Distant Trumpet
{{Short description|1952 British film by Terence Fisher}}
{{For|the 1964 American Western film directed by Raoul Walsh|A Distant Trumpet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Distant Trumpet
| image = File:Distant Trumpet.jpg
| caption =
| director = Terence Fisher
| producer = Derek Elphinstone
Harold Richmond
| screenplay = Derek Elphinstone
| story = Derek Elphinstone
| narrator =
| starring = Derek Bond
| music = David Jenkins
Kenneth V. Jones (composer: additional music – uncredited)
| cinematography = Gordon Lang
| editing = John Seabourne
| studio = Meridian Films
| distributor = Apex Film Distributors (UK)
| released = {{Film date|1952|07||UK|df=y}}
| runtime = 63 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Distant Trumpet is a 1952 British second feature ('B'){{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=127}} drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Derek Bond and Jean Patterson.{{Cite web |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150017535 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8e6236|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216140122/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8e6236|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2017|title=Distant Trumpet (1952)|website=BFI}} It was written by Derek Elphinstone.
Plot
A Harley Street doctor answers the call to perform medical missionary work in Africa, taking over from his indisposed brother.{{Cite web |title=Distant Trumpet (1952) – Terence Fisher |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/distant-trumpet-v89584 |website=AllMovie}}
Cast
- Derek Bond as David Anthony
- Jean Patterson as Valerie Maitland
- Derek Elphinstone as Richard Anthony
- Anne Brooke as Beryl Jeffries
- Grace Gavin as Mrs. Phillips
- Jean Webster Brough as Mrs. Waterhouse
- Grace Denbeigh-Russell as Mrs Hallet
- Constance Fraser as Mrs Nettley
- Alban Blakelock as Mr Harris
- John Howlett as Bill Hepple
- Keith Pyott as Sir Rudolph Gettins
- Peter Fontaine as Peter
- Gwynne Whitby as Lady Marriot-Stokes
- Anne Hunter as 'simply dressed wWoman'
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This film is decidedly amateurish in story, in treatment, and apart from Derek Bond, in acting."{{Cite magazine |date=1 January 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305816887 |url-access=subscription |magazine=The Monthly Film Bulletin |pages=109 |volume=19 |issue=216|id={{ProQuest|1305816887}} }}
Kine Weekly wrote: "Stiff-upper-lip romantic drama, with a clinical fringe. The picture is nearly all talk – a glimpse of Kensington Gardens and an African outpost are the only exteriors – but the dialogue is intelligent and the interplay of character neat. Derek Bond has an agreeable bedside manner as David; Derek Elphinstone convinces as the zealous Richard; and Jean Patterson looks attractive in white as Valerie. The supporting types are slightly overdrawn, but nevertheless provide effective, if occasionally unintentional, light relief."{{Cite magazine |date=3 July 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2826312838 |url-access=subscription |magazine=Kine Weekly |pages=24 |volume=424 |issue=2349|id={{ProQuest|2826312838}} }}
Picture Show wrote: "It is rather slow moving but good performances are given by the leading players."{{Cite magazine |date=27 September 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1879607528 |url-access=subscription |magazine=Picture Show |pages=10 |volume=59 |issue=1539|id={{ProQuest|1879607528}} }}
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "so poorly acted it loses one's interest."{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=302}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0205874|title=Distant Trumpet}}
{{Terence Fisher}}
Category:Films directed by Terence Fisher
Category:British black-and-white films