Call of the Blood – 1948 | 83 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

John Clements wrote, starred and directed this stilted remake of Louis Mercanton’s 1919 silent French adaptation of Robert Hichens moralistic novel.

David Erskine (John Justin) and Anne (Kay Hammond) are honeymooning in Sicily, in a charming villa given to him by his mother. Anne, who had startled Edwardian London by making a career as a doctor is suddenly called to the scene of an epidemic in Tunis. While she is away, David is cajoled by the elderly eccentric Julius Ikon (John Clements) to attend the island’s Fiesta. Ikon, who had known and loved David’s Sicilian mother, introduces him to Maddelena (Lea Padovani), exotic daughter of the fisherman Salvatore. The excitement of the Fiesta inflames the young man’s Sicilian blood’. He spends the evening on the hillside in Maddelena ‘s arms.

Anne returns unexpectedly. She is worded by David’s absence, to soothe her, her companion Dr Blake sets out in search of him. The village is moonlit and silent when the two truants hurry hack–Maddelena to be beaten by her drunken father, David to confess to his wife. It seems that husband and wife will still find happiness together when news is brought that Maddelena has been turned out of home. David finds her body at the foot of the cliffs.