Child in the House is a 1956 British drama film directed by Cy Endfield about a girl who struggles to cope with her uncaring relatives. The film stars Phyllis Calvert, Eric Portman and Stanley Baker, and was based on the novel A Child in the House by Janet McNeill. Cast Phyllis Calvert as Evelyn Acheson Eric Portman as Henry Acheson Stanley Baker as Stephen Lorimer Mandy Miller as Elizabeth Lorimer Dora Bryan as Cassie Joan Hickson as Cook Victor Maddern as Bert Percy Herbert as Detective Sergeant Taylor Joan Benham as Vera McNally Martin Miller as Professor Topolski Christopher Toyne as Peter McNally Molly Urquhart as Mrs Parsons Bruce Beeby as Constable Jennings Peter Burton as Howard Forbes Maggie Smith as Party guest (screen debut - uncredited) Alfie Bass as Ticket collector Critical reception TV Guide called the film a "calculated tearjerker"; while the Radio Times called it, "good for a tear or two, though Portman and Calvert are rather oddly cast." References External links 1956 films 1956 drama films Films directed by Cy Endfield Films scored by Mario Nascimbene British drama films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films British black-and-white films