Cast a Dark Shadow

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Cast a Dark Shadow

1955

1h 24m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

83%

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6 Reviews

68%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Edward "Teddy" Bare (Dirk Bogarde) is a ruthless schemer who thinks he's hit the big time when he kills his older wife (Mona Washbourne), believing he will inherit a fortune. When things don't go according to plan, Teddy sets his sights on a new victim: wealthy widow Freda Jeffries (Margaret Lockwood). Unfortunately for the unscrupulous criminal, Freda is much more guarded and sassy than his last wife, making separating her from her money considerably more challenging.

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

The narrative drags a bit in the middle, but Bogarde is always on hand to inject some nasty energy

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 19, 2021

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

This moody British film noir with Dirk Bogarde as a cunning killer of wives is now out in a terrific new Blu-ray edition.

Rated: 4/5

May 3, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The ending could be stronger, but Margaret Lockwood is a standout.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 30, 2021

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

A solid little murder thriller from Britain.

Nov 7, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 14, 2005

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This woman-in-peril thriller is well acted, but director Lewis Gilbert fails to draw much tension from the perilous setup situation.

Rated: C+

Oct 26, 2002

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Travis E

Excellent noir with great performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

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Mark S

It’s an absolute must see.. dark thriller. The wonderful Dirk Bogarde - what an amazing actor indeed.. and those eyes.. plus the superb Ms Lockwood. It’s got the same feel that the Boulting brothers “ Brighton Rock” had.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/24

Full Review

Ted B

3.5 stars; The plot was very Hitchcockian. I like the way the Brits can take a noir movie and add twists and turns to keep you guessing on how it will turn out. Not everything is as you think. Dirk Bogarde plays a cunning gigolo whose plan to become wealthy is. to murder his wives and collect their inheritance. Things don't go as planned after he murders his first wife and moves on to the second one. This is a 70-year-old movie but still plays well to today's audiences.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

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Tamara K

I love movies where the evil murderer dies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

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Audience Member

Bogarde is not the charmer he is supposed to be in this film, as his sinister glances dominate most of the scenes. That said, the story doesn't work very well. Nice production, though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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joe m

Decent suspense film set in contemporary 1950s England where a ne'er do well cad is too smart for his own good after killing his older, refined first wife and then looking to rectify his mistake with similar plans with his not as old and not as refined second wife. Bogarde is good as the lead, yet Lockwood is really something else as the sassy, no nonsense Freda who becomes the second Mrs Bare. Rest of the cast makes the film come together.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Lewis Gilbert

Director

Dirk Bogarde

Edward "Teddy" Bare

Margaret Lockwood

Freda Jeffries

Kathleen Harrison

Emmie

Kay Walsh

Charlotte Young

Robert Flemyng

Phillip Mortimer

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Synopsis

Edward "Teddy" Bare (Dirk Bogarde) is a ruthless schemer who thinks he's hit the big time when he kills his older wife (Mona Washbourne), believing he will inherit a fortune. When things don't go according to plan, Teddy sets his sights on a new victim: wealthy widow Freda Jeffries (Margaret Lockwood). Unfortunately for the unscrupulous criminal, Freda is much more guarded and sassy than his last wife, making separating her from her money considerably more challenging.

Director: Lewis Gilbert
Screenwriter: John Cresswell
Production Co: Angel Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (DVD): Apr 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 24m

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