High Tide at Noon
High Tide at Noon is a 1957 British drama film directed by Philip Leacock.[1] It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.[2] High Tide at Noon was based on the first of a series of novels by Elisabeth Ogilvie, set in Maine.
| High Tide at Noon | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Philip Leacock |
| Produced by | David Deutsch Earl St. John Julian Wintle |
| Written by | Elisabeth Ogilvie Neil Paterson |
| Starring | Betta St. John |
| Music by | John Veale |
| Cinematography | Eric Cross |
| Edited by | Sidney Hayers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
A woman named Joanna returns to an island off the coast of Nova Scotia where she was raised, and where memories immediately stir from her past. The entire film is thereafter in flashback.
She recalls being 17 and having the attentions of three young men. She has had a previous kiss with the handsome but arrogant and aggressive Simon Breck and she agrees to meet him. When he makes a move on her she runs off. Nils Sorensen loves her, but is seen by Joanna only as a friend, not a suitor. She ultimately marries Alec Douglas, a gentle soul who reads poetry to her. All the men and all the local fisherman use small boats to fish for Maine lobster.
Economic hardship overwhelms nearly everyone on the island, particularly Joanna's parents, the MacKenzies, as the fickle ocean keeps leaving the fishing community's lobster traps empty. Worse for her, Alec amasses a debt well into the hundreds of dollars to Simon, due to his gambling. Alec appears to be stealing lobster from rival pots in order to pay his debts. One night he is drowned: it is unclear if this is accidental but Nils takes part of the blame.
Simon threatens Joanna and Nils drives him off the island, threatening to kill him. Nils offers to marry Joanna bur she declines. He leaves the island soon after without saying goodbye. All three men ultimately disappear from her life, but upon her return, many years later, Joanna is pleased to once again encounter Nils.
Cast
- Betta St. John as Joanna
- William Sylvester as Alec Douglas
- Michael Craig as Nils Sorenson
- Flora Robson as Donna MacKenzie
- Alexander Knox as Stephen MacKenzie
- Peter Arne as Owen MacKenzie
- Patrick McGoohan as Simon Breck
- Patrick Allen as Charles MacKenzie
- Jill Dixon as Matille Trudeau
- Susan Beaumont as Kristy
- John Hayward as Philip MacKenzie
- Errol MacKinnon as Peter Grant
Production
Location work was done at Devonshire.[3]
References
- "BFI: High Tide at Noon". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- "Festival de Cannes: High Tide at Noon". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- Craig, Michael (2005). The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life. Allen and Unwin. p. 76.