The Whole Truth (1958 film)

The Whole Truth is a 1958 British-American thriller film directed by John Guillermin and starring Stewart Granger, George Sanders, Donna Reed, Gianna Maria Canale and Peter Dyneley. It was based on the 1955 play of the same title by Philip Mackie.

It was made at Walton Studios with some brief location shooting in France. The film's sets were designed by the art director Anthony Masters.

Plot
While making a film on the French Riviera, the producer, Max Poulton, has been having an affair with his star, Gina Bertini. A married man, Max does not want to lose his wife Carol, but the hot-tempered Gina threatens to tell all.

Max comes home with a blood stain on his shirt cuff. A visit follows from an Inspector Carliss of Scotland Yard, who says Gina's body has just been found, stabbed to death.

Rushing to the house where he and Gina used to secretly meet, Max gathers up possessions he's left behind. A neighbour spots his car. Upon returning home, to a party Carol is hosting, Max is astounded to find Gina alive and well among the guests.

Confused, he drives her home, leaves her in the car briefly, then returns to find her lifeless body, stabbed. This time, a local police official, Inspector Simon, comes to call. The only conclusion Max can draw is that Carliss is somehow trying to frame him.

His suspicions are correct. Carliss is not a Scotland Yard inspector at all but Gina's jealous husband. He has arranged things to make Max appear guilty, and Simon, having the neighbour's eyewitness description of seeing Max's car, has little choice but to place Max under arrest.

When it looks as though Carliss intends to harm Carol as well, Max escapes from jail. He manipulates Carliss into stealing his own car, and when the police give chase to the wrong man, Carliss, in a panic, drives off a cliff to his death. Max's innocence becomes apparent to the police.

Original TV play
Philip Mackie's 90-minute play debuted on television, airing on the BBC in July 1955. The TV play was screened again in March 1956. Stephen Harrison directed.

Cast

 * Griffith Jones as Lewis Paulton
 * Michael Brill as Hugh Carliss
 * Sarah Lawson as Brenda Paulton
 * Margot Lorenz as Marion Gray
 * Arnold Bell as Det-Insp Brett
 * Ellen Blueth as Deenie
 * John Howlett as Det-Sgt Petty
 * Oswald Laurence as Police Constable

Stage play
It was then turned into a stage play, which was presented by Henry Sherek at London's Aldwych Theatre in October 1955 starring Ernest Clark, Leslie Phillips and Sarah Lawson. Leslie Linder directed.

Reviewing it, Kenneth Tynan said the first two acts were "the tautest puzzle play since Dial M for Murder" but he didn't like the ending. Likewise, The Stage newspaper headed its review 'Good Thriller Ends Weakly'. Soon after the play's West End run had finished, Mackie rewrote the last act, the new version first being played at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing in April 1956.

Original cast

 * Ernest Clark as Lewis Paulton
 * Leslie Phillips as Carliss
 * Sarah Lawson as Brenda Paulton
 * Faith Brook as A Visitor
 * Arnold Bell as Brett
 * Ellen Blueth as Deenie
 * Robert Bruce as Petty
 * John Russell as Briggs

Production
The US rights and film rights were bought by Gilbert Miller in January 1956.

The film was made by Romulus Productions. Stewart Granger had just finished his contract with MGM and signed a two-picture deal with Romulus, of which The Whole Truth was to be the first; the second was to be The Night Comers from a novel by Eric Ambler and co-starring Jean Simmons. (This film was never made.) Jeanne Crain was originally announced as the female lead, but Donna Reed ended up playing it. George Sanders joined the cast in July 1957.

During shooting, Romulus announced that they had offered Stewart Granger a six-picture contract worth $1.5 million; but he made no more films for that company. Teddy Darvas, sound editor, recalled that Granger "behaved exceedingly badly to Jackie Clayton on that film" by demanding large amounts of money to do ADR.

Reception
Filmink praised the "brilliant first half".