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An Inspector Calls

Play trailer Poster for An Inspector Calls 1954 1h 19m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Based on the play by J.B. Priestley, this British mystery follows Inspector Poole (Alastair Sim) as he investigates the apparent suicide of Eva Smith (Jane Wenham), a young working-class woman. Paying a visit to the wealthy Birling household, Poole arrives in the middle of a dinner party and slowly reveals how each family member, including stern patriarch Arthur Birling (Arthur Young) and his uptight wife, Sybil (Olga Lindo), could have had a hand in Eva's death.

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 10/14/2024
4/5
The ending is softened somewhat from the play, with the film overemphasising the family’s redemption. But getting there is a blast... Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 10/03/2024
5/5
At 80 tightly wound minutes, it is a brilliantly constructed piece of work. Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl 05/05/2020
6/10
The Birling's home... is decorated in High Smug Edwardian, which is not only a perfect evocation of the period, but also an apt visualization of the family's habit of encasing themselves in protective layers of denial. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/16/2019
Not even the adroit Alastair Sim, in a noncomedy role as a mysterious investigator, can overcome the sluggish pace and contrived coincidences of this social-conscience drama... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Paul G 11/03/2023 Alistair Sim's is a favourite of mine and whilst he does not say that much in the film, his presence and his expressions completely hit the spot. Its an interesting and very watchable film with a unexacting ending. Well worth a watch. See more 11/13/2021 Nothing special. Good acting, slow paced, dry story. It's fine if you don't have anything else to do. See more paul d @PaulusLoZebra 04/15/2021 An Inspector Calls is a very clever mystery and drawing room drama, with noir-ish cinematography and an excellent Alaistair Sim in the lead. It builds methodically, as a standard police mystery at first, then seemingly a complex tale of class struggle. It becomes increasingly interesting as a psychological study and finishes with a flourish. It leaves us wanting more. See more 11/26/2018 Saw the newer version. See more 11/06/2017 J.B. Priestley's characteristically plodding and predictable 'mystery' is given a stolid and unremarkable cinematic airing that cannot even be rescued by the wonderful Alastair Sim. Extraordinary to realise that director Guy Hamilton would just ten years later helm arguably the best Bond movie ever (Goldfinger). No wonder John Osborne tore up this stultifying West End tosh and paved the way for a new wave of playwrights. See more 07/14/2015 Excellent classic British film making at its best. See more Read all reviews
An Inspector Calls

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Cast & Crew

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Guy Hamilton

Director

Alastair Sim

Inspector Poole

Arthur Young

Mr. Arthur Birling

Olga Lindo

Mrs. Sybil Birling

Brian Worth

Gerald Croft

Eileen Moore

Sheila Birling
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An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls (1954) An Inspector Calls (1954) An Inspector Calls (1954) An Inspector Calls (1954) An Inspector Calls (1954) An Inspector Calls (1954) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Based on the play by J.B. Priestley, this British mystery follows Inspector Poole (Alastair Sim) as he investigates the apparent suicide of Eva Smith (Jane Wenham), a young working-class woman. Paying a visit to the wealthy Birling household, Poole arrives in the middle of a dinner party and slowly reveals how each family member, including stern patriarch Arthur Birling (Arthur Young) and his uptight wife, Sybil (Olga Lindo), could have had a hand in Eva's death.
Director
Guy Hamilton
Producer
A.D. Peters
Screenwriter
Desmond Davis
Production Co
British Lion Film Corporation
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 19m