Night Watch (1973 film)

Brut Productions

Industry	Film production
Founded	1970s
Founder	George Barrie
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Products	Films
Parent	Fabergé Company

Night Watch is a 1973 mystery thriller film directed by Brian G. Hutton and scripted by Tony Williamson, adapted from the 1972 stage play by Lucille Fletcher. The movie brought together Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey for their last joint screen appearance since BUtterfield 8 (1960). Its storyline shares similarities with the 1944 movie Gaslight.

Plot

Amidst a stormy night in London, Ellen Wheeler reports witnessing a man with a slashed throat inside an abandoned house opposite her residence. Her husband John contacts the police, yet no proof is uncovered. The following day, Ellen observes a fresh planting of Laburnum trees by the house and suspects a corpse might be concealed beneath them. Inspector Walker interrogates neighbor Mr. Appleby, who admits to planting the trees but denies permission for a search.

Ellen is recuperating from a nervous breakdown related to her first husband’s fatal accident and persistent nightmares. John recommends she consult his psychiatrist friend Tony, expressing doubt about her account. Ellen’s friend Sarah also questions the veracity of her claims. When Ellen and Sarah notice a light in the deserted house, police detain Appleby for trespassing but find no evidence during their renewed search. Inspector Walker informs John that the investigation is closed.

Ellen maintains she saw a woman’s corpse inside the house; concerned about her mental state, John and Sarah sedate her. Ellen consents to meet Tony and plans to enter a Swiss clinic. Later, she urges Inspector Walker to conduct another search, only to learn the property was purchased six months earlier by DIPCO, a private firm recently acquired by John.

Before departing for Switzerland, Ellen signs documents granting John power of attorney over her finances, then discovers his ownership of DIPCO. She accuses John and Sarah of having an affair and conspiring to institutionalize her, revealing the key to the old house. Denied by John, Ellen ventures into the house alone; when John and Sarah follow, she kills them both and arranges their bodies as previously described.

It is ultimately revealed that Ellen feigned insanity and fabricated witnessing murders as part of an intricate scheme to eliminate John and Sarah due to their affair while preventing police interference. Mr. Appleby, whose father once owned Ellen’s home, congratulates her and agrees not to report the killings, assuring her Inspector Walker would not believe him. Ellen entrusts him with her property before leaving.

Production

Night Watch originated from Lucille Fletcher’s play of the same name, which premiered in February 1972 and earned acclaim from The New York Times as "a most excellent thriller." The film rights were secured prior to the play's Broadway debut by producer Martin Poll, who developed the project under Brut Productions—a newly established film division of the Fabergé Company led by George Barrie. This film was among Brut’s earliest productions. Poll characterized the narrative as more than mere suspense, emphasizing its examination of emotional turmoil, betrayal, and jealousy.

The story’s setting was shifted to England, with principal photography conducted at Elstree Studios in London. Brut fully financed the film, with Elizabeth Taylor agreeing to a reduced salary in exchange for a larger share of profits. Brian G. Hutton directed, having recently collaborated with Taylor on X Y & Zee (1972). Laurence Harvey was cast in April 1972; George Barrie later financed Harvey’s final film, Welcome to Arrow Beach (1974).

Production encountered interruptions: filming halted for one week due to Hutton’s bronchitis and then paused for six weeks while Harvey underwent surgery for stomach cancer—initially misreported as appendicitis. Shooting wrapped in September 1972.

Though John Cameron and George Barrie are credited with composing the musical score, much of the film’s background music consists of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.

In February 1973, Avco Embassy acquired distribution rights for Night Watch, along with another Brut production titled A Touch of Class.

Critical reception

Time Out characterized the film as an "outdated, uninspired thriller"; meanwhile, The New York Times commended it as an effective showcase for Elizabeth Taylor, featuring an engaging mystery narrative; and Variety highlighted that Lucille Fletcher's Night Watch benefited from skillful direction and a notably enhanced ensemble.

External links

• Night Watch at AllMovie
• Night Watch at the British Film Institute