User reviews

What a clever little mystery this is, it is incredible how many of these forgotten gems are out there. I would have imagined this was made as a low budget b movie, but it is fully deserving of praise. Very good performances all round, Laurence Payne and Jane Griffiths are both very good, but it's the performance of Patricia Dainton that stole the show in her final on screen performance, a truly natural beauty, she plays a very soft, frail and dutiful wife, who possesses more then is shown on the surface. I love how complex the plot is, it is full of knots, twists and turns, it's a film you watch and have no idea which way it's going to go, you are guessing until the very (shock) end. It features a small cameo for Cleo Laine.

The plot is so good it could quite easily be remade into some cosy modern day mystery. It starts fairly slowly, and you could be forgiven for losing interest, but it's one of those that if you stick with you will totally get caught up in, the ending is so good too. I love a good mystery and this ticks all the boxes.

I'm glad I found it, 8/10

Laurence Payne plays a skunk composer who is married to a beautiful woman (Patricia Dainton) but he decides that she isn't enough. So he starts a torrid affair with his wife's sister (Jane Griffiths). How low can you go? Although Payne loves no one but himself he decides to ask for a divorce so to please a nagging Griffiths. When his wife refuses to give him a divorce Payne and Griffiths concoct a murder plan to get rid of Dainton for good. Unfortunately for the pair, Dainton learns of their plan and sets out with a little plan of her own. As one would expect there are a few twists and turns to the finale that keep the viewer entertained.

There are tons of these low budget British crime films from this era. This one is slightly above the average with a nice screenplay and good performances across the board.

The British film industry made hundreds of thrillers in the 1950s but very few are memorable,but this is definitely one.I have just seen this again after some years.I consider it the perfect murder mystery for a number of reasons.Firstly every detail of the plot has a crucial impact in the climax,not least the hit and run accident.Every piece of the plot falls neatly into place.Patricia Dainton is able to use the details of the conspiracy to her advantage.The plot itself is uncomplicated and the story very well written.Well worth viewing when contemporary films have faded from view.Can be viewed on TV again for the first time in years.

An interesting murder mystery that plays havoc with a conventional narrative, THE THIRD ALIBI is one of those intriguing, long-forgotten British thrillers that's well worth a watch for modern audiences. The plot involves the thorough scoundrel Laurence Payne and his efforts to do away with his lovely but ailing wife, played by the eternal Patricia Dainton, so that he can be with lover Jane Griffiths.

There's a neat preamble to the central murder as the characters go through rehearsals; the COLUMBO writers would be proud of the painstaking attention to detail here. In the second half, things become more confused when they don't go exactly to plan, and the film becomes both unpredictable and appealing. My only real complaint is with the moral code of the time which means that certain plot events are easily guessable and quite contrived.

The film was made by the short-lived Eternal Films, who seemed to routinely employ the workmanlike Montgomery Tully as director. They mostly put out low rent crime films although they also dabbled in horror (THE HOUSE IN MARSH ROAD) and comedies (THE CUCKOO PATROL). Dainton gives a fine, fragile performance in this movie, and Griffiths (TREAD SOFTLY STRANGER) does well as the third party involved. Watch out for cameos from singer Cleo Laine and the one and only Dudley Moore, the latter uncredited, but you can see him playing the piano in one scene.

Laurence Payne is unhappily married to Patricia Danton. He's also carrying on an affair with her half-sister, Jane Griffiths. Jane coyly tells him she's enceinte. So he asks Miss Danton for a divorce. She refuses.

Well, this is a problem. He works out an elaborate murder scheme with Miss Griffiths, involving a tape recorder and exact timetables. It's a perfect scheme, except that Miss Danton is listening behind a door. As a result, when Miss Griffiths is murdered, all the rest of the evidence points to him.... except for one crucial piece.

It's a sick and twisted and very amusing murder mystery, with John Arnatt as one of those stolid, slow-talking and hardworking police inspectors. More like an expanded episode of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK SHOW than anything else, it's a beautifully constructed, cheap little thriller.

This is now one of my favourite films. As a writer, you come across a story once in a while that you wish you wrote... this is one of mine.

Marriage isn't going well for Norman Martell (Payne), though his wife, Helen (Dainton), has no idea about how he feels. Norman is so discouraged that he has an affair with Helen's stepsister, Peggy Hill (Griffiths). Upon hearing the news that Peggy is pregnant he tells Helen he wants a divorce. Unfortunately for Helen, when he can't get a separation he and Peggy form a plan to kill her...

Even though the twist is telegraphed early on it's not the climax, that you know is coming, that sells this film. It's the story, acting, and direction. All the cast give solid, credible and realistic performances. No one actor or actress is better than the rest. And even though the pace is steady throughout it's the combination of timing, writing, and great characterisations that makes the ending perfect. All the pivotal and important elements weave together at precisely the right time.

One of the best things for me is the ending itself which is delivered like a punchline. Which is fitting, especially if you like dark humour and believe in karma. I admit to actually saying, "Oh Yeah," out loud, along with the closing line, which is really easy to figure out... with a huge grin on my face.

I loved this film... actually, loved this film.

It's with that affirmation in my heart that I recommend this murder mystery to all out there. If you don't enjoy it then there's summat up wit'ya.

You even get a free song from the marvellous voice of Cleo Lane - you can't get any better.

Its outline may remind you of "sudden fear" starring Joan Crawford,Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame : the victim knows her husband and his mistress are going to kill her for she eavesdropped on their conversation which revealed their ominous plans.Besides ,a tape recorder plays a prominent part in the plot.But it's a good murder mystery on its own :the screenplay (based on a play) is well constructed ,and even the manslaughter on the road has its raison d'être(the final picture packs a real wallop) .Even the title is well chosen .

The sisters ' feud is a little derivative: it's once again the "my kid sister was spoilt , they had only eyes for her " well-known tale ;but the film is short , tense ,and there's never a dull moment .Directing is not very inventive ,but the suspenseful script will keep you glued to your seat till the very end.

One of the best plotted films I've ever seen although not much actually happens the plot twists are outstanding

A musical composer, Norman Martell, wants to divorce his wife Helen and marry her half sister Peggy. The problem for Norman, is that his wife refuses a divorce and it's then that Norman begins to entertain dark thoughts of murdering his wife, after he discovers he has made Peggy pregnant. It's a tightly constructed film (running to 68 minutes) which moves along at a business like and brisk pace. Laurence Payne, playing the weak and vain Norman, hatches a scheme involving a tape recorder, but it all goes horribly wrong, leaving the police without too much to do, since the overwhelming circumstantial evidence puts Norman clearly firmly in the frame. It's a tidy and tense thriller, which has lots of twists and turns. However, I found the character of Norman Martell, a little too over wrought and neurotic for my liking. Indeed, I found none of the characters sympathetic, including the doctor, played by Edward Underdown, who comes across as somewhat dull. The female characters of Helen and Peggy, are a bit too 'straight laced' and show little in the way of emotion. At no time do the two leading female characters show any sexual sparkle or 'attitude' and so never get out of 'emotional first gear.' The dialogue and setting looks 'theatrical' as if it was a stage play. Nevertheless, it's a film worth watching.

I realised about 20 minutes into the movie that I had seen this before, well it was on in the background and I was only watching parts that caught my interest. Anyway I'm glad I got to see it in full this time as it was a really good movie. The plot is to murder his wife (as he is having an affair with her sister). He has asked for a divorce from her and even offers a reasonable settlement but she will not divorce him even when he informs her that it's her sister that he has been having a relationship with.

"The best laid plans schemes of mice and men". Never seem to follow the design created.

Norman lives a complicated life. He's a composer, married to helen. While having an affair with helen's sister. Who happens to be pregnant! And norman may or may not have committed a capital crime. When confronted with this, helen refuses to give him a divorce! How can norman get out of all this? And to top it all off, helen has a medical issue. Norman comes up with a plan, but will it solve all his problems? The premise is pretty good, but there's just something missing... real suspense? Some good twists and turns, but maybe it needed some bigger stars or something. Directed by montgomery tully. He seems to have directed a bunch of very average films in the 1940s, 50s, 60s. Some debate over where he was born... several sources say dublin, while imdb currently lists him as born in london.

Starts out with a hit and run which ties in to the plot. Patricia Dainton is wonderful as the cheated on wife. The half sister, Jane Griffiths, is pregnant with husband of Dainton, Lawrence Payne. He and Griffiths plan her demise. At that point the plot heats up and is a thriller until the end. No problems! This plot works like a swiss watch! Montgomery Tully directed.

For all its obviousness and downright silliness this was great fun to watch.

A perfect little gem. Lively pacing. Never waned.

The downtrodden wife, played brilliantly by Patricia Dainton, is now my hero, a somewhat amoral one as it turns out. Mind you all the main characters easily slipped into dubious behaviour.

It's only 65 minutes long, goes well with a cuppa and a biscuit.

This is a super thriller!

First rate story, with an excellent cast and a well devised plot, from beginning to end.

A writer of musicals is in a troubled marriage, so he plots a way to get rid of his wife so he can continue his relationship with her sister.

Some outstanding performances especially from the errand husband, his wife and the policeman in charge of the investigation.

Modern film makers should study the way this movie is presented: no unnecessary sub-plots yet a spider's web of intrigue with a climax that is brilliant.

Many of these so-called British B movies are far better than most modern-day new releases: 8/10.

It's one of those movies gives you a thrill cosying on the sofa you can watch with popcorn and tea and makes you feel so comfortable.