Mr_Ectoplasma "Endless Night" follows working-class freewheeling chauffeur Michael (Hywel Bennett) who falls in love with a billionaire heiress Ellie (Hayley Mills). The two marry, and build a large estate on property in the English countryside known as Gypsy's Acre, which is purported by locals to be cursed land. After Ellie's relative Greta (Britt Ekland) arrives to stay, a series of bizarre events unfold, including ominous encounters with an elderly gypsy woman who roams the property.Based on the Agatha Christie novel, director Sidney Gilliat takes the meat of Christie's novel and puts unique twinges on it that are reminiscent of Hitchcock (Bernard Herrmann's spooky score understates this). The film is admittedly slow, especially in exposition, and there are few quote-unquote thrills to be had, but I found this film strangely compelling in spite of its odd pacing.There is a consistent sense of unease that permeates nearly every scene, although it's difficult to put your finger on what is exactly the cause. The photography in the film is fantastic, capturing the rolling landscapes and the cloudy skies surrounding the manor; this is punctuated by subtle scares that come in the form of various figures lurking below on the hillsides or in the woods, almost like indistinct figures in a painting. The film is at times reminiscent of English Gothic in its aesthetics, even though the house itself is very much "retro '70s" in both style and furnishings. Solid performances from Hywel Bennett and Hayley Mills really shine here, with Mills being especially memorable as a good natured girl who happens to be a billionaire ("world's sixth richest!"). Britt Ekland is also great as the stalwart and fawning relative— her performance really comes full circle in the finale, which provides her the bulk of the role's dynamics, and she handles it fabulously. The conclusion to the film is fairly routine by contemporary standards, although I can honestly say that I didn't see the plot twists coming, so props to Christie and the filmmakers' handling of the material— I was definitely had by the film.Overall, "Endless Night" is an enjoyable and well-acted picture that seems to have been forgotten in time. It is too slow to qualify as a full-blooded thriller, but there are tinges of a British psychothriller here with some genuinely bizarre and eerie moments that stand out among effective cinematography and a disquieting score. In spite of the film's lackluster pacing, it is unexpectedly transfixing, and manages to hold one's attention until the head twisting finale. 7/10.

tim-oliver Endless Night remains one of my favourite films and I watch my DVD copy at least twice a year.Having first viewed this marvellous (but apparently long forgotten) film back in 1973 (age 11), in the on- board cinema of a P&O cruise liner, I loved it from the first moment I heard the wonderfully atmospheric opening music from Master Composer Bernard Hermann. This music immediately transforms the film to an old Hitchcock style thriller and the very interesting direction and performances follow it through.Hywel Bennett is superb as the lead actor and narrator and I was fooled in 1973 to believing Haley Mills really was a genuine American.Production values are mostly high, but one suspects money was tight and probably run out by the time the film entered post production.Had Hitchcock put his name to this one, I'm sure it would be hailed as his final masterpiece (as appose to Marnie). However, I believe the film had trouble reaching a wide release and I imagine the critics were unkind, because it was very modern in its look and production design and a little different from the novel.I very much enjoy Endless Night every time I see it and the ending is still a surprise to those I show it to.A very well crafted film, which although a little flawed in final post production (lack of money to polish), is really a superb and entertaining classic film.I hope Endless Night one day receives the recognition it truly deserves.

brent-thompson1 I first saw this on BBC1 1985 Sat late film before close down and even still have it on Video.Its made on a budget from a period when we had some great low budget British Films.The Gipsies acre setting on Brighstone Down,Isle of Wight with Ellie dancing is magical and i've visited this area.Some wonderful stars such as George Sanders and Britt Eckland.It has some really scary moments.My favourite scene has Michael Rodgers working at the filling station and a local Lord with his Roller handing him money,then saying "don't forget my Green Shield Stamps". Foolhardy Reuben with his Jensen Interceptor and Ms Moneypenny(Lois Maxwell) as his wife.It keeps you in suspense the whole 99 mins with lovely music and Hayley mills singing the theme tune on the house piano. A real twist at the end.I have the original poster-"One in ten guess the answer".Please do not remake.

gridoon2018 "Endless Night" may not as fun and exciting as other films based on Agatha Christie books, but it is more psychologically complex and artistically inventive than many of them. The emphasis here is not on the twists and the red herrings (although there are certainly enough of them), but on the characters and their relationships. The movie plays out like a novel, taking its time in telling the story, and thanks to fine performances by the cast, especially the two leads, Hywel Bennett and Hayley Mills (who is lovely and charming), the characters feel like real people. Writer-director Sidney Gilliat (who had worked with Alfred Hitchcock earlier in his career, as had of course composer Bernard Herrmann and actor George Sanders) carefully sets up a creepy mood, and gives us some striking shots (especially the "painting coming to life"). Some details near the end get a little muddled (who and why took that photograph, when did the police come into the house, etc.), but the movie works above all as a psychological study of a split personality. *** out of 4.