I just watched the entire film on YouTube. Paper Orchid (1949) is an entertaining British murder mystery centered around two newspapers.
Frank McSweeney (Hugh Williams) is the editor of the Daily National newspaper and Stella Mason (Hy Hazell) writes a column called Paper Orchid. Freddy Evans (Sid James), Briggs (Walter Hudd), and Walter Wibberly (Frederick Leister) are other who work on the paper.
When the newspaper's owner, Lord Croup, dies, his widow Lady Croup (Ella Redford) takes over and soon Frank is fired, along with others, including Stella eventually. Frank goes to work at the World Record, a rival newspaper.
Then, Stella's boarder, an eccentric sculpter, is found by Stella in their apartment with his throat cut. She calls Frank and together they try to figure out how to notify the police without involving Stella. Someone mentions calling up 999, which was apparently the 1949 British version of 911. Now the rush begins to solve the mystery of who the murderer is before the police arrest Stella. Who done it?
24-year old Patricia Owens has a small role as Mary McSweeney, Frank's daughter. 22-year old Roger Moore is listed as having an uncredited bit part, but I didn't see him. If you watch Paper Orchid, see if you can find him.
Paper Orchid starts off a bit slow but it picks up steam once the murder occurs. It is an enjoyable film and well worth watching.
