White Corridors | |
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Directed by | Pat Jackson |
Based on | novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton |
Produced by |
Joseph Janni John Croydon |
Starring | Googie Withers |
Cinematography | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
Edited by | Sidney Hayers |
Production company | Vic Films Productions |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
White Corridors is a 1951 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Googie Withers, Godfrey Tearle, James Donald and Petula Clark. [1] It is based on the 1944 novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton.
The film is set in a hospital shortly after the establishment of the National Health Service. [2]
The day-to-day life of the staff and patients at a city hospital. [3] The central story is that of doctors Sophie Dean and Neil Marriner, who are in love, and their fight to save the life of Tommy Briggs, a little boy with blood poisoning.
The film marked Googie Withers's return to acting after 13 months off following the birth of her child. [4] John Mills at one stage was announced to play the male lead. [5]
Bombardier Billy Wells, the man who bangs the gong on the Rank trademark, had a small role. [6]
Pat Jackson claims making the film was "a joy" and says it was shot in five weeks. [7]
White Corridors was the 8th most popular film at the British box office in 1951. [8] [9]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The material of White Corridors is not distinguished, and its episodic structure emphasises that the characterisation is mainly one-dimensional; the interweaving of a series of glimpsed characters needed a firmer conception if real depth were to be given to them and thus to the whole background of the hospital which the film sets out to explore. But on a surface level the film is remarkably successful, due to the persuasive talents of its director, Pat Jackson." [10]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "While it may sound like a hokey soap opera, it is actually a well-made British A-feature, realistically played by a large and excellent cast that includes a number of well-known faces." [11]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Competent multi-drama which found a big audience." [12]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "very good", writing: "Intelligently handled, episodic medical drama always carries energy at its core." [13]
At the 1951 BAFTAS it was nominated for Best Film and Best British Film. [14] Petula Clark was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.