The Case of Charles Peace

While watching THE CASE OF CHARLES PEACE, I couldn't help but wondering how this would have turned out as a Tod Slaughter movie. Certainly given Slaughter's propensity for barnstorming performances, it would have been entertaining stuff - more entertaining than it turned out to be with this genteel, laid-back story of crime and murder.

Charles Peace was a famous Mancunian who lived a double life as a kindly family man by day and ruthless burglar/murderer by night. He's played here by the long forgotten Michael Martin-Henry, who's not bad, but gives a relatively restrained performance given the subject matter.

Unfortunately, the film itself is a bit of a dud, as it never manages to pick up speed despite the intriguing storyline. I didn't like the courtroom wraparound part of the film, as it saps the narrative of both vigour and pace. The depiction of the various crimes isn't bad but there's a definite lack of the kind of suspense you'd expect, leaving this as an interesting curio and nothing more.