Time Without Pity (1957)

74% of users liked it
(123 ratings)

Time Without Pity carried the name "Joseph Losey" on the credits -- the first time in three years that the blacklisted director was permitted to use his own name on a film. This British-made suspense film was based on a play by Emlyn Williams. Michael Redgrave stars an anguished father whose son… More Time Without Pity carried the name "Joseph Losey" on the credits -- the first time in three years that the blacklisted director was permitted to use his own name on a film. This British-made suspense film was based on a play by Emlyn Williams. Michael Redgrave stars an anguished father whose son (Alec McCowan) is accused of murder. With time running out, Redgrave struggles to prove his son innocent of the charge. The paranoia prevalent in Time Without Pity can be attributed to Losey's own experience at the hands of the HUAC, though this element never gets out of artistic control. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Joseph Losey
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1957 Wide
On DVD: Mar 30, 2004

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
An hour and a half of absolute metaphysical raging
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Its power is in the story's hard-edged structure.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Michael Redgrave (see <i>Dead of Night</i>) is convincing as a dysfunctional father struggling to save his wrongly convicted son from the hangman's noose. 11th hour dramatics and an overall sense of urgency give the film a pace that will challenge your endurance.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][color=darkslategray]"Time without Pity" starts out with David Graham(Michael Redgrave) just getting out of a sanatorium for alcoholism. His son, Alec, is a convicted murderer who has twenty-four hours before he is hanged. Just to add fuel to the fire,… More
[font=Century Gothic][color=darkslategray]"Time without Pity" starts out with David Graham(Michael Redgrave) just getting out of a sanatorium for alcoholism. His son, Alec, is a convicted murderer who has twenty-four hours before he is hanged. Just to add fuel to the fire, the father and son have been estranged for a while...[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#2f4f4f][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#2f4f4f]"Time without Pity" is a very tense thriller that works very well on three different levels - David Graham racing against time to get his son a stay of execution; his continuing fight against alcoholism and avoiding taking a drink; and the uneasy relationship between father and son. The acting is top notch by Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo McKern, Peter Cushing and a young Joan Plowright appearing in a couple of scenes. Plus, the ending is great.[/color][/font]

Cast

            Michael Redgrave as David Graham

            Ann Todd as Honor Stanford

            Leo McKern as Robert Stanford

            Peter Cushing as Jeremy Clayton

            Alec McCowen as Alan Graham

            Renee Houston as Mrs. Harker

            Paul Daneman as Brian Stanford

            Lois Maxwell as Vicky Harker

            Richard Wordsworth as Maxwell

            George Devine as Barnes

            Joan Plowright as Agnes Cole

            Ernest Clark as Under Secretary

            Peter Copley as Prison Chaplain

            Richard Leech as Proprietor of Espresso Bar

            Hugh Moxey as Prison Governor

            Julian Somers as 1st Warder

            John Chandos as 1st Journalist

            Dickie Henderson as Comedian

            Arnold Diamond as Third Journalist

            Vernon Greeves as Second Journalist

            Aubrey Richards as Prison Gatekeeper

            Dervis Ward as First Mechanic

            David Heneker as Pianist

            Christina Lubicz as Jenny Cole

            Gwynne Whitby as Stanford's Housekeeper

            David Lander as Second Mechanic
See full cast