John Gilling (1912–1984)

Twisting, turning British Cold War thriller where no-one is what they initially seem. The story sees escaped convict Barlow (Emrys Jones) washing up in a small town in the south-west where he kills and takes on the identify of lookalike artist Matthew (Jones again). Unfortunately for Barlow, Matthews turns out to have a shady past and before long foreign agents, shady traitors, nuclear scientists, the local constabulary and MI5 are on the scene. Complicating matters further Barlow’s old girlfriend Zena (Ann Farrington) also turns up. This is a short but tightly plotted and tightly wound thriller that reeks of mid ‘50s paranoia and anxiety. Writer Lawrence Huntington possibly squeezes too many improbable turns into the short 60 minute duration of the film but director John Gilling (who went on to latter fame with Hammer) keeps things zipping along with plenty of energy and enough of a steady and sure hand to keep the events the right side of believable. The cast are good with Emrys Jones appropriately confused and just about smart enough on his feet to keep ahead of the unfolding events. Ann Farrington makes for an engaging love interest and Joan Hickson (of future Miss Marple fame) makes for a perfectly snippy housekeeper. Overall this is a short but neat effort that is full of strange surprises and in atmosphere and sentiment has British ambience to the core.… (lisätietoja)