Dangerous Afternoon

Ruth Dunning was a desperate criminal who escaped from prison, breaking her back as she did so. Now she runs a boarding house for old ladies: former criminal associates of hers. One afternoon, in walks a woman whom she left in prison, who now proposes to blackmail her.

This short quota quickie directed by Charles Saunders is a bang-up affair, with many a funny bit, deliciously delayed by taking time to make the point clear. There are some nice swerves in the plot, and it is a fine way to spend an hour with older, cannier actresses. Long-time director of photography Geoffrey Faithful -- his credits ranged back to before the First World War, with Hepworth -- does a solid job.

With the heavy emphasis on strong female characters, this hour long oddity is an example of just how much has been buried and forgotten in British cinema... and that's a shame.

Although most of the drama is filmed in one claustrophobic room, there'are enough moments of eye candy outside, too, especially in the opening scene where dotty Mrs. Sprule (Nora Nicholson) goes thieving down the local chemists.

Typhoo Tea, Golden Shred, a massive sign reminding us top 'keep regular' with Ex-Lax and the YZ' chewing gum machine nailed to the wall, Lyons Maid, and even the Platignum writing sets in the book shop, too. It's all awesome nostalgia for us oldies!

But most of the 'action' is filmed in Primrose Lodge, a 'boarding establishment for ladies'! Elizabeth Begley shines as the wheel-chair bound home owner and is able to do an 'about face' of character with some scary facial agility.

For the men, there's the awesome, doll-faced Joanna Dunham, who plays Freda. to feast your eyes on.

Anyway, this 'B movie' on a budget is a briskly paced yarn about blackmail and murder. The first half is slow enough to introduce us to all the well-crafted characters and the second half zips along nicely as the plot gets underway. The ending is a bit of a let down in my opinion... maybe they ran out of 'reel'!

I did not know this film, I don't know the director, and neither do I know the actors. But I was pleasantly surprised by this little B thriller from the early 60's. A story of blackmail, murder, investigation in a typically British atmosphere. Intrigant, rather talkative, no really action scenes in this movie with especially women in leads. The film you can watch at tea time, on rainy Sunday afternoons.

Charles Saunders seems to be the director of many of this kind. It would be interesting to see them. Many have never crossed the Channel. Such a shame. British movie industry deserves to be discovered again. And in the USA too.

I was 15 when this movie was released in 1961 being 70 now.I can remember Ruth Dunning playing Mrs Grove in "The Grove family" which ran from 1954-57.Gladys Henson was often paired as the wife of Jack Warner especially in "The Blue Lamp" (1950) which kick started the long running "Dixon of Dock Green" on BBC t.v. in the 1950s.She also appeared in "A Night to Remember" (1958)about "The Titanic" playing the nervous woman reluctant to enter one of the all too few lifeboats.Even in the 1950s I can remember Nora Nicholson playing rather daffy old women in t.v dramas on the BBC.The character of George was played by an actor who specialised in playing criminals - you only had to see his face and I can remember seeing him playing on t.v. the convict Magwich in Dickens "Great Expectations.How I miss those British B features at the cinema.My local cinema showed a cartoon,Pathe News, a 'B' feature followed by the main film.Good value for your 1/6 (one & sixpence)!My rating was 6/10.

Dangerous Afternoon doesn't really provide a tremendous amount of suspense, intrigue, or plot twists, and yet i found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Ruth Dunning plays the wheelbound lead and much of the credit for the success of the film really must go to her. She gives an interesting, intriguing, and thoroughly engaging performance. The remainder of the cast are also solid and deliver distinct and memorable characters. Not really much 'action' taking place here but nevertheless it all manages to pull the viewer in. Of course, everything is glazed with a distinctly British veneer which I'll admit to being a fan of. Check out Dangerous Afternoon and see what you think.