The Clouded Yellow

1950

1h 35m

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

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7 Images

Mystery

Thriller

After leaving the British Secret Service, David Somers (played by Trevor Howard) finds work cataloging butterflies at the country house of Nicholas and Jess Fenton. After the murder of a local gamekeeper, suspicion (wrongfully) falls on their niece, Sophie Malraux (Jean Simmons). Somers helps Sophie to escape arrest and they go on the run together. After a cross-country chase they arrive at a coastal city with the intention of leaving the country by ship. All's well that ends well after the true identity of the murderer is revealed.

Directors

Ralph Thomas

Writers

Janet Green(original story by)

Janet Green(screenplay by)

Stars

Jean Simmons

Trevor Howard

Sonia Dresdel

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Videos1

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Photos7

Top cast

Sophie Malraux

Maj. David Somers

Jess Fenton

Nicholas Fenton

Willy Shepley

Police Inspector

Secret Service Chief Chubb (as Andre Morell)

Michael Brennan

Police Superintendent

Dr. Karl Cesare

Minna Cesare

Taxidermist

Employment Agent

Kyra

Nora

Hick

Young Woman at Nora's House (uncredited)

Directors

Ralph Thomas

Writers

Janet Green(original story by)

Janet Green(screenplay by)

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User reviews2

Review

Featured review

7/10

Love is like a butterfly, as soft and gentle as a sigh. The Clouded Yellow is directed by Ralph Thomas and written by Eric Ambler and Janet Green. It stars Trevor Howard, Jean Simmons, Sonia Dresdel, Barry Jones, Kenneth More and Geoffrey Keen. Taut British spy thriller with Hitchcockian flavours, The Clouded Yellow finds David Somers (Howard) as an ex-secret service operative working as a butterfly cataloguer who finds himself neck deep in a murder plot. Set in the North of England, with some good locations to be spotted by the keen of English eye, the story revolves around the murderous goings on at the stately home where Somers now works. With Sophie Mairaux (Simmons) the chief suspect, Somers comes to believe she is innocent and sets about proving so. It follows a reliable formula, where the set-up introduces the main players, the hero in waiting takes it upon himself to use his skills to prove he’s right, which builds to an odd couple on the lam final quarter of film. The strength is in the characterisations, particularly Somers with his past hanging heavy on his mind, and Mairaux and her current predicaments which involve her being surrounded by vile people. Thomas directs assuredly, mixing the drama with humour and affection, and the suspense and mystery elements are maintained up until the dramatic conclusion. Cast are suitably in good tune with the material, with Howard and Simmons making a compelling and complex coupling. 7/10

John Chard29 Aug, 2014