| White Corridors | |
| Director: | Pat Jackson |
| Producer: | Joseph Janni John Croydon |
| Based On: | novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton |
| Starring: | Googie Withers |
| Cinematography: | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
| Editing: | Sidney Hayers |
| Studio: | Vic Films Productions |
| Distributor: | General Film Distributors (UK) |
| Runtime: | 102 minutes |
| Language: | English |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
White Corridors is a 1951 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Googie Withers, Godfrey Tearle, James Donald and Petula Clark.[1] It is based on the 1944 novel Yeoman's Hospital by Helen Ashton.
The film is set in a hospital shortly after the establishment of the National Health Service.[2]
The day-to-day life of the staff and patients at a city hospital.[3] The central story is that of doctors Sophie Dean and Neil Marriner, who are in love, and their fight to save the life of Tommy Briggs, a little boy with blood poisoning.
The film marked Googie Withers's return to acting after 13 months off following the birth of her child.[4] John Mills at one stage was announced to play the male lead.[5]
Bombardier Billy Wells, the man who bangs the gong on the Rank trademark, had a small role.[6]
Pat Jackson claims making the film was "a joy" and says it was shot in five weeks.[7]
White Corridors was the 8th most popular film at the British box office in 1951.[8] [9]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The material of White Corridors is not distinguished, and its episodic structure emphasises that the characterisation is mainly one-dimensional; the interweaving of a series of glimpsed characters needed a firmer conception if real depth were to be given to them and thus to the whole background of the hospital which the film sets out to explore. But on a surface level the film is remarkably successful, due to the persuasive talents of its director, Pat Jackson."[10]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "While it may sound like a hokey soap opera, it is actually a well-made British A-feature, realistically played by a large and excellent cast that includes a number of well-known faces."[11]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Competent multi-drama which found a big audience."[12]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "very good", writing: "Intelligently handled, episodic medical drama always carries energy at its core."[13]
At the 1951 BAFTAS it was nominated for Best Film and Best British Film.[14] Petula Clark was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.