Home at Seven

Home at Seven

Year: 1952

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

CrimeDramaMystery

Unable to recall the past 24 hours, a British bank clerk is the prime suspect for a robbery/murder.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Home at Seven (1952)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Home at Seven (1952). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II era

Set in the mid-20th century, the narrative uses wartime memory as a backdrop that intrudes on the present. A loud bang triggers Preston’s recollection of past events, suggesting a lingering war-time atmosphere. The tension between memory and reality unfolds as the characters navigate a missing day, a robbery, and a murder within this wartime-influenced setting.

Location

London, Kent

The story shifts between the financial heart of London and a quiet suburban home in Kent, grounding the mystery in recognizable urban and rural spaces. Preston works in London and returns to his Kent residence, anchoring the plot in both a public cultural center and a private domestic sphere. Key scenes unfold at a social club in London and around the suburban home, highlighting the clash between public duties and private memory.

🏙️ City setting 🏡 Suburban locale 🕰️ Historical backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:33

Main Characters – Home at Seven (1952)

Meet the key characters of Home at Seven (1952), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Preston (Ralph Richardson)

A City of London banker and treasurer of his social club, Preston returns home to find he has been missing for 24 hours and cannot remember the day. He is seen taking money from the club safe and lies about his Monday night whereabouts, placing him at the center of suspicion. His financial strain, linked to his father's embezzlement, adds motive and pressure as the mystery unfolds.

🧠 Protagonist 💼 Banker 🕰️ Guilt

Dr. Sparling (Jack Hawkins)

A doctor who becomes Preston's confidant in the memory-recovery process. He guides the patient through recalling details and advises on the legal route, acting as a rational intermediary between the suspect and the investigation. His role is to help translate memory into usable narrative for the defense.

🧑‍⚕️ Doctor 🕵️ Investigator 🧩 Advisor

Janet Preston (Margaret Leighton)

Preston's wife, who is aware of the couple's financial strain and the possible money troubles linked to his family. She cooperates with the solicitor and police, contributing to the unraveling of the alibi while managing concern for her husband. Her testimony helps illuminate the couple's finances and motives.

👩 Wife 💰 Family finances 🗝️ Secrets

Major Watson (Michael Shepley)

A military figure connected to the social world of the story. Though not central to the crime itself, his presence adds a layer of authority and order surrounding the investigation. His involvement hints at broader social pressures in the setting.

🎖️ Military 🧭 Authority 🕵️ Investigation

Inspector Hemingway (Campbell Singer)

The police inspector who questions Preston and oversees the investigation. He collects evidence, weighs testimonies, and guides the pursuit of the truth, often navigating the tension between memory and fact. He is a key driver in moving the plot toward resolution.

👮 Police 🔎 Investigation 🧭 Clues

Ellen (Diana Beaumont)

A barmaid who provides critical insight into Preston's daily routine, enabling a breakthrough in the case. Her testimony helps place the missing hours into a concrete pattern, influencing how the investigators understand the memory gaps. Her role is pivotal in linking current events to what happened Monday.

👩 Barmaid 🗣️ Testimony 🧠 Memory

Peggy Dobson (Meriel Forbes)

Peggy is part of the social circle connected to the case and linked to the Dobson family. Her presence adds another human dimension to the investigation and the social network surrounding Preston. She represents the community ties that frame the crime's context.

👰 Family 🧩 Social circle 🤝 Community

Solicitor Petheridge (Frederick Piper)

A solicitor who advises Preston toward a robust defense and recommends using counsel to tell the truth. He mediates between legal strategy and the social pressure surrounding the case. His guidance helps shape the narrative that reaches the police.

⚖️ Lawyer 🧠 Strategy 💬 Advice

Mrs. Watson (Margaret Withers)

The wife of Major Watson who becomes a conduit for information about family finances in the broader story. She reveals that her husband has faced financial strain connected to a family embezzlement, adding context to the moral and economic pressures in the plot.

👩 Wife 💬 Family finances 🧭 Secrets

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:33

Major Themes – Home at Seven (1952)

Explore the central themes of Home at Seven (1952), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Memory

A 24-hour memory gap drives the plot as Preston struggles to recall where he was and what happened. The investigation hinges on reconstructing past events from fragmented recollections, with memory shaping both suspicion and potential truth. The drama centers on whether memory can be trusted when alibis and motives collide.

🔎 Truth vs Lies

Preston's shifting alibi and the police pursuit create a clash between truth and deception. Doctor, solicitor, barmaid, and other witnesses offer competing narratives that must be weighed against the available evidence. The tension gradually leans toward a coherent truth revealed through testimony and clues rather than memory alone.

🪖 War Trauma

A loud bang and wartime memories intrude on the present, implying a trauma that colors perception. The memory of conflict informs Preston's actions, complicating the distinction between guilt and fear. The plot uses this trauma to explain odd behavior and the fragility of certainty.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:33

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Unlock the Full Story of Home at Seven

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Home at Seven Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Home at Seven, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Home at Seven Summary

Home at Seven Timeline

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Home at Seven Timeline

More About Home at Seven

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