Grahame N's Web Pages
"CANDLELIGHT IN ALGERIA"
Released by Pathéscope Ltd. in August 1951 on
9.5mm optical sound as T.9690 (9 reels)
The first 9 reel feature issued by Pathéscope in the UK. The
9.5mm optical sound print runs about 74 minutes. Also one of a
series of better quality titles released to help the sale of the
new Pathé Pax 9.5mm optical sound projector and in preparation
for the launch of the new UK made "Son" 9.5mm optical
sound projector a year or so later.
The slight shortening for 9.5mm (and maybe the New Realm
re-issue?) was cleverly achieved by trimming various scenes
slightly, especially towards the end. On 9.5mm the titles are
shortened with the song credits removed for example. Next at
around 23 minutes, a short scene outside the cafe where the girl
Susan Foster, is offered postcards etc. by a street salesman is
removed (probably done by Pathéscope - no dirty postcards on
9.5mm!). Later in the Casbah, where James Mason and Carla Lehmann
pause for a quick cuddle with a romantic tune in the background,
whilst being chased by the Nazis, is also sensibly cut!
"CANDLELIGHT IN ALGERIA" GB 1943 A George King Production Directed by: George King Produced by: John Stafford Photography: Otto Heller Edited by: Winifred Cooper Music: Roy Douglas,James Turner Musical Director:Jack Beaver Songs: Hans May and Muriel Watson Original Story by: Dorothy Hope Screenplay by: Katherine Strueby, Brock Williams Additional Dialogue by: John Clements British Aviation Films Ltd Released by: British Lion (Re-issued in the UK by New Realm in 1946) 85 minutes B/W "U" certificate (approx. 74 minutes on 9.5mm) Technical Credits: Art Director: Norman Arnold Make-up Artist: Gerry Fletcher Camera Operator: Gus Drisse Exterior Cameraman: Patrick Guy Sound Supervisor: Ernest A. Royle Sound Recordist: Cecil V. Thornton Editing Supervisor: Terence Fisher Editor: Winifred Cooper RCA sound (Re-recorded variable density on 9.5mm) Cast: James Mason - Alan Thurston Carla Lehmann - Susan Foster Walter Rilla - Dr Muller Raymond Lovell - Von Alven Enid Stamp Taylor - Maritza Pamela Sterling - Yvette Lea Seidi - Sister Sybilla Binder - Woman Hella Kurty - Maid Paul Bonifas - Owner Leslie Bradley - Henri de Lange Harold Berens - Toni Richard George - Skipper Meinhart Maur - Schulz Bart Norman - Gen.Mark Clark Macdonald Parke - American John Slater - Officer Albert Whelan - Kadour Christiane de Murin - Singer Paul Sheridan, Jacques Metadier Berkeley Schultz, Graham Penley, Richard Molinas, Cecile Chevreau Got d'Ordan, Eric L'Epine Smith Musical numbers, sung by Christiane de Murin: "It's Love" words & music by Muriel Watson & Jack Denby. French lyric by: G. Arbis "Flamme D'Amour" music by Hans May, lyric by Alan Stranks. French lyric by: G. Arbis (only "Flamme D'Amour" is in the 9.5mm optical sound print)
"Allied and German agents seek a priceless piece of film, deposited in Algeria, which reveals the exact location of a meeting of Allied leaders to determine the counter invasion of North Africa. British Agent Alan Thurston (James Mason) shoots his way out of the Casbah with the film, his warning to Allied officers on the coast saves the lives of patriots liasing with a British submarine in readiness for the invasion. Slick tough-hero thriller. ". (David Quinlan - British Sound Films) - he gave the film four out of five stars!
"This picture topped the popularity polls in Bulgaria after the war" Daily Telegraph
"A classic British wartime film that has rarely been seen since its wartime release in 1944 and James Mason is in top form as a suave, courageous spy." Odeon Entertainment
"World War Two : in 1943, as the invading Allied forces march through Tunis, an American woman lies in the local Red Cross hospital. Susan Foster recounts how she had concealed Alan Thurston, a British Army officer on the run from the Germans. Persued by their enemies, they search for a camera containg film of the coast where Allied leaders will meet to arrange the North African landings ...." Maurice Trace - A Guide to British 9.5mm Optical Sound Film Releases
gln/August2007.
"The film is set during World War 11 in the French Vichy controlled colony of Algiers where an American, Susan Foster - played by Carla Lehmann, agrees to hide a fugitive British agent, Alan Thurston (played by James Mason) from the German Nazis. Thurston is attempting to recover a camera which contains the exact location of the Allies planning the invasion of North Africa. His every move is followed by Dr Muller (Walter Rilla), an evil Nazi sympathiser, who will stop at nothing to acquire the camera and capture the Allied group. As it says on the DVD sleeve, (available from Odeon in their "Best of British" collection by the way), "A web of international intrigue" - certainly a film worth seeing. The DVD is good quality and includes an informative booklet. Look at the credits and spot Otto Heller as Director of Photography and Terence Fisher as Editing Supervisor, whilst a young John Slater can be glimpsed as an American officer. Incidentally although my latin is a bit rusty, I think they have got their copyright date a bit wrong!" - from "Movies On DVD - 8" by Grahame Newnham - Group 9.5 magazine no. 147 Autumn 2011.
. | A full length, good quality 82 minute version of "Candlelight
In Algeria" is now available on DVD
from Odeon Entertainment in the UK. I doubt if HMV or the
local DVD shop will stock it: try Moviemail ( www.moviemail-online.co.uk
) or UK Amazon. The disc also includes a few trailers for
other Odeon releases, and the pack also includes an
informative booklet. Price around £7.95 Odeon intend to release other George ('King of the Quota Quickies') King feature films like "Tomorrow We Live" and "Gaiety George" both also released as 9 reelers on 9.5mm optical sound - let's hope sales of "Candlelight In Algeria" are enough to merit these other long forgotten British feature films arriving on DVD!. Watch the Odeon trailer on You Tube: http://youtu.be/WUTBQmJlzCo |
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Created March 2004 ...... Last updated: 17 November 2014 ..... 95flmcatt9690.htm ....... ©MM1V Grahame L. Newnham