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Product Description
One dark summer night, Francesca Cunningham (Ann Todd), a once world famed pianist, escapes from her hospital room and tries to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. She is rescued and taken back to hospital to undergo psychological treatment by Dr. Larsen (Herbert Lom). Larsen, desperately wants to know the events and persons who drove her to this state and help her. He makes Francesca talk about her past with her controlling guardian, Nicholas (James Mason) who forced her to practice the piano and kept her isolated from any friendships... OSCAR winning film. This long-awaited blockbuster is the 10th most viewed film in UK Cinema History, higher than Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings! First ever DVD release. Features extensive booklet notes and a 40 minute Documentary, Home James , featuring James Mason visiting his home town of Huddersfield.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Booklet, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Ann Todd stars as an amnesiac mental patient, Francesca Cunningham, who hopes that psychiatrist Dr. Larsen (Herbert Lom) will help her lift the veils of her memory. In a series of flashbacks counterpointed by a lush piano concerto background score, Francesca discovers that she has been a victim of the cruelties of others all her life. Only Nicholas (James Mason), an embittered, crippled musician, has ever shown her any compassion, training the girl to become a top concert pianist. Even he turned on Francesca when she becomes romantically involved with other men, but as the flashbacks end, Francesca arrives at a startling realization about Nicholas's true feelings for her. Filmed on a shoestring, The Seventh Veil rang in as the biggest British box-office success of 1946. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Oscar Academy Awards, ...The Seventh Veil
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"The Seventh Veil" is the zenith of the type of psychological melodramas that hit their stride in both Britain and America at the end of WW II. Less pretentious and certainly less overwrought than Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound," the film takes full advantage of the eccentricities of its cast and succeeds in being a worthy watch despite its outdated psycho-babble. Ann Todd seemed to specialize in highly-strung and tightly-wrapped English roses at this point in her career, and this is the movie where the string snaps and the wrap comes undone; despite a more florid acting style than a modern audience is used to, it is to Ms. Todd's credit that she convincingly starts as a teenager and progresses to troubled adult without tricks of makeup and lighting. James Mason brings a cartload of his famous brooding to his character, and handles the role with such skill that he is both deeply attractive and repellant at the same time. Herbert Lom makes the most of his part as the psychiatrist, with a manner suggesting that even he doesn't believe half of what he says to explain his psychotherapy. Albert Lieven and Hugh McDermott both excel as bohemian love interests. Whether from financial necessity or personal taste, director Compton Bennett steered clear of many of the "twisted psyche" visual effects often used in this kind of film (which soon became terrible cliches), and as a result, the film has aged much better than its competitors. While there are certain aspects that are dated and produce unintentional humor from our current viewpoint, there are more things which feel quite up-to-date: the core story of a performer's meltdown; a woman believing her talent is keeping her from love; the search for her romantic hero amongst a group of self-absorbed, sometimes cruel, and decidedly unheroic men; and a happy ending which upon consideration may not be either happy or permanent, leaving the viewer to think of it as he or she likes. If you are willing to travel back to the mood of the immediate post-war era and settle in to watch without bringing along a bag of new millenium cynicism, you will find this a fascinating gem from a time when war-weary people were waiting for the social rug to be pulled out from under their feet--a feeling beautifully captured by "The Seventh Veil."
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was delighted when I saw this film had been re-released on dvd. I knew the film well and this is an excellent addition to my collection. It is a subtle story of relationships underpinned by an exploration of the effectiveness of hypnotherapy (quite something for 1947). The classical piano pieces will resonate well with non-classical lovers. A classy film with James Mason at his most love him/hate him/fear him best leading to an enigmatic ending, which will never date. I should declare an interest, my mother was Ann Todd.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Odeon are the right label to present this long awaited classic on DVD. Specialising in films sometimes thought of as lost classics, Odeon constantly bring out British movies from the 40's, 50's and 60's that are a sheer delight and this is just one. A very good print of a classic that is in a class of it's own. Long live Odeon entertainment!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Captivating
Thoroughly enjoyed the movie from start to finish. Terrific combination of great directing, beautiful music, first class performances teamed with a captivating plot. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Theatrical1
The 7th Veil - or Pygmalion revisited
This film came with high recommendations but comes across rather dated.
James Mason gives an excellent performance as a manipulating 20th Century Professor Higgins - but... Read more
James Mason gives an excellent performance as a manipulating 20th Century Professor Higgins - but... Read more
Published 8 months ago by SUS
THE SEVENTH VEIL-LIFT THE VEIL AND WATCH THIS MOVIE-SUPERB!!
The Seventh Veil [DVD] [1945]
This movie is often referred to as one of the most popular films of all time and if you watch then you'll have to agree that it deserves the... Read more
This movie is often referred to as one of the most popular films of all time and if you watch then you'll have to agree that it deserves the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Faydra
I love Ann Todd
So very intertaining! The movies holds up, Mason and Todd are excellent. The image is just ok as is the audio.
Published 20 months ago by Gary C. Williams
It's All In The Mind
A musically-talented schoolgirl (Ann Todd) becomes the ward of a brooding, even brutal, Svengali-like guardian (James Mason), who ruthlessly propels her towards a glittering career... Read more
Published on 23 May 2010 by M. J. Nelson
The Seventh Veil
This film is in black and white, which in my view, draws you into the story and allows one to listen more intently. The pace of the film allows one to study each character. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2010 by G. H. Brooks
DVD THE SEVENTH VEIL
The DVD is very good the service i received was also very good.
A J POTTER DVD THE SEVENTH VEIL
A J POTTER DVD THE SEVENTH VEIL
Published on 1 Nov 2009 by Mr. Albert J. Potter
A forgotten gem of British cinema
Many people won't have heard of the Seventh Veil, despite its huge success on release, and in deed many younger viewers may not even be well acquainted with James Mason of Herbert... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2009 by Angelheart
Convincing and mellifluous Mason delights.
There is not much to add to what other reviewers have said except to say that in addition to the excellent main feature film there is the added advantage on this DVD of a superb... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2009 by L. Hepplewhite
a stretch to belief
The use of an actress apparently in her thirties to play a part that has her character first appear at the age of 17 is a daring exploit. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2009 by W. Hamilton
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