Background (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1953, Background is a drama film directed by Daniel Birt, running about 80 minutes. “When a marriage breaks down, what happens to the children?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Two years of deterioration sees John and Barbara Lomax's marriage reduced to bitter sniping and "keeping up appearances" for the sake of the children. When John's old friend Bill professes his love for Barbara, the marriage finally breaks up – causing their three children to react in different ways and their son secretly determined to do Bill harm.
Who’s in it. Background stars Valerie Hobson as Barbie Lomax, Philip Friend as John Lomax, Norman Wooland as Bill Ogden and Janette Scott as Jess Lomax, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Background has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Background page.
If you liked it. Fans of Background tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Background (1953)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Background change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Background worth watching?
- Background holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Background?
- Background stars Valerie Hobson, Philip Friend, Norman Wooland, Janette Scott and Mandy Miller.
- When was Background released?
- Background was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 80 minutes.