''The Search for Bridey Murphy'' is a 1956 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Noel Langley Noel Langley (25 December 1911 – 4 November 1980) was a South African-born (later naturalised American) novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director. He wrote the screenplay which formed the basis for the 1939 film '' The Wizard of Oz'' an ...

and starring

Teresa Wright Muriel Teresa Wright (October 27, 1918 – March 6, 2005) was an American actress. She was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: in 1941 for her debut work in '' The Little Foxes'', and in 1942 for '' Mrs. Miniver' ...

Louis Hayward Louis Charles Hayward (19 March 1909 – 21 February 1985) was a Johannesburg-born, British-American actor. Biography Born in Johannesburg, Louis Hayward lived in South Africa and was educated in France and England, including Latymer Upper Scho ...

and

Nancy Gates Nancy Gates (February 1, 1926Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. .P. 471. – March 24, 2019) was an American film and television actress. Early ...

, based on the best-selling book by Morey Bernstein.Indick p.172 It is inspired by the story of American Virginia Tighe, who believed herself to formerly have been

Bridey Murphy Bridey Murphy is a purported 19th-century Irishwoman whom U.S. housewife Virginia Tighe (April 27, 1923 – July 12, 1995) claimed to be in a past life. The case was investigated by researchers and concluded to be the result of cryptomnesia. Hypn ...

, a

nineteenth century The 19th (nineteenth) century began on 1 January 1801 ( MDCCCI), and ended on 31 December 1900 ( MCM). The 19th century was the ninth century of the 2nd millennium. The 19th century was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was abolish ...

Irishwoman, in a case believed to be that of cryptomnesia. It was the only Hollywood film to directed by Langley, best known as a screenwriter.

Cast

as Ruth Simmons *

as Morey Bernstein *

as Hazel Bernstein *

Kenneth Tobey Kenneth Jesse Tobey (March 23, 1917 – December 22, 2002) was an extremely prolific American actor who performed in hundreds of productions during a career that spanned more than half a century, including his role as the star of the 1957-1 ...

as Rex Simmons *

Richard Anderson Richard Norman Anderson (August 8, 1926 – August 31, 2017) was an American film and television actor. Among his best-known roles was his portrayal of Oscar Goldman, the boss of Steve Austin ( Lee Majors) and Jaime Sommers ( Lindsay Wagner) i ...

as Dr. Deering * Tom McKee as Catlett * Janet Riley as Lois Morgan * Charles Boaz as Jerry Thomas * Lawrence Fletcher as Cranmer * Charles Maxwell as Father Bernard *

Walter Kingsford Walter Kingsford (born Walter Pearce; 20 September 1882 – 7 February 1958) was an English stage, film and television actor. Early years Kingsford was born in Redhill, Surrey, England. Career Kingsford began his acting career on the Lo ...

as Professor * Noel Leslie as Edgar Cayce * James Bell as Hugh Lynn Cayce *

Eilene Janssen Mary Eilene Janssen (born May 25, 1938) is an American retired film and television actress. Early life Eilene Janssen was born in Los Angeles, California on May 25, 1938, to Henry Janssen and Mary Ellen Thompson. Film career Janssen began her ...

as Bridey Murphy at Age 15 * Bradford Jackson as Brian MacCarthy at Age 17 * James Kirkwood as Brian MacCarthy at Age 68 * Hallene Hill as Bridey Murphy at Age 66

References

Bibliography

* Indick, William. ''Psycho Thrillers: Cinematic Explorations of the Mysteries of the Mind''. McFarland, 2006.

External links

* 1956 films 1956 drama films American drama films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Noel Langley 1950s English-language films 1950s American films American black-and-white films {{1950s-US-film-stub