Walk in the Shadow

Michael Craig turns in a strong, emotional, performance in this thought provoking drama. He takes his young daughter and her friend from next door on a trip to the seaside. They get into some difficulties and though he ("Harris") manages to rescue both children, it is soon clear that his hospitalised daughter "Ruth" will need a blood transfusion if she is to survive. The doctor "Brown" (Patrick McGoohan) assumes that consent will be readily forthcoming from the father and his wife "Pat" (Janet Munro) but when he discovers that they have religious convictions that will not permit this intervention, a tragedy looms large - and is promptly delivered upon the family. The doctor seeks a prosecution as he felt the father was criminally negligent in the care of his child, and what now ensues is a delicately balanced analysis - played out in a courtroom - of the relative merits of his case and that of the doctor, and of the position the "law" might reasonably take. What would you do, if it were your child? That's the obvious question and Munro is excellent as the emotional and conflicted mother and wife, with Messrs. Craig and McGoohan performing sensitively too, polarising family and community attitudes and posing questions about the value of life, choice and religious freedoms in a fashion that does give us a conclusion, but one tinged with guilt and regret. It is still a subject dealt with in courts around the world 50 years later, and does make you think.

Filmed in Durham, 'Life for Ruth' is a surprisingly effective story about a man who puts his daughters life in the hands of God and ignores the advice of surgeons. Ruth dies and a court case ensues in which the tension of the situation is brought to a head. Well acted by Michael Craig and especially Patrick MacGoohan as a journalist who comes to see both sides of the argument. This is one of those typically British films with dignity that makes use of unusual locations.

A father's religious beliefs are put to the test when he refuses a blood transfusion for his daughter on religious grounds, and the child dies as a result. The doctor who tried to save the girl's life charges the father with manslaughter.

This is a thought-provoking film that does not take the easy way out. It would be easy to make a scapegoat out of the father's religion, or absolve him of responsibility by taking a fatalistic view. To this film's credit, it does neither, but strives to present all points of view with fairness.

As topical, relevant, and fresh today as when it was made. Highly recommended.

The fact that this modestly budgeted film leads to the possible conclusion that the film should have leaned to one position or the other.

After all there is the old saying of San Goldwyn, "if you want to send a message use Western Union".

I have little sympathy wi th Michael Craig's character. He bears great responsibility for allowing his daughter to play on a beach in the middle of winter without an adult in attendance.

Bearing in mind that snow is on the ground,in real life,giving into the sea is likely to have killed him.

The cinematography is excellent as are an impressive cast of experienced actors.

Sadly the failure of this film caused the bankruptcy of the production com.

Michael Craig and his daughter are having an afternoon at the beach, where she is injured. He takes her to the hospital, where Doctor Patrick McGoohan tells him that only a blood transfusion will save her life. Craig is a non-conformist who believes tht blood transfusions are a sin, so he refuses. The girl dies. The inquest calls it an accident, but McGoohan has him arrested for manslaughter.

As someone without faith I find these stories problematic. So, apparently, are the people who made this movie, because by the end of it they have thoroughly stacked the deck against Craig. It's a pity, because I find the issues this movie raises important and puzzling; what, if any, are the limits of religious tolerance? As an American, with a firm reliance on the Bill of Rights, I side with Craig. As someone who believes this life is all we get, I side with McGoohan.

There are some fine performances by the two men, Janet Munro as Craig's wife, and Malcolm Keen, in his last big-screen role as Craig's father.