The actress who played Dora looks so much like Gretchen Franklin(Ethel/EastEnders)that I came on here to look her up. Her name is Merle Tottenham. She was born in 1901, and Franklin in 1911. I am wondering if they are related. They look and sound very much alike.
shareAfter Internet searching, I found almost no references to Merle Tottenham, other than as an actress in "Night Must Fall."
I did find a Wikipedia entry for Gretchen Franklin. However, Wikipedia makes no mention of Merle Tottenham being a relative. Because Wikipedia, in my opinion, does a pretty good job of collecting obscure facts for a particular entry, and because there is no mention of a connection between the two actresses, I doubt there is a familial relationship between Merle Tottenham and Gretchen Franklin.
I know this is not a definitive yes or no answer, but probably the best one out there - unless you could contact someone like Robert Osborne!
"You must be the change you seek in this world."
What a concidence ... I just saw the film for the first time and thought the actress playing Dora was Gretchen Franklin, using a different name! They were truly alike - I'd be astonished if they weren't related. Another thing ... Kathleen Harrison was fabulous in this, as in all her films. She was obviously taken to Hollywood by MGM to reprise her London stage role, so why on earth didn't they put her under contract? She could easily have had a good career in the States, but this was her only US feature. Would love to know why she didn't remain at MGM.
shareI also wish they would put the film out on DVD!
Human Rights: Know them, demand them, defend them.
They have - go to TCM.com/SHOP for details (as it says on the screen).
"You want to save humanity but it's people that you just can't stand". - John Lennon
I just saw "Three on a Weekend" with Merle in it and she and the film were fun, even though I found that the story was predictable. That film is a good example of how good character actors can make an otherwise bland movie enjoyable. Also, Kathleen Harrison, who played the cook in "Night Must Fall" was in "Three on a Weekend."
BTW, I now do have a DVD of "Night Must Fall" in my library and it remains one of my favorite Robert Montgomery works
Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them