Two young children find the dead body of a young woman, who is later identified as Sapphire Robbins, a student. Police are quick to chat with Sapphire's boyfriend David Harris, and her brother, Doctor Robbins.
What a great film this is, initially you'll think it's just a straight up whodunnit, and of course it is, the main question is who killed Sapphire, but it's so much more, it really is a look at attitudes towards colour at the time, racial tensions and prejudices.
The most revealing scene I think being where the landlady is opens the door to Doctor Robbins, and seems genuinely horrified to think that she's had a black woman living under her roof, it's almost hard to believe that people had these attitudes, that common indicator of a loud gramophone too, shudders ...
The acting in general was high quality, but the key performance for me was Nigel Patrick, who played Hazard, a character who was perhaps ahead of his time. Earl Cameron was terrific also as Doctor Robbins.
I enjoyed Fenella Fielding's small role at The Lingerie boutique, you can see why she would soon land a role in Carry on Regardless.
This film was ahead of its time, in many ways.
9/10.
What a great film this is, initially you'll think it's just a straight up whodunnit, and of course it is, the main question is who killed Sapphire, but it's so much more, it really is a look at attitudes towards colour at the time, racial tensions and prejudices.
The most revealing scene I think being where the landlady is opens the door to Doctor Robbins, and seems genuinely horrified to think that she's had a black woman living under her roof, it's almost hard to believe that people had these attitudes, that common indicator of a loud gramophone too, shudders ...
The acting in general was high quality, but the key performance for me was Nigel Patrick, who played Hazard, a character who was perhaps ahead of his time. Earl Cameron was terrific also as Doctor Robbins.
I enjoyed Fenella Fielding's small role at The Lingerie boutique, you can see why she would soon land a role in Carry on Regardless.
This film was ahead of its time, in many ways.
9/10.