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Maybe the first story from Three Cases of Murder.
Hi does anyone of a film about a figure in a picture on a wall gradually approaches the house in the picture a stage at a time only to knock at the door in the picture and hence in reality.? Possibly 1930s Possibly B film
Maybe the first story from Three Cases of Murder.
I was just thinking that - Alan Badel was in it.
I thought the picture was in an art gallery in that and gradually come alive (or the gallery attendant gradually notices them). I don't remember them knocking on the door.
I think you're right, Captain, come to think of it it was an art gallery, and the thread-starter did say it could have been the 1930s. But when I read that description 'Three Cases Of Murder' immediately sprang to mind. God, I'd LOVE to see that film again! Alan Badel actually stole the film from Orson Welles - amazing! He had three different roles and I remember that the one with Orson featured them as rival politicians or something. Orson had a dream his trousers fell down and Alan seemed to know this and gave him a saucy look! He also played a bartender ... or was it a scene WITH a bartender? Saw it 20+ years ago on ITV when they used to show afternoon films/matinees.
That doesn't help but I just had to share that!
The only other that instantly springs to mind is Fortune is a Woman but again no knocking at the door.
How does the Portrait of Jennie come alive?
name='CaptainWaggett']How does the Portrait of Jennie come alive?
He meets her first as a young child and the she grows up over subsequent meetings. I don't recall any door knocking.
Sounds like TCOM to me ... Badel does a bit of glass breaking with his stick.
Doesn't she just materialise like Badel?name='CaptainWaggett']How does the Portrait of Jennie come alive?
name='DB7']Doesn't she just materialise like Badel?
That's right ... as a young girl.
Sounds like "The Cemetery" Pilot episode of Night Gallery but that was made in 1969 with Roddy McDowall
The "figure in a picture moving gradually towards a house" motif is found in M R James' ghost story The Mezzotint which has been the subject of a few TV adaptations including a BBC one from 1954:
M.R. James on TV, Radio and Film
You're right, it's M.R. James who came up with the first and fullest tale of the "figure in a picture moving gradually toward a house" for the short story The Mezzotint
The Night Gallery episode - which I think is the scariest - adds the "Monkey's Paw"-like detail of the dreaded knock at the door. All the variations/adaptations are about heirs to ill-gotten estates.
name='DocRobertPepper']Sounds like "The Cemetery" Pilot episode of Night Gallery but that was made in 1969 with Roddy McDowall
thats what I thought,watched it a couple of days ago(xmas gift)
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