hwg1957-102-265704
Based on the novel 'Murder at Shinglestrand' written by Paul Capon the film starts off with a man going to bed then waking up in a house he has never been in, holding a gun. On searching the place he finds the body of his cousin. Then off we go until the final denouement, which did surprise me. Looking at the film again it is really obvious but I missed the clues on first viewing. Griffith Jones is a bit (well, a lot) dull as the hero but Bruce Seton as the crime reporter brings his usual quiet authority to the part and James Kenney is very good in three parts. Half way through I was looking for him to turn up as he was second billed in the credits but he already had in one role. It fooled me. It's not a fast moving film but there is no padding in its run time. The romance is perfunctory and doesn't hold things up. A lot was filmed on location so there are nice shots of late fifties London, which for a Londoner is always good to see. Continuity for the film was done by the splendidly named Splinters Deason.
Spikeopath
Hidden Homicide is directed by Tony Young and adapted to screenplay by Young and Bill Luckwell from the novel "Murder at Shinglestrand" written by Paul Capon. It stars Griffith Jones, James Kenney and Patricia Laffan. Music is by Otto Ferrari and cinematography by Ernest Palmer.A novelist wakes up to find a gun in his hand a relative murdered nearby. Did he do it?Who cares is the serious answer after sitting through this most turgid of "Z" grade Brit crime mysteries. There's just about enough material here to have made a half hour episode of some low rent Private Investigator show, but even then the logic holes and crumbling direction would struggle to hold the attention of the intelligent of mind. Also features one of the most irritating musical scores of the 50s (shudder). 2/10
ronevickers
As "B" features go, this is quite a bizarre movie. It's plot is routine, whilst also convoluted, as are the characterizations. It switches from staginess in presentation, to quite pointed scenes of tension and menace. A lot of this is due to the acting, some of which is wooden in the extreme, particularly from Patricia Laffan who looks like she has simply wandered onto the film set and hasn't learnt her lines! The scene where she ends in an embrace with Griffith Jones is hilarious. The film is carried by James Kenney who, at least, imbues his characters with some style and sense of purpose. He was, of course, an actor who specialised in edgy, sinister type roles and he performs well in this film. It's quaint and dated now, and is very much a mixed bag.
GUENOT PHILIPPE
A good British mystery story from the other side of the Channel. Produced by Rank organization studios. Music score is so British, we never hear this kind of music in US features. Not really a film noir, but a well made story about a man accused of a murder he did not commit. Of course. So far, nothing unusual, but after the topic becomes interesting.SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILERThe murderer impersonates a female artist of the music hall, sort of Calamity Jane, who was supposed to have killed the man found in our lead's house. The murder he is accused of.Not bad at all. I have seen worse, among UK fifties crime mystery movies.
AD
