The Story of Esther Costello (1957)
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- 1h 43min
- Drama
- 06 Nov 1957 (USA)
- Movie
Eighteen-year-old Esther has been deaf and blind since the accident which killed her mother. Wealthy Margaret Landi, a native of Esther's village in Ireland, is talked into helping to educate and possibly heal Esther. Margaret grows to...
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Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast
| Joan Crawford | ... |
Margaret Landi
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| Rossano Brazzi | ... |
Carlo Landi
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| Heather Sears | ... |
Esther Costello
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| Lee Patterson | ... |
Harry Grant
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| Ron Randell | ... |
Frank Wenzel
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| Fay Compton | ... |
Mother Superior
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| John Loder | ... |
Paul Marchant
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| Denis O'Dea | ... |
Father Devlin
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| Sidney James | ... |
Ryan
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| Bessie Love | ... |
Matron in Art Gallery
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| Robert Ayres | ... |
Mr. Wilson
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| Maureen Delaney | ... |
Jennie Costello
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Harry Hutchinson | ... |
Irish Publican
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Tony Quinn | ... |
Irish Pub Customer
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| Janina Faye | ... |
Esther Costello as a Child
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Estelle Brody | ... |
Tammy
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| June Clyde | ... |
Mrs. Forbes
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Sally Smith | ... |
Susan North
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Diana Day | ... |
Christine Brown
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| Megs Jenkins | ... |
Nurse Evans
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| Andrew Cruickshank | ... |
Dr. Stein
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Victor Rietti | ... |
Signor Gatti
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Sheila Manahan | ... |
Esther's Mother
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Christopher Toyne | ... |
Little Jimmy
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Heather Bennett | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Judy Bloom | ... |
(uncredited)
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Janet Bradbury | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Wilfrid Brambell | ... |
Man in Irish Pub (uncredited)
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| Peter Brown | ... |
Boy in Airport (uncredited)
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Anne Cooke | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Mark Daly | ... |
Billy (uncredited)
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Sylvia Davies | ... |
(uncredited)
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Gilda Emmanuelli | ... |
(uncredited)
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Derek Freeman | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jennifer Goddard | ... |
Long Dark-Haired Girl (uncredited)
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Peter Godsell | ... |
(uncredited)
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Mandy Harper | ... |
(uncredited)
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Yvette Hosler | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Oliver Johnston | ... |
Royal Festival Hall Man (uncredited)
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Liz Lanchbury | ... |
(uncredited)
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Michael Lewin | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Edward Lexy | ... |
Fourth Man in Irish Pub (uncredited)
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Charles Lloyd Pack | ... |
Dr. Blake (uncredited)
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Natalie Lynn | ... |
Mrs. Perry (uncredited)
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Edward Malin | ... |
Man in Irish Pub (uncredited)
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Launce Maraschal | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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| Tucker McGuire | ... |
Miss Moore (uncredited)
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Cheryl Molineaux | ... |
(uncredited)
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Susan Raie | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Anthony Sadler | ... |
(uncredited)
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Michael Scoble | ... |
(uncredited)
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Delene Scott | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Ewen Solon | ... |
Christine Brown's Father (uncredited)
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John Symonds | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Gareth Tandy | ... |
(uncredited)
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Jacquie Wallis | ... |
(uncredited)
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Lynn Williams | ... |
(uncredited)
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Pearl Winkworth | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| David Miller | ||
Written by
| Samuel Fuller | ... | (first screenplay) (uncredited) |
| Charles Kaufman | ... | () |
| Nicholas Monsarrat | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Jack Clayton | ... | producer |
| Joan Crawford | ... | co-producer (uncredited) |
| David Miller | ... | producer |
| John Woolf | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Georges Auric | ||
Cinematography by
| Robert Krasker | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Ralph Kemplen | ||
Art Direction by
| Anthony Masters | ... | (as Tony Masters) |
| George Provis | ||
Costume Design by
| Julie Harris | ||
Production Management
| Raymond Anzarut | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Roger Good | ... | assistant director |
| Otto Plaschkes | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Tony Woollard | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John Cox | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| John Harris | ... | camera operator |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jean Louis | ... | costumes: Miss Crawford |
Music Department
| Lambert Williamson | ... | musical director / composer: source music, tango (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures Corporation (1957) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1957) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1957) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Columbia Films (1957) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film A. B. (1957) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kamera Film Aktieselskap (1957) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Sony Pictures Television (2002) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Sony Pictures Television International (2005) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2014) (United States) (DVD) (Joan Crawford in the 1950s)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- TCM Vault Collection (package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Eighteen-year-old Esther has been deaf and blind since the accident which killed her mother. Wealthy Margaret Landi, a native of Esther's village in Ireland, is talked into helping to educate and possibly heal Esther. Margaret grows to love Esther as a daughter, but finds Esther's innocence threatened by sleazy promoters--and her own sleazy ex-husband.
Written by |
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| Taglines | This powerful story is UNUSUAL but will not offend any emotionally mature person of either sex. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Joan Crawford, then on the Pepsi-Cola board of directors, demanded that product placement shots be included in all her films of this era. It is prominently displayed on signs in an airport lobby. See more » |
| Goofs | When the cottage explodes in the beginning of the movie, the right wall falls, revealing the plywood set construction underneath. The stone walls are just paper covering over wood. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Episode #1.4 (1966). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Lead Kindly Light See more » |