HOUSE OF SECRETS
UK, 1956, 97 minutes, Colour.
Michael Craig, Julia Arnall, Brenda de Banzie, David Kossoff, Barbara Bates, Gerard Oury, Geoffrey Keen, Anton Diffring.
Directed by Guy Green.
House of Secrets is an average but entertaining thriller of the mid-50s. It is a typical enough J. Arthur Rank dramatic production of the time. However, it has the added production qualities of colour and Vistavision. It was produced by Julian Wintle, later associated with The Avengers series. Writer and director Bryan Forbes was a co-writer and later thriller director Sidney Hayers edited the film. It was one of Michael Craig's earliest leading roles. There is enjoyable support from a range of British supporting character actors and actresses, especially David Kossoff and Brenda de Banzie. No better, no worse than many of its kind - but an attractive production.
1. An entertaining thriller? International espionage? Police work? A typical film of the '50s? Comparisons with later thrillers? Television thrillers?
2. The production qualities: Vistavision, colour photography, English and European locations? Musical score? Special effects for action?
3. The conventions of the police thriller, the espionage, the action adventure? The film relying on its conventions and types?
4. The plausibility of such international thrillers? Sufficient for action, character, issues, mystery, resolution?
5. Larry Ellis as hero: his work as a naval officer, his resemblance to a counterfeiter? His arrest and the violent treatment by the police? The death of the criminal and its repercussions for Larry? The persuading of him to impersonate the criminal? The danger in his assuming the identity? The tests, the training, the difficult situations? The encounters with Madame Ballu? His contributing to plans? The double-dealing and the revelation of Larry's identity? His being taken on the plane? The discovery of the substitution of the counterfeit money? The explosion on the plane? His bailing out? Relationship with Diane? Judy? The final heroism? Conventional British hero - Michael Craig style?
6. The women - romance, heroines, victims? Diane and Judy? The international flavour of the leading women?
7. The supporting characters and their double roles: Madame Bally and Brenda de Banzie's suave style? David Kossoff's ambiguity as Van Der Helde? The contribution of the assorted police and criminals?
8. The suspense, action thrills, double-dealing and mystery? The build-up to the final climax?
9. The British style of this kind of action thriller?
