THE BLUE PARROT is one of those innumerable British attempts at a film noir/murder mystery that flooded cinemas during the 1950s. These were always second rate features that suffered hugely from a lack of budget and scripts that seem to have been written overnight or with the dialogue simply made up on the spot.
This one's set in and around the titular nightclub, although with about half a dozen extras it's hardly a buzzing place. There's not even a sense of mystery or surprise, instead THE BLUE PARROT just goes through the motions and has a sense of weary familiarity to it from the start. I note that director John Harlow's career finished soon afterwards - he may have simply been considered too old-fashioned - as did the career of the guy who came up with the story, while the dialogue writer died within a couple of years. Bad luck or what?
The main acting role goes to Irish star Dermot Walsh, coming across as a very unconvincing American. Ballard Berkeley (FAWLTY TOWERS) is better as the investigating detective, although he must have been able to play this kind of role in his sleep. John Le Mesurier is on hand in a mildly sinister role - although anything is better than his attempt at an Italian character in the following year's DANGEROUS CARGO - and there's a minor turn from Ferdy Mayne too. THE BLUE PARROT's still rubbish, though.