User reviews

This could have been made at Merton Park ten years earlier, but for it being in colour, the graphic description of the injuries suffered by the murder victim and the annoying 70's-style music score by John Scott. Several other reviewers have commented on the fact that it is possible to see the final 'twist' coming almost as soon as the credits are over; although part of the fun is working out the 'how' and 'why' since the 'what' is already so obvious.

Shot in wintry London locations (particularly at and around Windsor), it's attractive to look at; but considering that it was directed by Britain's top Technicolor cameraman of the forties & fifties, it's constant reliance on zooms comes as a letdown.

Everyone is dying to get their hands on a priceless stamp, a Penny Gold.

It's a very watchable murder mystery, it is very much of its time, and I love that aspect of it, great cars, great fashion and some terrific location shooting. Plenty of suspense, loads of twists, expect the unexpected.

The best aspect of this film, Francesca Annie, she's a terrific talent, and dare I say it, incredibly beautiful, she has always had such enigmatic presence, I thought she made this film.

It's not a quality movie, it's a bit humdrum, but absorbing enough,w out for Joss Ackland and Penelope Keith.

One big twist I wasn't expecting, enjoyed. 6/10

This had all the ingredients to be a great film, but sadly it ultimately falls a bit short of the mark.

It follows the investigation into a young woman's murder in the opening scenes, and the pursuit of a priceless stamp which seems to be connected to her death - the Penny Gold.

There's a excellent cast, including the gorgeous Francesca Annis in the lead role, and also James Booth as a rumpled detective who soon gets on the case.

The story does become a bit muddled and unfocused, although things pick up a bit towards the end as the deception is finally uncovered.

Apart from Francesca (who plays a set of identical twins here), the best part of the film for me was all the location filming, unusual for a British film from this era. It's wonderful to see the streets of Windsor and Eton as they were in thr early 70s, as well as Pinewood's Heatherden Hall and grounds.

It certainly helps to give the film so realism and grittiness, and it must have felt quite fresh and moddish at the time.

But, considering the prestige of the director, this is sadly where the film falls a bit flat - the direction just doesn't create much suspense or real tension, and fails to translate quite an intriguing and twisty story to the big screen.

Having said that, it certainly has lots of early 70s charm, and it's fun spotting all the famous faces and locations. The ending, when you get there, is clever and worth waiting for too.

This particular type of Detective mystery, set in the world of the professional and the prosperous, was a most unusual theme for what passed for the British film industry in the 1970s. The genre had gone out of fashion about a decade earlier, a situation that was to remain until the advent of the Morse TV movies in 1986. Nowadays, a format that may have seemed outmoded in 1973 can be seen replicated on channels such as ITV3 on most nights of the year. Too bad then that PENNY GOLD provides such a tame example.

Fittingly, for a Jack Cardiff film, the photography is superb, as is the art direction. But in general, the director and his cast are unable to bring the characters or the uninspired story to life. James Booth is good as the Inspector though, with Nicky Henson as his faithful sidekick and there are all too fleeting appearances from Penelope Keith and Sue Lloyd. A crime story revolving around stamp collectors hardly sounds exciting to begin with, although there had been at least one thriller on the same theme before, BARBADOS QUEST, with Tom Conway in 1955. Then fairly early on we learn that the murdered woman, whose face had been damaged beyond recognition, is one of twins, one good, the other evil. You hardly need to be Hercule Poirot to see where this is going. The film's at its worst when the murder of a typically tedious character is announced, which we're then shown in a slow-moving flashback. I could hardly wait. The location shooting and reminders that the Britain of forty years ago was not the nanny state it is today hardly compensate for moments such as this.

Despite obviousness of many plot elements within this work directed by renowned cinematographer Jack Cardiff, it is quite possible to enjoy the film for its merits that include expected polished camera-work and lighting, but also superlative design, plainly a result of competent research, and atmospheric settings about Windsor Castle, to the benefit of a somewhat unfocused crime melodrama involving murder in the normally staid world of philately. Action opens in a flat close by the Castle with a young woman, fresh from a shower, being bludgeoned to death, over two dozen blows to the face making her corpse essentially unrecognizable, and when Detective Inspector Matthews (James Booth) launches an investigation he learns that the deceased was one of a pair of decorative and identical twins, performed by Francesca Annis, the surviving sister, Delphi, employed by their guardian, a prominent stamp collector, with the titular item, a piece of enormous value, being target of a plot to steal it, this somehow connected with the homicide. Filmed at London's Pinewood Studios complex and on location in the vicinity of Windsor Castle, including the House on the Bridge Restaurant atop Windsor Bridge, the windows of which offer an agreeable view of the Royal edifice (enjoyed here at lunch by Matthews and Delphi), the film suffers from credibility factors and an oddly structured use of flashbacks, but a John Scott score is reasonably effective (there is a seamless inclusion of police sirens!), and Cardiff leads his players well. There is not a weak portrayal from among the cast, with even the monochromatic Annis being largely believable, Booth and Nicky Henson providing strong turns as the case investigators; Joss Ackland gains acting honours as Jones, supervising police official in the matter.

Jack Cardiff is an academy award winning cinematographer (for 1947's "Black Narcissus") but is an uneven director (Though his 1960 film "Sons and Lovers" garnered him an Oscar nomination). In this film, he moves away from the viewfinder of the camera and into the seat of the director's chair.

The DVD Cover provides this synopsis for the film: This dramatic indie thriller, set in the intriguing world of high-stakes stamp collectors, is directed by acclaimed British cinematographer Jack Cardiff. A detective (James Booth) is assigned to investigate the murder of a young woman, whose body is found in the shadow of Windsor castle. In the course of his inquiry, he stumbles onto a plot to steal a rare and valuable stamp called the Penny Gold--and encounters a woman who appears to be the dead girl's lovely but dangerous evil twin (Francesca Annis).

This description paints the film in a better light than it actually is, which is obvious since it comes from those trying to market the picture on DVD.The film's narrative has the quality of something one may see on a made-for-TV program rather than something one would consider "theatrical." While the set up and initially beginnings of the mystery are captivating, the rest of the film is dreadfully dull and uninteresting. The story is totally unfocused as we are presented with scenes, such as random flashbacks, that seem totally out of place and irrelevant.

The mystery itself is not at all that mysterious as the audience can predict its outcome from the very beginning and thus makes the film a big build up to nothing.

There are a few good traits, such as the wonderful location shots of Windsor Castle and the surrounding rural areas (courtesy of Mr. Cardiff), and a well-photographed car chase (which, unfortunately, seems out of place).

The DVD was a blind buy given its cheap price of merely $4 (most online DVD stores carry it between $4-$6), but I certainly wouldn't pay a cent more. The film, admittedly, is attractive at that price but it is suggested you save up your money for more quality films.

Not recommended except those who are fans of Jack Cardiff or those who don't mind squandering $5 to add a title to your collection.

It's a British murder mystery movie. It's not bad, though it's also not great; it tells a good story, though without being particularly engaging. Though modestly satisfying, the content feels less grabbing and noteworthy than the basics of the film's craft. Filming locations are fine and fetching, and set design and decoration no less so. I appreciate Jack Cardiff's direction, his keen eye for arranging shots and scenes, and for that matter the scene writing contributes a suitable level of tension and mystery to any given moment. I think the cast is fairly solid - yet with that having been said, what stands out the most to me about 'Penny Gold' is the appearance of Francesca Annis. Beautiful, smart, and charming in her own right, Annis is given an opportunity to demonstrate welcome range and nuance, not least of all for rather having two roles here instead of just one. If there is a singular reason to watch this feature, Annis is it, as her performance is frankly commanding.

I'm divided on John Scott's score, as some themes seem very fitting for the mood of a given scene, while in many other instances it's overly playful - for example, during the opening credits, as police examine and move the body of a murder victim. Characters are given just enough personality and varied motivations to feel real, and breathe some life into the narrative. I think the movie is well made - and, happily, in the last third of the length a spark of thrilling vigor is summoned that revitalizes the picture, constituting all the terrific value that 'Penny Gold' has to offer. This last stretch, leading into the climax and ending, is sharp and brilliant, and significantly boosts my overall opinion. I just wish that the rest of the feature were so absorbing, for the first two-thirds just don't make much of an impression. The result is that the title feels uneven; it's enjoyable, but just not quite as stimulating a cinematic experience as one would hope.

Recommendable above all for utmost fans of the cast, or of British murder mysteries, there's nothing so dazzling about this as to make it an essential must-see. It's not that there's any one specific fault about it - although the very, very end is a tad contrived - only that too much of the runtime passes by without actively getting one's attention. Still, when all is said and done it's ultimately entertaining, and worthwhile on its merits. You don't need to go out of your way for 'Penny Gold,' but if you happen upon it, it's a decent way to spend 90 minutes.

Penny Gold is a priceless stamp. Francesca Annis plays dual roles as twins with contrasting personalities. One of them is found murdered with half the her face bludgeoned. Their stepfather is a dealer in rare stamps who also turns up dead later on.

James Booth plays the detective who has a soft spot for the surviving twin. Nicky Henson plays his loyal sidekick. The film is directed by Jack Cardiff better known as a legendary Oscar winning cinematographer.

The film rather reminded me of those Edgar Allan Wallace mysteries but in colour and set in the 1970s with a lot of filming in and around Windsor with Windsor castle as a backdrop.

This potboiler never gets more than lukewarm. The fun is seeing Windsor of yesterday and some familiar actors in early roles. As a mystery it fails badly. I quickly started to put the puzzles together and what about that mysterious American blonde in a bad wig who kept popping up here and there.

Francesca Annis gives quite a performance as a pair of identical twin sisters, Delphi and Diane. They are complete opposites in personalities and lifestyles. When Diane is murdered, everybody is a suspect especially Delphi who deals with rare stamps. The film is satisfactory even with a stellar cast. They filmed on location in England. Jack Cardiff tried his hand at directing. The film is a decent effort. The mystery does have some twists especially at the end of the film. I wished the film had a better ending. I would have liked to know what happened to the main characters in the aftermath. James Booth plays detective in the film. I enjoy seeing other British actors and actresses like Nicky Henson, Joss Ackland, Una Stubbs, a young Dame Penelope Keith before she became a television star.

The historic riverside town of Windsor, home to the Royal Family, is a popular setting for British films, something due less to its Royal connections than to its closeness to Pinewood Studios. Two other films from the early seventies filmed in the area were "The Road Builder" and "No Sex Please, We're British".

"Penny Gold" is a murder mystery set in the town. A young woman named Diane, the owner of a local boutique, is brutally bludgeoned to death by an intruder in her flat. Her face is so disfigured that she is virtually unrecognisable, but the body is identified by her identical twin sister Delphi. Inspector Matthews of the CID is tasked with investigating the murder and soon realises that matters might be more complicated than they appear at first sight. Diane's killing appears to be linked to a plot to steal a valuable postage stamp, the "Penny Gold" of the title; Delphi works for a firm of stamp dealers owned by the sisters' stepfather.

As another reviewer has pointed out, the seventies were not the most distinguished decade in the history of the British cinema. When they weren't making tacky sex comedies or kitschy horror flicks, British film-makers of the period were often trying to repeat successes of the past, and "Penny Gold" is a crime drama of the sort which could easily have been made ten or even twenty years earlier (although in the fifties or sixties it would probably have been in black-and-white rather than colour). I was reminded in some respects of "Town on Trial", a film noir from 1957 which also deals with the murder of a young woman in a Home Counties town.

"Penny Gold" is not altogether a bad film; there is an ingenious twist which provides Matthews with the solution to the mystery. (At least, it probably seemed ingenious in 1973 before twist endings became overfamiliar through overuse in the eighties and nineties). It is not, however, a film which really stays in the mind and has no acting contributions of any great note, even though it starred some well-known faces. I would not rate it as highly as something like "Town on Trial" which was not only a crime drama but which also made some pertinent points about the complacency and hypocrisy of the English middle classes. 5/10.

This is an overlooked film from the UK about a detective looking into a heist involving rare, valuable stamps. It's a pretty simple story but the acting and amazing cinematography make this film stand out.

In the first 10 seconds you know you're in the early seventies not the best time for British movies and this didn't improve my impression of the era,Francesca's disguise really need to be better and the ending although a twist simply wasn't believable.

The film is produced in 1973. A police movie that is actually one of the first generation movies of this genre. The story of the movie is not very amazing. Maybe after 50 years since it was made, the story seems a bit simple, but I almost guessed the theme from the middle of the movie. However, I was surprised towards the end of the movie. Therefore, it is one of the films that can surprise the audience to some extent and advance the story in a way that the audience does not expect. The twist of the story is suitable and it keeps the audience almost to the end. Although the movie is old, it can be enjoyed and maybe it will be worth the afternoon of a day off.

The British film industry was dying on its feet when this film was made in the early seventies.The fact that it was directed by Jack Cardiff speaks volumes.Anyone can see the basic premise of the plot after only about 10 minutes.So there isn't a lot of suspense merely an interest as to how the plot unravels.Booth seems to be doing an imitation of Jack Regan but despite the car chase and the rough handling of suspects this is no "Sweeny".Penelope Keith is seen in a small role before her rise to fame.This is the sort of film that was far more at home on the TV screens than on the cinema screen.At the end of the day this is little more than a potboiler.

Recorded from Talking Pictures.

I have given this an 8 because compared to just about every contemporary drama these days it was so much more enjoyable.

Obviously if a film is shot in the 1972/73, then it is 100% authentic of the time, and the location, fashion, cars, High Street scenes were a real nostalgia trip and the fact it was in colour added to this.

A couple of years ahead of its time there was a real Sweeney feel to this. In the mid-long distance shots James Booth could have been Jack Regan and Nicky Henson was an able George Carter type support.

It was also a reminder of the lovely Una Stubbs who was married to Henson at the time.

If I had watched this at the time I might not have seen the "twist" but I could see it right from the start (blonde with glasses).

Watch out for a great rugby tackle by Nicky Henson near the end.