Alias John Preston

This obscure psychological thriller, a typical "quota quickie" of British cinema during that period, is notable in hindsight for giving the late Sir Christopher Lee perhaps his first genuine star part; while the film's veritable protagonist, he still receives third (albeit above-the-title) billing after female lead Betta St. John (she would be reunited with the future horror icon on both CORRIDORS OF BLOOD {1958} and THE CITY OF THE DEAD {1960}) and Alexander Knox (who turns up well into the proceedings of this modest 66-minute offering in a role that is basically an extension of his character in Joseph Losey's THE SLEEPING TIGER {1954})! Other respectable names are those of cinematographer Jack Cox (responsible for Alfred Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES {1938}) and director MacDonald (who, after a promising career, seemed unable to surmount the commercial failure of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS {1949} – which led to him being reduced to helming the likes of DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS {1954}!).

Anyway, while the film under review is bracketed within the horror genre in the few reviews I could find, as I said, it really treads suspense territory – as the ambitious (and, unsurprisingly, supercilious) Lee begins to crack under the strain of a hazy past intermittently re-awakened in a series of "realistic" nightmares. While the first half is somewhat ordinary (another suitor for St. John, smitten since childhood, seems to be on hand merely as someone for her to fall back on after Lee – here in atypically romantic mode – finally goes off the deep end!), the couch sessions between doctor Knox and employer-cum-secret patient Lee (and which, more often than not, take the form of confrontations) grab the attention well enough. Similarly, though the dream sequences are necessarily not of the (perhaps expected) ethereal kind, the revelation packs a definite punch…though, in truth, the movie's title does rather give the game away too readily!

Christopher Lee stars with Alexander Knox and Betta St. John in "Alias John Preston" from 1955.

Lee plays John Preston, a newcomer to the town of Deanbridge, England. He has a great deal of money and buys a local business, a farm, and is put on several charity boards. He proposes to a banker's daughter (St. John), and she accepts.

There are some hints that an ill wind may be blowing. For one thing, he has a vigorous objection to a psychiatrist (Knox) coming to town to practice. He also blows his stack unreasonably at a restaurant. Had I been his date, that would have been it, but in this case, it wasn't.

Finally, Preston begins to visit Knox to tell him about a series of bad dreams he continues to have.

The film was directed in an overwrought fashion, with only Knox managing to underplay.

The ending wasn't a surprise, but I did like the way it was done.

Christopher Lee shows up in town and starts out by buying up all the local industries and Betta St. John. However, Lee could be bounded in Deanbridge and count himself king of infinite space, did he not have bad dreams.

Psychiatrist Alexander Knox takes him on as a patient and we get scenes of Lee's bad dreams. Some good acting -- except by rival in love Bill Fraser -- makes this an engrossing movie until the very end

This UK Alfred Hitchcock like thriller drama is rather dull, boring, but not that uninteresting, mainly - if not only - because of the presence of Christopher Lee, who could not have had another kind of role in such a plot. The film is not that easily available, i would say totally forgotten and, for gem diggers and lovers, it may be seen as a pretty good gem to discover. David Mac Donald was more famous for his CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS and some other adventure fims. But you have to be fond of such psycho dream like topics; I am not. So this is not my cup of tea at all. The ending could have been better.

"Alias John Preston" has elements that would make for an exceptional film, however, I don't heartily recommend it because the story is very rushed and comes in at just over one hour.

John Preston (Christopher Lee) is a real force of nature! He arrives at an English town and in the mood to buy and soon has gathered a small fortune. This appears to be because he's driven, supremely confident in himself and has few scruples. He also is disdainful of personal problems and psychiatrists...thinking they are for the weak and that he's above that sort of thing. In light of this, it seems VERY strange that he suddenly begins seeing a psychiatrist, and he's really, really nervous. Again and again, he talks about dreams that haunt him and the once supremely confident man seems on the edge of insanity. What's next?

This story is good and Lee is fine as the brooding sociopath. But the story goes by too quickly...especially towards the end. This manages to take a lot away from the interesting idea for the story. Worth seeing but it easily could have been much better.