The Powell & Pressburger Pages Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films. A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it. I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films. [Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

Submitted by Roger Mellor

The Night of the Party (1934)
"Radio Times" film guide

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Director - Michael Powell
Starring - Leslie Banks
Running Time - 60 mins
Country of Origin - UK

A well-preserved and strongly-cast specimen of a typical thirties murder mystery. A press magnate with many enemies seems to have invited them all to the same party. He is shot during a murder game with the lights out and anyone could have done it. The film's surviving interest is as one of the earliest extant works of Michael Powell, still in his twenties at the time. The project offered little artistic challenge, but he directs fluently enough and seems to have cut short the lengthy courtroom denouement in favour of a lively, if implausible, interruption by the guilty party.

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