York Times. Retrieved 30 March 2017.