Taking a look at Talking Pictures free online catch-up service, I was surprised to spot a title directed by Terence Fisher that I had not heard of before, was about to leave the site, leading to me peeling the blood orange.
View on the film:
Detailed in the wonderful Terence Fisher: Master of Gothic Cinema by Tony Dalton that this was the movie which wrapped up the filmmaker's first contract with Hammer studio, directing auteur Terence Fisher & his regular cinematographer of this era Walter J. Harvey bring the hammer down, and point towards what was to come from Hammer.
Drenching the opening robbery in Film Noir low-lighting, Fisher casts his distinctive ominous atmosphere in wonderful, extended dialogue-free sequences gliding towards sharp panning shots landing on a murder set-piece, and stylish tracking shots, staying next to the private investigator unraveling the case.
Joined by the marvelous Delphi Lawrence, Michael Ripper, Richard Wattis and (possibly) Christine Forrest, Tom Conway gives a very good performance as, Tom Conway, with Conway capturing Conway's hard-nose, Noir loner determination, whilst The Rules of the Game (1939-also reviewed) co-star Mila Parely gives an alluring, deadly Femme Fatale turn as Helen.
Later becoming a writer of wine and travel books, the compact screenplay by Jan Read draws tension from Conway shoving aside all those who are attempting to discourage/ block on him investigating a mystery, that Read sadly does little to hide the guilty parties, as Conway peels open the layers of an orange.
View on the film:
Detailed in the wonderful Terence Fisher: Master of Gothic Cinema by Tony Dalton that this was the movie which wrapped up the filmmaker's first contract with Hammer studio, directing auteur Terence Fisher & his regular cinematographer of this era Walter J. Harvey bring the hammer down, and point towards what was to come from Hammer.
Drenching the opening robbery in Film Noir low-lighting, Fisher casts his distinctive ominous atmosphere in wonderful, extended dialogue-free sequences gliding towards sharp panning shots landing on a murder set-piece, and stylish tracking shots, staying next to the private investigator unraveling the case.
Joined by the marvelous Delphi Lawrence, Michael Ripper, Richard Wattis and (possibly) Christine Forrest, Tom Conway gives a very good performance as, Tom Conway, with Conway capturing Conway's hard-nose, Noir loner determination, whilst The Rules of the Game (1939-also reviewed) co-star Mila Parely gives an alluring, deadly Femme Fatale turn as Helen.
Later becoming a writer of wine and travel books, the compact screenplay by Jan Read draws tension from Conway shoving aside all those who are attempting to discourage/ block on him investigating a mystery, that Read sadly does little to hide the guilty parties, as Conway peels open the layers of an orange.