An American journalist solves the mystery of an unpleasant columnist's murder and clears his own wife, one of the many suspects.An American journalist solves the mystery of an unpleasant columnist's murder and clears his own wife, one of the many suspects.An American journalist solves the mystery of an unpleasant columnist's murder and clears his own wife, one of the many suspects.
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Things were still economically tough in 1957 Britain, as well as grey, with many cities still showing the scars of war. The film makers in their efforts to help the average working men and women escape the dullness and grind of everyday life, a plethora of cheap second feature ' B' films were made in the 50's about about glitzy London, populated with American second rate actors, and stories about murder amongst the fashionable middle classes who could afford cars, champagne and go to night clubs and hotels. There's not one authentic working class individual to trouble the audience in this pedestrian whodunnit at the nightclub! It's another cheaply made black and white 50's film - which has the usual American actor to make the film saleable to American audiences. In this case it's uncharismatic and wooden, Jeff Morrow, playing the crime reporter helping Scotland Yard track down the killer of despised & obnoxious gossip columnist Gary Bax, played by Anthony Dawson. Too much of the film is spent in talking, with hardly any action to enlighten the proceedings. Many of the night club scenes come across as unconvincing with its owner, Lionel Jeffries rejoicing in the ridiculous name of 'Elvin Main' trying, but failing badly, to put on an American accent. The dialogue is tiresome, with a storyline which gives the cast little opportunity to express any emotions. The 'Agatha Christie' style ending where the killer is identified is all so hammy! Any redeeming features? None as I can see.
This is standard fare for the 1950's British crime/ drama/ mystery B movies that were endlessly churned out in that period. An American newspaper reporter (Jeff Morrow), now domiciled in England is married to the delicious Hazel Court.
Our Hazel has something in her past, and a blackmailing cad has letters she has written that she would rather the husband not be aware of. Things become quite messy when the blackmailer is murdered not long after being seen with a mystery woman (Hazel). Hazel tells all to her husband, the detective investigating the murder enlists the help of the husband who attempts to shield Hazel from being identified, as the detective is convinced the mystery woman is responsible for the death of the blackmailer.
The movie climaxes with an Agatha Christie style of assembling everyone involved in the drama while the detective and husband Jeff play out a charade which reveals the true murderer. This then leaves Jeff and Hazel to live happily ever after, and Scotland Yard to be eternally grateful for newspaper reporters who solve crimes for them.
The movie shifts along at a great pace and the acting is very good. Watch for a couple of wonderful character actors of the period, Lionel Jeffries and a cameo appearance by Arthur Lowe (Dad's Army). Four stars from five.
Our Hazel has something in her past, and a blackmailing cad has letters she has written that she would rather the husband not be aware of. Things become quite messy when the blackmailer is murdered not long after being seen with a mystery woman (Hazel). Hazel tells all to her husband, the detective investigating the murder enlists the help of the husband who attempts to shield Hazel from being identified, as the detective is convinced the mystery woman is responsible for the death of the blackmailer.
The movie climaxes with an Agatha Christie style of assembling everyone involved in the drama while the detective and husband Jeff play out a charade which reveals the true murderer. This then leaves Jeff and Hazel to live happily ever after, and Scotland Yard to be eternally grateful for newspaper reporters who solve crimes for them.
The movie shifts along at a great pace and the acting is very good. Watch for a couple of wonderful character actors of the period, Lionel Jeffries and a cameo appearance by Arthur Lowe (Dad's Army). Four stars from five.
Jeff Morrow was never the most engaging of screen stars, and here he is not really any different as he struggles to defend his accused wife "Peggy" (Hazel Court) from charges of the murder of a pretty odious gossip columnist. The only way he can do that is to find the real culprit, and so for seventy minutes we follow a rather well trammelled path in this not very mysterious mystery. Anthony Dawson chips in well as "Bax" (again, he only really had the one gear) and there are a few scenes with Lionel Jeffries before the denouement that, well, it was hardly a shock. It's nice to see Piccadilly Circus in the late 1950s as rationing was ending and Britain's was finally emerging from the austerity of WWII, but otherwise this is just one of those bog-standard crime thrillers that you watch and forget. The title doesn't really do it any favours either.
This is a fairly routine though watchable whodunit that is notable mainly for the nearly salacious-for-the-time talk about the womanizing habits of a gossip columnist who gets murdered. Oh yes, the ever enticing Hazel Court is present as a past amour of the now-dead rakish fellow who tries to avoid suspicion for his murder. Her husband investigates so as not to have his honey nabbed by the coppers. London locations make it watchable.
There wasn't much else to do in 1950s England go to a movie or to the pub. The other reviews here have really said it all. But things to watch out for the street scenes, the terrible decor of the 'smart' night club, the mid-Atlantic accents with the hope of endearing the film to American audiences,ditto actual American actor, Arthur Lowe cameo.
Did you know
- Quotes
Tony Pendleton: Mr Gary Bax was immoral, disloyal and thoroughly selfish. I calculate there are at least a dozen other men who feel the way I do, and any one of them who's half-way decent would consider that killing Gary Bax was a public service - like clearing a blocked drain.
- Crazy creditsIn the end credits Arthur Lowe's part is misspelled "Caligraphy Expert".
Details
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- Filming locations
- Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly, London, England, UK(establishing shot of London's clubland)
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- Runtime
- 1h 21m(81 min)
- Color
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