An Inspector Calls

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An Inspector Calls

1954

1h 19m

Mystery & Thriller

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4 Reviews

80%

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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.

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The ending is softened somewhat from the play, with the film overemphasising the family’s redemption. But getting there is a blast...

Rated: 4/5

Oct 14, 2024

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

At 80 tightly wound minutes, it is a brilliantly constructed piece of work.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 3, 2024

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

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.

Rated: 6/10

May 5, 2020

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

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...

Oct 16, 2019

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Paul G

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

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Audience Member

Nothing special. Good acting, slow paced, dry story. It's fine if you don't have anything else to do.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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paul d

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Saw the newer version.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/18

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Excellent classic British film making at its best.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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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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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