Lang Mike
First of four B films adapted from very popular radio programmes of the 40s and 50s Highly enjoyable for fans of old fashioned mysteries. Nice location work in Canterbury though matte shots from cars involving rolling scenery date it. Leads both good including Sheridan who would move onto A films including the wonderful "Genervive"
Leofwine_draca
CALLING PAUL TEMPLE is the second of four feature films starring radio detective Paul Temple, who along with his sidekick Steve (a woman) investigates various murders and crimes at the behest of Scotland Yard. This follows on from the sub-standard debut feature SEND FOR PAUL TEMPLE and was followed by the rarely-seen PAUL TEMPLE'S TRIUMPH.The story is a straightforward one of murder and intrigue as Temple and Steve find themselves hot on the trail of a murderer by the name of Rex. Rex specialises in bumping people off at random, often when they're just about to reveal his identity; shades of THE 39 STEPS with the Mr. Memory assassination. Still, this is a well-paced and enjoyable little affair, with plenty of red herrings and suspense to recommend it.It's not a perfect film by any means. Just after the arresting opening, things slow down for an endless nightclub song routine which seems to go on for about twenty minutes. Afterwards the plotting is a little crammed due to this endless filler material. Still, John Bentley and Dinah Sheridan have plenty of chemistry as the crime-fighting duo, and fans will find this reasonably entertaining.
malcolmgsw
This adaptation of a BBC radio series soon betrays its origins.There are a number of mini climaxes,which would normally be where the programme would stop awaiting the unfolding of the latest quirk in the story the following week.However here we have the laboured device of a number of characters about to divulge the name of the murderer Rex when all of a sudden they are shot or poisoned.The problem is also that so many characters are murdered that it all becomes rather commonplace and clichéd.The film is not helped by the fact that there is a nightclub scene shortly after the beginning which seems to bring the whole plot grinding to a halt till Celia Lipton has trilled a couple of songs and expired.By the way the murderer is not too difficult to guess if you know what British actors tended to play villains.This film was clearly intended to play as a first feature but i have to say that the majority of British B crime films are far more entertaining than this woeful effort.
dbborroughs
Second film in the brief Paul Temple Film series has Temple and his new wife living in flat in London. The pair gets mixed up in a series of blackmail murders that are being committed by fiend that signs himself Rex.Not quite up to the first film, the plot is even more confused and confusing, though it moves along at a good clip with a couple of nice action set pieces sprinkled through out which helps to get through its over length. I liked the film but at the same time thought it wasn't up to the first one. I kind of understand why the films in the series were few in number. Mystery fans may want to take a look.6 out of 10
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