Al morir la noche ( Dead of Night, 1945 )

Al morir..., como si fuera un estudio de los miedos humanos nos presenta unas buenas e inquietantes historias de lo sobrenatural para no dejarnos dormir. Sus directores supieron crear con habilidad una trama que tiene por hermanas lejanas peliculas como: ¨ Hechizo del Tiempo (Groundhog Day, 1993 ) ¨, dirigida por Harold Ramis, ¨ Retroasesinato ( Retroactive, 1997 ) ¨ dirigida por Louis Morneau, o varias de las peliculas de la productora Amicus, entre otras. Durante todo el transcurso del film, el espectador es invitado a observar , como un voyeaur, los secretos, que como ya se dijo, tienen que ver con lo sobrenatural. Con una buena dosis de efectividad y sin necesidad de sustos falsos, es que de principio a fin los encargados de la función lograron dar un buen espectaculo a la audiencia de su momento y, aún hoy dia, creo yo, lo siguen ofreciendo, logrando asi convertir a este titulo en un clasico del genero. Varias de las historias aquí reunidas sirven como interes comun : la tipica historia de fantasmas, la vision de un hecho futuro, la posesion de un ventrilocuo por parte de su muñeco, entre varias otras.

El señor Walter Craig, arquitecto de profesión, es invitado a una casa de fin de semana para un futuro trabajo, por un cliente de buen pasar economico al que no conoce; ni bien llega, y despues de ser presentado al grupo de gente que alli se encuentra, es cuando comienza a revivir un extraño sueño recurrente.

Despues de una introduccion con ecos a deja vu, y algo larga, como para poner en clima al espectador, Basil Dearden, se despacha con la primera historia que es la de un sueño premonitorio, bien contada y, siguiendo con la linea onirica de lo que sera el resto del largometraje. Dearden tiene en su haber los siguientes titulos:

Basil Dearden ( Westcliffe, Essex, inglaterra, 1 de enero de 1911 - 23 de marzo de 1971 )

Mission: Monte Carlo (1974)
"The Persuaders!" (3 episodes, 1971-1972) -
To the Death, Baby (1972) TV episode -
Powerswitch (1971) TV episode -
Overture (1971) TV episode
The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)
The Assassination Bureau (1969) ... aka The Assassination Bureau Limited
Only When I Larf (1968)
Khartoum (1966)
Masquerade (1965) ... aka A Shabby Tiger ... aka Operation Masquerade
Woman of Straw (1964)
A Place to Go (1963)
The Mind Benders (1962)
Life for Ruth (1962) ... aka Condemned to Life ... aka Walk in the Shadow (USA)
All Night Long (1962)
Victim (1961)
The Secret Partner (1961)
Man in the Moon (1960)
"The Four Just Men" (13 episodes, 1959-1960) -
Treviso Dam (1960) TV episode -
The Heritage (1960) TV episode -
Rogue's Harvest (1960) TV episode -
The Man Who Wasn't There (1960) TV episode -
The Boy Without a Country (1960) TV episode
The League of Gentlemen (1960)
Sapphire (1959)
Nowhere to Go (1958)
Violent Playground (1958)
The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) ... aka Big Time Operators (USA)
The Green Man (1956)
Who Done It? (1956)
The Ship That Died of Shame (1955) ... aka PT Raiders (USA)
Out of the Clouds (1955)
The Rainbow Jacket (1954)
The Square Ring (1953)
The Gentle Gunman (1952)
I Believe in You (1952)
Pool of London (1951)
Cage of Gold (1950)
The Blue Lamp (1950)
Train of Events (1949) (segments "Actor, The" and "Prisoner-of-War, The")
Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) ... aka Saraband (USA)
Frieda (1947)
The Captive Heart (1946)
Dead of Night (1945) (segments "Hearse Driver" and "Linking Narrative")
They Came to a City (1945)
The Halfway House (1944) ... aka Halfway House
My Learned Friend (1943)
The Bells Go Down (1943)
The Goose Steps Out (1942)
The Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942)
Under Suspicion (1939) (TV)

La historia que le sigue es un relato navideño clasico de fantasmas a cargo de Alberto Cavalcanti ( Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 6 de febrero de 1897 - Paris, Francia, 23 de agosto de 1982 ), Cavalcanti tambien dirigio la historia final sobre el ventrilocuo dominado por su muñeco; este director tiene en su haber los siguientes titulos:

1. Um Homem e o Cinema (1977)
2. Visite de la vieille dame, La (1971) (TV)
   
   
3. Empaillés, Les (1969) (TV)
4. Story of Israel (1967)
5. Yerma (1962)
6. The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961)
   
   
7. Prima notte, La (1959)
   ... aka Noces vénitiennes, Les (France)
   ... aka Venetian Honeymoon (International: English title)
8. Windrose, Die (1957) (Russian segment)
   ... aka A Rosa-dos-Ventos (Brazil)
   ... aka Rose of the Winds
9. Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti (1955)
   ... aka Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti
10. Mulher de Verdade (1954)
    ... aka A Real Woman (USA)
    ... aka Woman of Truth (International: English title)
11. Canto do Mar, O (1952)
    ... aka Song of the Sea (USA)
12. Simão o Caolho (1952)
    ... aka Simon the One-Eyed (USA)
    
13. For Them That Trespass (1949)
14. The First Gentleman (1948)
    ... aka Affairs of a Rogue (USA)
15. They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) (as Cavalcanti)
    ... aka I Became a Criminal (USA)
16. Nicholas Nickleby (1947)
    ... aka The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
17. Dead of Night (1945) (segments "Christmas Party" and "Ventriloquist's Dummy, The") (as Cavalcanti)
18. Champagne Charlie (1944)
19. The Halfway House (1944) (uncredited)
    ... aka Halfway House
20. Waterlight (1943)
21. Went the Day Well? (1942) (as Cavalcanti)
    ... aka 48 Hours (USA)
22. Alice in Switzerland (1942)
23. Film and Reality (1942) (compilation)
24. Yellow Caesar (1941)
    
25. Men of the Alps (1939)
26. A Midsummer Day's Work (1939)
27. Four Barriers (1938)
28. The Line to Tschierva Hut (1937)
29. We Live in Two Worlds (1937)
30. Who Writes to Switzerland (1937)
31. Message from Geneva (1936)
32. Coal Face (1935)
33. Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs (1934) (as A. Cavalcanti)
34. New Rates (1934)
35. Coralie et Cie (1933)
    ... aka Coralie and Company (International: English title)
36. Mari garçon, Le (1933)
37. Plaisirs défendus (1933)
38. En lisant le journal (1932)
39. Jour du frotteur, Le (1932)
40. Nous ne ferons jamais le cinéma (1932)
41. Revue montmartroise (1932)
    ... aka Montmartre qui tourne
42. Tour de chant (1932)
43. Truc du Brésilien, Le (1932) (as Cavalcanti)
44. À mi-chemin du ciel (1931)
    ... aka Halfway Up the Sky (International: English title)
45. A Canção do Berço (1931)
46. Vacances du diable, Les (1931)
47. Toute sa vie (1930)
48. Petit chaperon rouge, Le (1930)
    ... aka Little Red Riding Hood (USA)
49. Dans une île perdue (1930)
50. Vous verrez la semaine prochaine (1930)
    
51. Capitaine Fracasse, Le (1929)
    ... aka Captain Fracasse (International: English title)
52. Jalousie du barbouillé, La (1929)
53. En rade (1928)
    ... aka Sea Fever
54. Yvette (1928)
55. P'tite Lili, La (1927)
56. Train sans yeux, Le (1927)
    ... aka Train Without Eyes (International: English title)
57. Rien que les heures (1926)

Robert Hamer ( Koddeminster, Worcestershire, Inglaterra, 31 de marzo de 1911 - Londres, Inglaterra, 4 de diciembre de 1963 ), este director sera el encargado de contarnos que es lo que pasa cuando a uno le regalan un objeto que pertenecio a otra persona. Los proximos titulos son parte de su obra:

School for Scoundrels (1960) ... aka School for Scoundrels or How to Win Without Actually Cheating! (UK: long title)
The Scapegoat (1959)
To Paris with Love (1955)
Father Brown (1954) ... aka The Detective (USA)
His Excellency (1952)
The Long Memory (1952)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
The Spider and the Fly (1949)
It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947) (uncredited)
Pink String and Sealing Wax (1946)
Dead of Night (1945) (segment "The Haunted Mirror")
San Demetrio London (1943) (completed film) (uncredited)

Charles Crichton ( Wallasey, Cheshire, Inglaterra, 6 de agosto de 1910 - South Kensington, Londres, Inglaterra, 14 de septiembre de 1999 ), este director es el encargado de contarnos una bella historia de competencia y amistad entre dos golfistas; los siguientes, son los titulos de su obra cinematografica:

1. A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
2. More Bloody Meetings (1984) (V)
3. Perishing Solicitors (1983) (TV)
4. "Dick Turpin" (10 episodes, 1979-1982)
   - The Secret Folk (1982) TV episode
   - The Judge (1980) TV episode
   - The Elixir of Life (1980) TV episode
   - The Jail-Birds (1979) TV episode
   - The Hostages (1979) TV episode
   (5 more)
5. "Smuggler" (1981) TV series (unknown episodes)
   
   
6. "Return of the Saint" (2 episodes, 1978-1979)
   ... aka The Son of the Saint
   - The Diplomat's Daughter (1979) TV episode
   - The Poppy Chain (1978) TV episode
7. "The Professionals" (1 episode, 1978)
   - Look After Annie (1978) TV episode
8. "Space: 1999" (15 episodes, 1975-1977)
   ... aka Spazio: 1999 (Italy)
   - Dorzak (1977) TV episode
   - The Lambda Factor (1976) TV episode
   - A Matter of Balance (1976) TV episode
   - The Mark of Archanon (1976) TV episode
   - New Adam, New Eve (1976) TV episode
   (10 more)
9. The Unorganized Manager, Part Four: Revelations (1977) (V)
10. The Unorganized Manager, Part Three: Lamentations (1977) (V)
11. The Unorganized Manager, Part Two: Salvation (1977) (V)
12. The Unorganized Manager, Part One: Damnation (1977) (V)
13. Alien Attack (1976) (TV)
14. Cosmic Princess (1976) (TV)
15. "NBC Special Treat" (1 episode, 1975)
    - Into Infinity (1975) TV episode
16. "The Protectors" (5 episodes, 1973-1974)
    - Trial (1974) TV episode
    - Sugar and Spice (1974) TV episode
    - Border Line (1973) TV episode
    - Dragon Chase (1973) TV episode
    - The Last Frontier (1973) TV episode
17. "The Adventures of Black Beauty" (2 episodes, 1972)
    - The Recruiting Sergeant (1972) TV episode
    - The Hostage (1972) TV episode
18. "Here Come the Double Deckers!" (1 episode, 1970)
    - The Go-Karters (1970) TV episode
    
    
19. "Strange Report" (5 episodes, 1969)
    - Report 4821: X-Ray - Who Weeps for the Doctor? (1969) TV episode
    - Report 2475: Revenge - When a Man Hates (1969) TV episode
    - Report 8319: Grenade - What Price Change? (1969) TV episode
    - Report 2641: Hostage - If You Won't Learn, Die! (1969) TV episode
    - Cult: When Murder Shrieks Out (1969) TV episode
20. Light Entertainment Killers (1969) (TV)
21. "The Avengers" (5 episodes, 1965-1969)
    - The Interrogators (1969) TV episode
    - False Witness (1968) TV episode
    - The Correct Way to Kill (1967) TV episode
    - The Danger Makers (1966) TV episode
    - Death at Bargain Prices (1965) TV episode
22. "Man in a Suitcase" (6 episodes, 1967-1968)
    - Three Blinks of the Eyes (1968) TV episode
    - No Friend of Mine (1968) TV episode
    - Why They Killed Nolan (1968) TV episode
    - The Whisper (1968) TV episode
    - Day of Execution (1967) TV episode
    (1 more)
23. He Who Rides a Tiger (1965)
24. "The Human Jungle" (1 episode, 1964)
    - Ring of Hate (1964) TV episode
25. "Danger Man" (2 episodes, 1964)
    ... aka Secret Agent (USA)
    ... aka Secret Agent aka Danger Man (USA: video box title)
    - Fair Exchange (1964) TV episode
    - Yesterday's Enemies (1964) TV episode
26. The Third Secret (1964)
27. "Man of the World" (3 episodes, 1962-1963)
    - The Prince (1963) TV episode
    - The Bandit (1963) TV episode
    - The Runaways (1962) TV episode
28. The Boy Who Stole a Million (1960)
    
    
29. The Battle of the Sexes (1959)
30. Floods of Fear (1959)
31. Law and Disorder (1958)
32. The Man in the Sky (1957)
    ... aka Decision Against Time (USA)
    ... aka Test Pilot (UK)
33. The Divided Heart (1954)
34. The Love Lottery (1954)
35. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
36. Hunted (1952)
    ... aka The Stranger in Between (USA)
37. The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
38. Dance Hall (1950)
    
    
39. Train of Events (1949) (segment "The Composer")
40. Another Shore (1948)
41. Against the Wind (1948)
42. Hue and Cry (1947)
    ... aka Hue & Cry (UK: poster title)
43. Dead of Night (1945) (segment "Golfing Story")
44. Painted Boats (1945)
    ... aka The Girl of the Canal (USA)
45. For Those in Peril (1944)

Por el lado de las actuaciones, unos buenos actores seran los encargados de llevar a la audiencia en un viaje hacia lo inesperado.
Asi que ya saben, si quieren pasar un rato ameno y entretenido, aca se encuentra un titulo que en su momento supo estar entre los gustos de Luis Buñuel. Que la disfruten.