Libel (1959)

October 23, 1959 (GB) • Drama, Mystery, Thriller • 100m

Overview

A California commercial pilot sees a telecast in London of an interview with Sir Mark Lodden at his home. The Canadian is convinced that the baronet is a fraud, and he is actually a look-alike actor named Frank Welney.

Director

Anthony Asquith

Writers

Karl Tunberg, Anatole de Grunwald

Top Billed

Dirk Bogarde

Keywords

court case england war veteran return look-alike impostor courtroom drama english nobility libel suit airplane pilot pow prisoner of war camp

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Dirk Bogarde

Sir Mark Loddon / Frank Welney / Number Fifteen

Olivia de Havilland

Lady Margaret Anne Loddon

Paul Massie

Jeffrey Buckenham

Robert Morley

Sir Wilfred

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Hubert Foxley

Anthony Dawson

Gerald Loddon

Richard Wattis

The Judge

Richard Dimbleby

Himself

Martin Miller

Dr. Schrott

Millicent Martin

Maisie

Toke Townley

Associate

Deering Wells

Editor

Bill Shine

The Guide

Ivan Samson

Admiral Loddon

Sebastian Saville

Michael Loddon

Richard Pearson

The Butler

Robert Shaw

First Photographer

Geoffrey Bayldon

Second Photographer

Gordon Sterne

Maddox

Arthur Howard

Car Salesman

Joyce Carey

Miss Sykes

Josephine Middleton

Mrs. Squire

Kenneth Griffith

Fitch

Barbara Archer

Barmaid

Tony Doonan

Man at Bar

Vanda Hudson

Girl in Street

Victor Harrington

Barrister (uncredited)

Sam Kydd

Newspaper Vendor (uncredited)

Reg Thomason

Barrister (uncredited)

Crew

Christian Dior

Costume Design

Anthony Asquith

Director

Edward Wooll

Original Story

Robert Krasker

Director of Photography

Maurice Fowler

Set Dresser

Karl Tunberg

Screenplay

Anatole de Grunwald

Screenplay

Benjamin Frankel

Compositor

Frank Clarke

Editor

Irene Howard

Casting

Paul Sheriff

Art Direction

Anatole de Grunwald

Producer

Pierre Rouve

Associate Producer

Benjamin Frankel

Music

Joan Johnstone

Hairstylist

Bill Lodge

Makeup Artist

Roy Parkinson

Executive In Charge Of Production

David Middlemas

Assistant Director

Robert Carrick

Sound Editor

J.B. Smith

Sound Mixer

Gerry Turner

Sound Recordist

A.W. Watkins

Sound Recordist

Tom Howard

Visual Effects

Reviews

John Chard

⭐ 8/10

August 11, 2015

The Amnesiac Doppleganger.

Libel is directed by Anthony Asquith and adapted from Edward Wooll's play by Anatole de Grunwald and Karl Tunberg. It stars Dirk Bogarde, Olivia de Havilland, Paul Massie, Robert Morley, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Anthony Dawson and Richard Wattis. Music is by Benjamin Frankel and cinematography by Robert Krasker.

A shell-shocked ex-WWII prisoner of war with amnesia is accused of being an impostor by one of the guys he was imprisoned with. This sends him spinning into the middle of a Libel court case that could destroy everything in his life.

A splendidly stylish mystery/drama that offers up two Dirk Bogarde's for the price of one. The big question throughout is if Bogarde, in the shoes of Sir Mark Sebastian Loddon, is actually a doppleganger that he was in the war with called Frank Welney. Loddon has the riches, the estate and a beautiful loving wife, Welney was a struggling actor and something of a mischievous imp. The big narrative thrust is that Loddon is not sure himself, he can only remember certain things, thus we are never sure either as the plot twists and turns and the court case simmers away with dramatic force.

Bogarde is great in his dual role, with a voice change for each character and different hair styles to help the viewers differentiate. In the court we have a trio of classy character actors, with Hyde-White and Morley as the opposing lawyers (wonderful to witness this) and Watiss as the judge presiding over the trial. Havilland isn't asked to do much until late in the day, but then she shines bright and puts some emotional punch into proceedings. The great Krasker photographs it in crisp black and white, while Asquith directs with a smoothness that undercuts the coincidences and conveniences that exist in this sort of story.

All the highlights of a court room drama are here, and it's a cracking mystery to boot. 8/10

show less

Loading…

Libel (1959)

Karl Tunberg, Anatole de Grunwald

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

John Chard

Recommended Movies

12 Angry Men

Instant Family

Sleepers

Primal Fear

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

Rate This Movie

Rate This TV Show