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For the 1964 American Western film directed by Raoul Walsh, see A Distant Trumpet.

Distant Trumpet is a 1952 British second feature (‘B’)[1] drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Derek Bond and Jean Patterson.[2][3] 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.[4]

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.”[5]

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.”[6]

Picture Show wrote: “It is rather slow moving but good performances are given by the leading players.”[7]

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.”[8]

References

  1. ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British ‘B’ Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ “Distant Trumpet”. British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  3. ^ “Distant Trumpet (1952)”. BFI. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017.
  4. ^ “Distant Trumpet (1952) – Terence Fisher”. AllMovie.
  5. ^ “Distant Trumpet”. The Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 19, no. 216. 1 January 1952. p. 109. ProQuest 1305816887.
  6. ^ “Distant Trumpet”. Kine Weekly. Vol. 424, no. 2349. 3 July 1952. p. 24. ProQuest 2826312838.
  7. ^ “Distant Trumpet”. Picture Show. Vol. 59, no. 1539. 27 September 1952. p. 10. ProQuest 1879607528.
  8. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 302. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.