Time Without Pity begins with the accidental murder of a young woman, Jenny Cole. A crime for which Alec Graham (Alec McCowen) has been wrongly accused. The film then cuts to the arrival of David Graham (Michael Redgrave) at the airport where he meets his son’s lawyer Jeremy Clayton (Peter Clayton) who brings him up to speed on his son’s situation. The first meeting between Father and son allows us to see the fractured relationship that exists between the two, David, the drunken absentee Father, and Alec the son who feels deserted and betrayed by him. Time is of the essence as David must set out to clear his son’s name and try to resurrect their broken relationship before his son is sent for execution. Just to make things even more convoluted Jenny was murdered in the family home of Alec’s close friend Brian Stanford (Paul Daneman), and David must try to unravel the unusual and complex relationships between Brian, his father Robert (Leo McKern) Robert’s young wife, Honour (Ann Todd) and Robert’s young lover Vickie Harker (Lois Maxwell) whilst battling his own demons.

The film was notable as the second feature in the distinguished career of renowned Director of Photography and Hammer legend Freddie Francis and features a score by Tristram Cary who would go on to score the 1967 version of Quatermass and the Pit. The film also features a wonderful cast that includes Michael Redgrave as our protagonist David Graham, Ann Todd, the actress and wife of the legendary David Lean, Leo McKern, Hammer legend Peter Cushing and Lois Maxwell who would go on to play Miss Moneypenny in the first fourteen Bond movies. It is also really interesting to see Joan Plowright in a small role as the feisty chorus girl and sister of Jenny, Agnes Cole.

Time Without Pity is a beautifully constructed film with an important and topical message about the role of the state as executioner, the fact that we know from the start that Alec is not guilty only adds to the frustration we feel at his wrongful imprisonment and impending execution. This allows us to rally behind David in his struggles to both save his son and subsequently himself. This new Blu Ray from Powerhouse features a good clean print of this near forgotten masterpiece, and some fascinating bonus materials including Joseph Losey’s John Player lecture, and a revealing interview with his son Gavrick Losey.