Walking Stick, The (1970)

Deborah Dainton (Samantha Eggar) is an insecure and uptight young professional woman who works as an assistant at a London auction house. Deborah uses a walking stick because one of her legs is slightly deformed after a childhood bout with polio.

Still living with her parents, Deborah watches her gregarious sisters engage in romantic exploits, but feels resigned to a loveless existence. When she’s dragged to a party one evening, Deborah is approached by confident but self-deprecating artist Leigh Hartley (David Hemmings), who asks for a date and won’t take no for an answer.

Eventually, Deborah’s resistance weakens, and romance blooms. She moves into Leigh’s dingy flat, and he persuades her to walk without the aid of her stick.

Eventually, Leigh reveals that he’s been asked by criminal acquaintances to get information from Deborah about the security at the auction house to assist him and his mates with a planned robbery. This forces Deborah to question whether Leigh’s feelings are sincere or whether he has been using her all along.

The film is slow-moving but beautifully shot, and Eggar and Hemmings are magnificent.

Leigh Hartley
David Hemmings
Deborah Dainton
Samantha Eggar
Jack Foil
Emlyn Williams
Erica Dainton
Phyllis Calvert
Douglas Dainton
Ferdy Mayne
Arabella Dainton
Francesca Annis
Sarah Dainton
Bridget Turner
Ted Sandymount
Dudley Sutton
Bertie Irons
John Woodvine
David Talbot
David Savile
Mrs Hartley
Gwen Cherrell
Mr Maitland
Walter Horsbrugh
Inspector Malcolm
Basil Henson
Lewis Maud
Anthony Nicholls
Mrs Stevenson
Nan Munro
Max
Donald Sumpter
Benjy
David Griffin
Deborah as a child
Susan Payne

Director
Eric Till