Two years of deterioration sees John and Barbara Lomax's marriage reduced to bitter sniping and "keeping up appearances" for the sake of the children. When John's old friend Bill professes his love for Barbara, the marriage finally breaks up – causing their three children to react in different ways and their son secretly determined to do Bill harm.
Acting
Jeremy Spenser's silent, terrifying stare steals everything.
Direction
Birt frames domestic warfare like cramped horror.
Director
Daniel Birt
Valerie Hobson
Barbie Lomax
Philip Friend
John Lomax
Norman Wooland
Bill Ogden
Janette Scott
Jess Lomax
Mandy Miller
Linda Lomax
Jeremy Spenser
Adrian Lomax
Helen Shingler
Mary Wallace
Thora Hird
Mrs. Humphries
Louise Hampton
Miss Russell
Jack Melford
Mackay
Richard Wattis
David Wallace
Joss Ambler
Judge
Lloyd Lamble
Defence Counsel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
1953 Britain: divorce still carried genuine social ruin. The film's 'happy ending' for Barbara and Bill would've been scandalous to contemporary audiences.
Janette Scott (Jess) became a scream queen in 'The Day of the Triffids'—her trembling terror here is basically practice.
US
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