Meet Mr. Callaghan

Derrick de Marney plays private detective Slim Callaghan in this fast paced British mystery. Callaghan is a bright, fast talking fellow, but still his detective agency has fallen on hard times. So when a young socialite drops in at his office close to midnight and drops 500 pounds sterling on his desk he jumps at the case. The heiress wants Callaghan to protect her as she fears her wealthy stepfather may be murdered and that the guilty person will implicate her.

Callaghan smells something fishy right away, but can't turn down the cash. When he learns that the stepfather has already been murdered he begins to suspect his client may be the killer. Still, he works hard and quickly to gather information. He probes all angles and doesn't miss a chance to fatten his own wallet at every opportunity.

This is the second film based on the character created by Peter Cheyney. The first film is Uneasy Terms, with Michael Rennie playing Slim Callaghan.

Love this film and watch it regularly and it has kept reasonably faithful to Cheyney's The Urgent Hangman. I think Derrick De Marney plays the lead perfectly and is ably supported by a fine supporting cast. The plot is a little convoluted and I needed more than one viewing to tie up the loose ends. Williams playing Bellamy was a tour de force of acting for me and stole the show in the relatively short scene he had, catch this one if you can.

Derrick De Marney plays Slim Callaghan as a poor mans version of Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe rather unsuccessfully.The air of world wide cynicism may work for Bogart or Dick Powell but it doesn't work for him.This is one of those rather over plotted thrillers where the private eye is always one step ahead of the dimwitted police and the actual killer comes as little surprise when the identity is revealed in the denouement.In the meantime Adrienne Corri is given time to warble a ballad in a nightclub and show a lot of fiery temperament.There is the usual attempt at a funny sidekick,from an actor i do not remember>Michae Balfour who normally fills these roles has a small part as a bartender.Fairly undistinguished all round.

Derrick De Marney stars in "Meet Mr. Callaghan" from 1954.

It's the story of a detective (de Marney) who survives job to job. He is approached by a wealthy woman, Cynthis (Harriette Johns) who needs his help. It's a slightly convoluted story, having to do with her stepfather's will, and another will he apparently hid.

Callaghan isn't a favorite of Inspector Gringall (Trevor Reid) so when a murder occurs, and Callaghan is able to supply Cynthis' alibi, Gringall is all over him and it.

Callaghan seems unconventional and a little bit borderline as far as the law, but we soon learn he's very clever and a step ahead of the police.

Derrick de Marney is fantastic as Slim Callaghan, with is crisp responses and a laid-back, never flustered approach. He really makes the film.

Very enjoyable British B that keeps you interested.

Based on the late Pete Cheyney's first Slim Callaghan novel, 'The Urgent Hangman' (1938), which Derrick de Marney had brought to the West End stage in 1952 and promptly co-produced this screen version intended - as the title indicates - to be the first of a series. Sadly this proved not to be and was his final film lead.

Little attempt has been made to open out the proceedings, and nearly all of it takes place indoors. But it's amusing, well-written and well acted enough for this not to matter.