Yield to the Night (1956) Synopsis

Written and made in response to the execution by hanging of Ruth Ellis at Holloway Prison, London, England. Miss Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in the UK. The public outcry following her execution helped lead to the eventual abolition of judicial execution in the UK and this film, by keeping the public consciousness alive, in no small way assisted this process. In the film the Diana Dors character, Mary Hilton, shoots her lovers girlfriend, whereas in real life Ruth Ellis shot her lover. Apart from that the details are almost identical between the fictional and non- fictional lives. The background is told in flashbacks from the condemned cell as Mary recounts her life of abuse and betrayal of trust by the men in her life. Finally she meets a man that she can really love and trust, but when she discovers his long term girlfriend she shoots her. Tried at the Old Bailey Mary suffers from a poor defense and is sentenced to hang. The bulk of the story focuses on the psychological effects of her impending execution and the traumas of meeting with family and her failed appeal. This is an inward study and still has the power to upset today, even though there are no scenes of execution. Looking at the critics appraisals this was Diana Dors' best movie. Although best known for more risque rolls this film shows her true talent and apart from a few TV appearances and a bit of Shakespeare viewers were denied a repeat performance. PS It is a shame that in some places the film was re-titled from 'Yield to the Night'' to 'Blonde Sinner'. Not only does the poster give the wrong impression of the films content, but the lead character, Mary, recites parts of this titular poem throughout the film, creating some of its most moving moments.

Written and made in response to the execution by hanging of Ruth Ellis at Holloway Prison, London, England. Miss Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in the UK. The public outcry following her execution helped lead to the eventual abolition of judicial execution in the UK and this film, by keeping the public consciousness alive, in no small way assisted this process. In the film the Diana Dors character, Mary Hilton, shoots her lovers girlfriend, whereas in real life Ruth Ellis shot her lover. Apart from that the details are almost identical between the fictional and non- fictional lives. The background is told in flashbacks from the condemned cell as Mary recounts her life of abuse and betrayal of trust by the men in her life. Finally she meets a man that she can really love and trust, but when she discovers his long term girlfriend she shoots her. Tried at the Old Bailey Mary suffers from a poor defense and is sentenced to hang. The bulk of the story focuses on the psychological effects of her impending execution and the traumas of meeting with family and her failed appeal. This is an inward study and still has the power to upset today, even though there are no scenes of execution. Looking at the critics appraisals this was Diana Dors' best movie. Although best known for more risque rolls this film shows her true talent and apart from a few TV appearances and a bit of Shakespeare viewers were denied a repeat performance. PS It is a shame that in some places the film was re-titled from 'Yield to the Night'' to 'Blonde Sinner'. Not only does the poster give the wrong impression of the films content, but the lead character, Mary, recites parts of this titular poem throughout the film, creating some of its most moving moments.

Published Time: 2021-02-16 22:05:00