Laughter in the Dark

Date: 1969
Director: Tony Richardson
Production Company: Les Films Marceau, Winkast Film, Woodfall Film

Stars: Nicol Wiliamson, Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Drouot, Peter Bowles, Sian Phillips, Kate O'Toole
Location(s): London, Majorca

Region(s): ,

Storyline:

Based on the book by Nabokov, rather a grim but engrossing story as a successful man loses wife, job, daughter, sight and more to an usherette under whose charming spell he recklessly falls. SJ

An almost lost film, which I last saw on BBC in 1981. Well overdue for a DVD release.

Additional Information:

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Titles over a pleasant country pile. Faringdon House on the north side of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, east of Swindon.

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Williamson, the apparently happy family man, with daughter O'Toole in the ground's gardens.

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And the grounds are extensive as Bowles rushes to greet the family.

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Williamson at the front of the house. He replaced Richard Burton after filming had started but did manage to film some scenes here while Liz Taylor handled the gin as related in "The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me" by Sofka Zinovieff.

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  • 16 Jul 2023

Williamson is dropped off by his chauffeur in town (London) and hails a cab. That arched structure seems familiar from somewhere else ... After several years, Tony C. says looks very much like looking southwest onto Brompton Cemetery from junction of Old Brompton Road & Kempsford Gardens in London.

And Tony C. provides the comparison. (SJ)

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  • 19 Oct 2015

Willimason approaches an interesting block shape. Chris Pain identifies this as the corner of Hogarth Road and Hogarth Place, Earl's Court. The location was seen in 'Straight On Till Morning', 'Two a Penny' and 'Mr. Forbush and the Penguins'. (RL)

Replacing Chris' Google shot, from Google Earth, with a better angle. SJ

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This suggests it's not too far away from the above shot but there's definitely a cut.

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Katrina and Drouot (aurrounded by deckchairs under the tree) in a park. Possibly Hyde Park.

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Williamson hears about his daughter from Bowles. Andrew Downey confirms this is a real interior in Faringdon House.

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Williamson seeks Phillips to share his grief.

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Phillips is doing fine by herself.

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Williamson waves to Karina and Drouot on holiday in Majorca.

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Are Drouot and Karina having an affair behind his back? Hmm, tricky one.

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Karina and Douot get cosy off the coast of Majorca.

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The scene of the crash which brings on Williamson's blindness as he drives Karina against a team of cyclists. Sa Calobra, Majorca. (SR)

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Driving to a villa for recuperation.

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The villa comes into sight as they turn the corner from the previous shot. s'Estaca, on the coast of Valldemossa, later to become the property of actor Michael Douglas. (SR)