Watch The Seventh Veil For Free

Very best movie i ever watch

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Definitely one of my favorite films. True, I do agree with some of the negative comments made by other reviewers both here on IMDb and in contemporary press and magazine reviews, but I thought many of these critics were a bit unfair to director Compton Bennett. True, Bennett has not drawn an entirely convincing portrayal from Herbert Lom. This is an important defect because Lom has a key role, but I can well understand Bennett's problem. Lom is a fine actor but he does not take direction easily, but insists on doing things his own way. I would also agree that Hugh McDermott – never one of my favorite actors - comes really close to his usual obnoxious portrayal, but Todd and Mason are so electric, these deficiencies don't really matter.What's far more important, is that every one of the other support players are all exactly right. Bennett's strengths lie not only in his superlative handling of his two leads, but in the oppressive atmosphere he so meticulously builds up. He often stations his camera at the very back of Carter's vast sets, so that the very clutter of the furniture and fittings themselves contribute to an almost overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. "The Seventh Veil" is such a powerful blend of atmospheric music, moody settings and riveting lead acting that it has lost little of its original impact. I definitely do not recommend that "The Seventh Veil" be made accessible for younger children, who will find its atmosphere too terrifyingly real; but adults will definitely appreciate its impact - even if they find the quickly faded-out conclusion just a mite too pat.

Having been a professional violinist for several decades, and having played the orchestral scores of the piano concertos performed in The Seventh Veil, I have seen this film at least 25 times!!! There are some "glitches" as several persons have stated already, but a correction that I haven't seen yet is the comment about Herbert Lom and Albert Lieven not speaking German to each other, in the film. The fact is that Herbert Lom was Czech (not German!) and Albert Lieven, obviously was German.I agree that Ann Todd did a fantastic job of 'faking' the piano playing, especially with the likes of the Grieg and Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos--not an easy thing to fake! I am, and forever will be, a devout fan of the great James Mason. He went through such a metamorphosis of character performances in his life and the mellifluous voice was ever present, ever molded into the character's psyche. He has written that "The Seventh Veil" was his most successful film, (but that "Odd Man Out" was his favorite.) Suffice it to say, that "The Seventh Veil" is a classic masterpiece!

As the film starts, we see a woman escaping from what appears to be a sanatorium. She runs through deserted streets up to a bridge; it becomes clear she wants to commit suicide. In flashbacks, we get to know the story of Francesca Cunningham, the woman at the center of this tight psychological drama.Francesca, an orphan, is made to go and live with her guardian, Nicholas, a solitary man that was not ready to assume the responsibilities that came with his duty. Several years her senior, Nicholas does not know what to do with the young woman living in his large house in London. It takes little before he realizes Francesca has a gift for playing the piano. He encourages her to enter an institution where her talents can be better developed.Nicholas pushes Francesca to the limit until he realizes she is ready to take her place in the music world. When he realizes Francesca has developed an affection toward a young band player, he takes her away with the excuse she must go on with her studies until she becomes a soloist. Nicholas, a cold man, never expresses any sympathy toward Francesca.Nicholas decides to have Maxwell Leyden, a famous painter to do her portrait. Francesca realizes she has stirred something in Max, and believes she is in love with him. Trying to escape Nicholas' manipulation, they decide to run away, only to get into a serious accident that lands her at a hospital. Her injuries to her hands send her into a panic, but with the help of Dr. Larsen, a Freudian man, he is able to unsnarl the tangled web in Francesca's mind. When all is well, it does not surprise us her choice for the man she really loves.A 1945 British classic, directed by Compton Bennett, this is a fine example of the better made melodramas of the era. It had all the right elements that were necessary for a good story. In a way is a rework on the Pygmalion legend, with musical overtones. The screenplay by Muriel and Sidney Box, was based on their original story.The great James Mason was perhaps too young to play Nicholas, but he makes a valuable contribution to our enjoyment of the film. Mr. Mason always delivered, as he does with this enigmatic and selfish man, a natural ingredient for this genre. Ann Todd plays Francesca. To her credit, her performance in front of the piano looks real. Herbert Lom is seen as Dr. Larsen, the man that sees all that is wrong with his patient and sets a plan to cure her of her fears, as well as her insecurities. Hugh McDormott and Albert Lieven are seen as Peter and Maxwell, the men that took an interest in Francesca."The Seventh Veil" is worth a look by fans of this genre.

Herbert Lom played the principal part as a psychiatrist, in a successful 1960s British TV series called "The Human Jungle".I feel sure he got this part from his resume in "The Seventh Veil"(1945) playing the role of Dr. Larsen the psychiatrist who unravels the mental problem which plagues a suicidal Ann Todd (Francesca Cunningham).I have a love of films which portray great dexterity at playing classical music.In my collection are Margaret Lockwood in "Love Story" (1944) and John Garfield in "Humoresque (1945), I even liked Cornel Wilde playing Frederic Chopin!Once again Eileen Joyce is called upon to provide the authentic classical piano music heard on the soundtrack.Featured pieces she plays include: the Grieg piano concerto in A, the Pathetique sonata, 2nd movement, by Beethoven, the Brahms lullaby and the Rachmaninov piano concerto no.2 in c minor which she also played as a backdrop to "Brief Encounter (1945).The music is under the expert direction of Muir Matheson with the London Symphony Orchestra.Other reviewers have described the plot adequately so just a few additional notes on the acting.Psychiatry was a popular theme with film makers in the 1940s c.f."Spellbound" with Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman (1945) and it features as a means to rescue a suicidal Ann Todd.She plays the role with a rather expressionless demeanor throughout.Was this because she was directed to play it this way by her director as her character was being totally dominated by her guardian and 2nd cousin Nicholas, as played by a dark, brooding and menacing James Mason?She did however act playing the piano pieces effectively.Did Eileen Joyce give Ann some backstage tutoring to give authenticity to her "playing"?The denouement when Francesca is cured by Dr Larsen and has to choose one of her three male friends is, I agree with a previous reviewer, a bit "Mills & Boon".Overall I enjoyed this film and rated it 6/10 mainly because of the wonderful classical music played.