Watch Yield to the Night

"Yield to the Night" is a British drama film released in 1956. The story follows the life of a young working-class woman named Mary Hilton (played by Diana Dors) who is sentenced to death for the murder of her lover. Over the course of the film, we see Mary's last days in prison, as well as flashbacks to her life before the murder. The film starts with a scene of Mary's execution, which sets a dark and tense tone for the film. As we are transported back to Mary's life before the murder, we see that she is a lively and attractive young woman who works in a factory. She has a tendency to be promiscuous, which is frowned upon by the conservative society of her time. However, Mary is unrepentant of her behavior and has a self-assured, almost rebellious attitude.

One night, Mary meets a man named Jim Lancaster (played by Michael Craig), and the two embark on a passionate affair. However, things take a dark turn when Jim becomes possessive of Mary and tries to control her every move. As Mary tries to break free from Jim's tyranny, she ends up killing him in a fit of rage.

The rest of the film is set in the women's prison where Mary is sent to await her execution. There, she meets a group of other female prisoners who all have their own stories of how they ended up incarcerated. Mary is particularly drawn to a woman named Matron (played by Yvonne Mitchell), who seems to have a deep understanding of Mary's situation and offers her comfort.

As the days tick by, Mary's mental state deteriorates, and she struggles with the reality of her impending execution. Throughout the film, we see flashbacks to the events that led up to Jim's murder, as well as scenes from Mary's childhood that help to explain some of her behavior.

One striking aspect of the film is the way it portrays women's incarceration in the 1950s. The prison is a bleak and oppressive place, with overworked and underpaid guards who are often cruel to the inmates. However, the film also shows that the women inside the prison are more than just their crimes - they are complex individuals with hopes, dreams, and fears.

Diana Dors delivers a powerful performance as Mary, capturing both her strength and vulnerability. The film doesn't shy away from the reality of Mary's crime, but it also shows her as a sympathetic character who is more than just a murderer. Yvonne Mitchell is also excellent as Matron, providing a calming presence amidst the chaos of the prison.

Overall, "Yield to the Night" is a gripping and emotional film that addresses issues of gender, class, and justice. Despite being over 60 years old, it still feels relevant today and serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of incarceration.

Yield to the Night is a 1956 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.