Home at Seven (1952)

David Preston (Ralph Richardson), a meek City of London bank clerk and a man of regular habits, returns to his suburban home in Kent at 7 pm one Tuesday evening to find his wife, Janet (Margaret Leighton) in a state of anxiety bordering on hysteria.

He discovers he has actually been missing for 24 hours, yet he has no memory of the lost time.

When the steward of his local club implicates him in the theft of £500 and is subsequently found murdered, the police want Preston to account for the lost hours – but he has no alibi.

He turns to his family doctor (expertly played by Jack Hawkins) to help sort out his ‘missing day’ mystery.

A barmaid (Meriel Forbes) eventually reveals that Preston spent the evening in question in her pub but had been acting oddly following a loud bang outside – like a gunshot – which seemed to trigger a wartime memory.

Released in some markets as Murder On Monday, this was Ralph Richardson’s only directorial effort. Shooting was completed in just thirteen and a half days thanks to intensive rehearsals, which reflected in the film’s polish.

David Preston
Ralph Richardson
Janet Preston
Margaret Leighton
Dr Sparling
Jack Hawkins
Inspector Hemingway
Campbell Singer
Major Watson
Michael Shepley
Mrs Watson
Margaret Withers
Mr Petherbridge
Frederick Piper
Peggy Dobson
Meriel Forbes
Sergeant Evans
Gerald Case
Ellen
Diana Beaumont
Station Sergeant
Archie Duncan
Police Photographer
Victor Hagan
Fingerprint Man
Robert Moore
Joe Dobson, Landlord of The Feathers
Johnnie Schofield

Director
Ralph Richardson