Running Scared (1972 film)
Encyclopedia
Running Scared is a 1972
film written and directed by David Hemmings
. This was the only film written by Hemmings, and his first time directing. It was based on a novel of the same name written by Gregory McDonald
.
Robert Powell
played Tom Betancourt, a student at Cambridge University, who leaves after watching his best friend committing suicide by slashing his wrists. On principle, Tom refuses to interfere, having discussed the matter with his friend, who insists that it he is doing this by choice and does not wish to be prevented.
Tom then visits his friends' parents under an assumed name, and falls in love with the dead boy's sister. A complicated affair ensues. Tom Milne in The Times commented that it "somehow fritters itself away into long, broody pauses and soulful searchings". Several sequences, on the other hand, were "done with a razor-sharp incisiveness that would not have shamed Losey and Pinter ... on balance, it seems worth risking the tedium to watch a born director at work".
Filmed on location in Braunston
, mainly around the canal and marina. Other filming took place in high street, Daventry
, at Bilton Grange
and at Oundle School
in Northamptonshire
. The film crew spent most of the summer of 1971 there and local people were asked to be extras. A film camera was positioned on top of the then disused windmill to film Robert Powell in the Austin-Healey
sports car being driven through the village. The windmill was also used as the "base" for the crew. Although never released on video, there was apparently a 16mm version made.
Local interest in the film is surprisingly strong. At a recent exhibition in Braunston (Braunston festival 2010) Photographs taken during filming, as well as press cuttings, original scripts and posters were displayed to the public. The original film was intended to be shown if a copy could be located but unfortunately this was not the case. Due to the interest shown, a larger exhibition and possibly a documentary (with input from local residents) is planned for the 40th anniversary of the making of the film in summer 2011. A copy of the original film if located will be screened.
1972 in film
The year 1972 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Avanti!, directed by Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet MillsB...
film written and directed by David Hemmings
David Hemmings
David Edward Leslie Hemmings was an English film, theatre and television actor as well as a film and television director and producer....
. This was the only film written by Hemmings, and his first time directing. It was based on a novel of the same name written by Gregory McDonald
Gregory Mcdonald
Gregory Mcdonald was an American mystery writer best known for his character Irwin Maurice Fletcher, an investigative reporter otherwise known as "Fletch." Fletch was later played by Chevy Chase in the movie of the same name...
.
Robert Powell
Robert Powell
Robert Powell is an English television and film actor, probably most famous for his title role in Jesus of Nazareth and as the fictional secret agent Richard Hannay...
played Tom Betancourt, a student at Cambridge University, who leaves after watching his best friend committing suicide by slashing his wrists. On principle, Tom refuses to interfere, having discussed the matter with his friend, who insists that it he is doing this by choice and does not wish to be prevented.
Tom then visits his friends' parents under an assumed name, and falls in love with the dead boy's sister. A complicated affair ensues. Tom Milne in The Times commented that it "somehow fritters itself away into long, broody pauses and soulful searchings". Several sequences, on the other hand, were "done with a razor-sharp incisiveness that would not have shamed Losey and Pinter ... on balance, it seems worth risking the tedium to watch a born director at work".
Filmed on location in Braunston
Braunston
Braunston is a village and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England. It has a population of 1,675 . Braunston is situated just off the A45 main road and lies between the towns of Rugby and Daventry....
, mainly around the canal and marina. Other filming took place in high street, Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, at Bilton Grange
Bilton Grange
Bilton Grange is a preparatory school located in Dunchurch, near Rugby, Warwickshire. The present headmaster is Mr. JP Kirk, the eighth in total....
and at Oundle School
Oundle School
Oundle School is a co-educational British public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire. The school has been maintained by the Worshipful Company of Grocers of the City of London since its foundation in 1556. Oundle has eight boys' houses, five girls' houses, a day...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. The film crew spent most of the summer of 1971 there and local people were asked to be extras. A film camera was positioned on top of the then disused windmill to film Robert Powell in the Austin-Healey
Austin-Healey
Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design...
sports car being driven through the village. The windmill was also used as the "base" for the crew. Although never released on video, there was apparently a 16mm version made.
Local interest in the film is surprisingly strong. At a recent exhibition in Braunston (Braunston festival 2010) Photographs taken during filming, as well as press cuttings, original scripts and posters were displayed to the public. The original film was intended to be shown if a copy could be located but unfortunately this was not the case. Due to the interest shown, a larger exhibition and possibly a documentary (with input from local residents) is planned for the 40th anniversary of the making of the film in summer 2011. A copy of the original film if located will be screened.