The Small Back Room
| The Small Back Room (Hour of Glory) |
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 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger |
| Produced by | Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger |
| Written by | Nigel Balchin (novel) Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger |
| Starring | David Farrar Kathleen Byron |
| Music by | Brian Easdale |
| Cinematography | Christopher Challis |
| Editing by | Clifford Turner |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
| Release date(s) | 21 February 1949 (UK) 1 February 1952 (NYC) 23 February (US gen.) |
| Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Small Back Room (1949) is a film by the British producer-writer-director team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger starring David Farrar and Kathleen Byron and featuring Jack Hawkins and Cyril Cusack. It was based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. In the United States the film was released as Hour of Glory.
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Plot
Sammy Rice (David Farrar) is a scientist working with a specialist "back room" team during World War II. He is brought in to solve the problem of booby-trapped devices being dropped from Nazi bombers. But Sammy and his girl-friend Susan (Kathleen Byron) have to overcome some problems with bureaucracy as well as the pills and booze that Sammy takes to control the pain caused by his artificial foot.
Cast
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Cast notes:
- Bryan Forbes, the noted screenwriter, director and actor, made his screen debut in The Small Back Room playing "Peterson", a dying gunner.[1]
- Robert Morley appears as a minister, billed as "A Guest".[2]
- Patrick Macnee, who became well-known playing "John Steed" on The Avengers, plays the uncredited role of a man at a committee meeting, his fourth film appearance.[3]
- Bandleader Ted Heath appears, uncredited, as a band leader.[4]
Production
The Small Back Room marked the return of Powell and Pressburger to Alexander Korda after a profitable but somewhat contentious time at The Rank Organisation. The film was shot at a number of studios: London Film Studios in Iselworth, Middlesex; Worton Hall Studios, also in Isleworth; and Shepperton Studios in Shepperton, Surrey. Location shooting took place at Chesil Bank and St. Catherine's Chapel in Dorset; Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain; and on the Victoria Embankment in London.[5]
The book and film are credited for popularising the term "boffin" and "backroom boys". [6]
Awards and honors
The Small Back Room was nominated for a 1950 BAFTA Award as "Best British Film".[7]
DVD
The Region 2 DVD was released in May 2004 by Studio Canal / Warner Home Video. In Region 1, The Criterion Collection released the film in August 2008. The release included an essay, an interview with cinematographer Christopher Challis, an audio commentary and excerpts from Michael Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography.
Notes
- ^ Bryan Forbes at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Robert Morley at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Patrick Macnee at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Ted Heath at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ IMDB Filming locations
- ^ Kell, Douglas The "boffin" boffin New Scientist (6 July 2002)
- ^ IMDB Awards
External links
- The Small Back Room at the Internet Movie Database
- The Small Back Room at the TCM Movie Database
- The Small Back Room at Allmovie
- The Small Back Room at the British Film Institute's Screenonline. Full synopsis and film stills (and clips viewable from UK libraries).
- The Small Back Room reviews and articles at the Powell & Pressburger Pages
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