Mine Own Executioner

Mine Own Executioner
Film poster
Directed by	Anthony Kimmins
Written by	Nigel Balchin
Based on	Mine Own Executioner by Nigel Balchin
Produced by	Anthony Kimmins Jack Kitchin Alexander Korda (exec producer)
Starring	Burgess Meredith Kieron Moore
Cinematography	Wilkie Cooper
Edited by	Richard Best
Music by	Benjamin Frankel
Production company	London Films
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release date	22 November 1947 (1947-11-22) (UK)
Running time	108 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£295,000^[1]
Box office	£158,734 (UK)^[2]

Mine Own Executioner is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.^[3] The title is derived from a quotation of John Donne's "Devotions", which serves as an epigraph for the original book.

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Plot

Felix Milne (Meredith) is an overworked psychologist with psychological problems of his own. Molly Lucian seeks Milne's help in treating her husband Adam, traumatised from his experiences in a Japanese POW camp. Adam is about to become severely schizophrenic. To make matters worse, Felix finds his own home life deteriorating.

Cast

Burgess Meredith as Felix Milne
Kieron Moore as Adam Lucian
Dulcie Gray as Patricia Milne
Michael Shepley as Peter Edge
Christine Norden as Barbara Edge
Barbara White as Molly Lucian
Walter Fitzgerald as Dr. Norris Pile
Edgar Norfolk as Sir George Freethorne
John Laurie as Dr. James Garsten
Martin Miller as Dr. Hans Tautz
Clive Morton as Robert Paston
Joss Ambler as Julian Briant
Jack Raine as Inspector Pierce
Laurence Hanray as Dr. Lefage
Helen Haye as Lady Maresfield
John Stuart as Dr. John Hayling

Production

The American actor Burgess Meredith was cast in the lead. At the same time, his wife Paulette Goddard was also hired by Alexander Korda to appear in An Ideal Husband (1947).^[4]

Australian Frederic Hilton worked as technical adviser.^[5]

Reception

The New York Times noted a "serious, adult and highly interesting film drama both in point of view and execution," singling out the work of writer Balchin, director Kimmins, and producer Korda, alongside stars Burgess Meredith and Kieron Moore.^[6]

As of 30 June 1949, the film had earned £143,632 in the UK of which £101,963 went to the producer.^[1]

The film was picketed on its US release by the Sons of Liberty, an anti-British group active at the time.^[7] The picketing was part of the group's call to boycott British films and products, and had little to do with Mine Own Executioner itself.

References

^ ^a ^b Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 354
^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000
^ "Festival de Cannes: Mine Own Executioner". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
^ "British Film News 17-YEARS-OLD OPHELIA FOR SCREEN "HAMLET"". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 15 May 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
^ "English Studios Didn't Surprise Mr. Meredith". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 15 June 1947. p. 13 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUNDAY TIMES. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
^ W, -- a (19 January 1949). "Another Cinema Psychological Study" – via NYTimes.com.
^ "UK bitter at US picketing of films". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 21 August 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 7 July 2012.