Director: Arthur Lubin
Stars: Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons, Bill Travers, Belinda Lee, Ronald Squire,
Set in the early 1900s, Footsteps in the Fog begins just after aristocrat Stephen Lowry (Granger) has lost his wife. However, his maid Lily (Simmons) knows that Stephen poisoned his wife, and she uses this knowledge to her advantage, but every time she pushes for something new she threatens to annoy Stephen. He’s already killed one woman, can he do it again?
I really enjoyed this film. It wastes no time in getting to the heart of the matter and the dynamic between Stephen and Lily is fraught with tension. Granger and Simmons work so well together. Each of them have to keep up an innocent façade but behind their eyes lies wickedness, and they each push each other resulting in them both being bonded by the secret but also being mistrustful of each other, and each seeking to gain the upper hand.
But while this is going on Lowry’s life continues as he seeks to takes over a business partner’s business…and his daughter. This leads to a subplot where another character gets involved and there are two love triangles going on. It also manages to incorporate a courtroom drama as well. There’s a lot going on in a film that’s just around 90 minutes, but it all flows naturally and it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to do too much.
I loved the setting and staging of the film as well. The stately house was ominous and the picture of Lowry’s deceased wife was ever-present, the specter looming over him. And the fog gave such tension. It hangs around the scene like a thick blanket and I was actually a little disappointed that more of the film didn’t take place in the fog; a lot of it was contained indoors.
This is the kind of film I love watched and reviewing though, a hidden gem. Stately English homes have been home to much Gothic horror but this is more than a typical one. I really, really liked and I encourage people to check it out.