CrimeThrillerDrama

Seance on a Wet Afternoon

- Was it magic... Or murder they planned?

Working-class British housewife Myra Savage reinvents herself as a medium, holding seances in the sitting room of her home with the hidden assistance of her under-employed, asthmatic husband, Billy. In an attempt to enhance her credibility as a psychic, Myra hatches an elaborate, ill-conceived plot to kidnap a wealthy couple's young daughter so that she can then help the police "find" the missing girl.

Release Date : 1964-06-19

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Allied Film MakersBeaver Films

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Myra

Original Name : Kim Stanley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bill

Original Name : Richard Attenborough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman at first Seance

Original Name : Margaret Lacey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Woman at first Seance

Original Name : Marie Burke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Woman at first Seance

Original Name : Maria Kazan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man at Seances

Original Name : Lionel Gamlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Wintry

Original Name : Marian Spencer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Clayton's Chauffeur

Original Name : Godfrey James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amanda

Original Name : Judith Donner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman outside Clayton's

Original Name : Ronald Hines

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maid at Clayton's

Original Name : Hajni Biro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Clayton

Original Name : Mark Eden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Clayton

Original Name : Nanette Newman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Clayton's Secretary

Original Name : Diana Lambert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bus Conductor

Original Name : Frank Singuineau

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beedle

Original Name : Gerald Sim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Trilby

Original Name : Stanley Morgan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman at Second Seance

Original Name : Maggie Rennie

Gender : Female

Character Name : Plain Clothes Policeman

Original Name : Michael Lees

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walsh

Original Name : Patrick Magee

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Because your weak, and you need me. Myra Savage is a struggling psychic, who along with her weak-willed husband, Billy, kidnap the young daughter of wealthy parents. The plan is to extort money from the fretting parents and then for Myra to help the parents find the child with her psychic ability, thus improving her standing in the psychic field. But as the story unfolds, Myra grows ever more close to the edge of insanity, could the still born death of the Savage's own child be the critical issue? Seance On A Wet Afternoon is something of a hidden/forgotten British treasure, not only because of the eerie atmospherics, but also because it contains a quite incredible acting performance from Kim Stanley as the troubled Myra Savage. Stanley was nominated for an Academy Award but lost out to Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins, I wonder just how many people even remember Stanley's film? Though chiefly marketed as a crime picture, this piece actually feels more like an offshoot of the horror genre, for it's a genuinely creepy picture that has unease lurking in every marvellous black and white corner. Boosted by an excellently understated turn from Richard Attenborough (also producer here) as Billy Savage, directed with exceptional skill from Bryan Forbes (Whistle Down the Wind), and with a plinking creepy score from maestro John Barry, this adaptation of Mark McShane's novel comes highly recommended for those that like a great psychological character study. Oh and of course for those that know brilliant acting when they see it! 8/10