{{Short description|1947 British film by Oswald Mitchell}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Black Memory | image = Black_Memory_(1947_film).jpg | caption = Trade ad poster | director = Oswald Mitchell | producer = Gilbert Church | writer = John Gilling | starring = {{ubl|Michael Atkinson|Myra O'Connell|Michael Medwin|Sid James}} | music = Peter Russell | cinematography = S.D. Onions | editing = John F. House | studio = Bushey Studios | distributor = Ambassador Film Productions | released = {{Film date|1947|07}} | runtime = 73 mins | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = }}
'''''Black Memory''''' is a 1947 British second feature ('B')<ref name="Chibnall">{{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=''The British 'B' Film'' |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=156}}</ref> crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Michael Atkinson, Myra O'Connell and Michael Medwin.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Black Memory |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150014531 |access-date=24 May 2025 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Black Memory (1947) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a5545c4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817043646/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a5545c4 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |website=BFI |publisher=}}</ref> It was written by John Gilling and featured the first screen appearance of Sid James, known for the ''Carry On'' films. Also making her film acting debut was the Welsh-born actress, playwright, screenwriter and film director Jane Arden.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arden, Jane (1927-82) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1364950/index.html |access-date=24 May 2025 |website=BFI ScreenOnline}}</ref>
==Premise== When his father is wrongly convicted and hanged for murder, son Danny poses as a juvenile delinquent, and ten years later manages to clear his father's name.
==Cast== * Michael Atkinson as Danny Cruff * Myra O'Connell as Joan Davidson * Michael Medwin as Johnnie Fletcher * Sid James as Eddie Clinton (credited as Sydney James) * Frank Hawkins as Alf Davidson * Jane Arden as Sally Davidson * Winifred Melville as Mrs. Davidson * Michael Conry as Carl Broach * Betty Miller as Mrs. Cruff * Arthur Brander as Rutford * Gerald Pring as Hawkins, the headmaster * Valerie Hulton as Miss Philpotts * Maurice Nicholas as Johnnie, as a boy * Malcolm Sommers as Danny, as a boy
==Critical reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "The subject is grim and the settings and some of the characters are dark and murky. But this only adds to the reality – and realism and credibility are keynotes of this unpretentious but outstanding film. It is outstanding because of the sincerity of the acting – not only by the leads but by the whole cast – and because direction and photography also combine to make a gripping film. Michael Medwin as Johnny is so good that one comes to have a hearty distaste for the 'spiv' he creates. He is ably supported by Michael Atkinson as Danny and a well-chosen cast."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1947 |title=Black Memory |volume=14 |issue=157 |pages=76 |id={{ProQuest|1305811261}} |magazine=The Monthly Film Bulletin}}</ref>
''Picturegoer'' wrote: "Both direction and acting are competent, and the working-class background rings true. Michael Medwin is generally convincing as the now almost inevitable 'spiv,' and Jane Arden is sound as a flighty girl he nearly ruins."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=16 August 1947 |title=Black Memory |journal= |volume=16 |issue= |pages=12 |id={{ProQuest|1771185301}} |magazine=Picturegoer}}</ref>
In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Gripping street-level thriller."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=193}}</ref>
''TV Guide'' wrote: "Weak story, poor dialog; everyone's just kiddin' around."<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Memory |url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-memory/review/108625/ |website=TV Guide |publisher=}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}
==References== <references/>
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0171119}}
{{Oswald Mitchell}}
Category:1947 films Category:British crime films Category:British black-and-white films Category:1947 crime films Category:Films directed by Oswald Mitchell Category:1947 English-language films Category:1947 British films Category:English-language crime films