{{Short description|1952 British film by Terence Fisher}} {{For|the 1964 American Western film directed by Raoul Walsh|A Distant Trumpet}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Use British English|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox film | name = Distant Trumpet | image = File:Distant Trumpet.jpg | caption = | director = Terence Fisher | producer = Derek Elphinstone <br />Harold Richmond | screenplay = Derek Elphinstone | story = Derek Elphinstone | narrator = | starring = Derek Bond | music = David Jenkins <br />Kenneth V. Jones (composer: additional music – uncredited) | cinematography = Gordon Lang | editing = John Seabourne | studio = Meridian Films | distributor = Apex Film Distributors (UK) | released = {{Film date|1952|07||UK|df=y}} | runtime = 63 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''Distant Trumpet''''' is a 1952 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=127}}</ref> drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Derek Bond and Jean Patterson.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150017535 |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8e6236|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216140122/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a8e6236|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2017|title=Distant Trumpet (1952)|website=BFI}}</ref> It was written by Derek Elphinstone.
==Plot== A Harley Street doctor answers the call to perform medical missionary work in Africa, taking over from his indisposed brother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distant Trumpet (1952) – Terence Fisher |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/distant-trumpet-v89584 |website=AllMovie}}</ref>
==Cast== * Derek Bond as David Anthony * Jean Patterson as Valerie Maitland * Derek Elphinstone as Richard Anthony * Anne Brooke as Beryl Jeffries * Grace Gavin as Mrs. Phillips * Jean Webster Brough as Mrs. Waterhouse * Grace Denbeigh-Russell as Mrs Hallet * Constance Fraser as Mrs Nettley * Alban Blakelock as Mr Harris * John Howlett as Bill Hepple * Keith Pyott as Sir Rudolph Gettins * Peter Fontaine as Peter * Gwynne Whitby as Lady Marriot-Stokes * Anne Hunter as 'simply dressed wWoman'
==Reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "This film is decidedly amateurish in story, in treatment, and apart from Derek Bond, in acting."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1 January 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305816887 |url-access=subscription |magazine=The Monthly Film Bulletin |pages=109 |volume=19 |issue=216|id={{ProQuest|1305816887}} }}</ref>
''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "Stiff-upper-lip romantic drama, with a clinical fringe. The picture is nearly all talk – a glimpse of Kensington Gardens and an African outpost are the only exteriors – but the dialogue is intelligent and the interplay of character neat. Derek Bond has an agreeable bedside manner as David; Derek Elphinstone convinces as the zealous Richard; and Jean Patterson looks attractive in white as Valerie. The supporting types are slightly overdrawn, but nevertheless provide effective, if occasionally unintentional, light relief."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=3 July 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2826312838 |url-access=subscription |magazine=Kine Weekly |pages=24 |volume=424 |issue=2349|id={{ProQuest|2826312838}} }}</ref>
''Picture Show'' wrote: "It is rather slow moving but good performances are given by the leading players."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=27 September 1952 |title=Distant Trumpet |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1879607528 |url-access=subscription |magazine=Picture Show |pages=10 |volume=59 |issue=1539|id={{ProQuest|1879607528}} }}</ref>
In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "so poorly acted it loses one's interest."<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=302}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0205874|title=Distant Trumpet}}
{{Terence Fisher}}
Category:1952 films Category:British drama films Category:1952 drama films Category:Films directed by Terence Fisher Category:British black-and-white films Category:1952 English-language films Category:1952 British films Category:Films scored by Kenneth V. Jones Category:English-language drama films