CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW
UK, 1958, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Anne Baxter, Richard Todd, Herbert Lom, Alexander Knox.
Directed by Michael Anderson.
Chase a Crooked Shadow is an entertaining and tantalising murder story. lt focuses on Anne Baxter, grief ridden with the death of her brother. She's taken refuge in Spain after taking Diamonds from South Africa. Mysteriously her brother arrives and she declares that he is not her brother. He is persuasive, has knowledge of their life together, their family - in all its detail. Ultimately, she is forced to confess that she murdered her brother and that the alleged brother is a police inspector.
Richard Todd is the police inspector impersonating the brother. Faith Brook is his assistant. There is good support from Alexander Knox as Anne Baxter's uncle, forced to participate in the pressure on her to tell the truth, and Herbert Lom as a local policeman. The film is brief, crisp, involving - and was directed by Michael Anderson whose films at this time included The Dam Busters, 1984, The Wreck of the Mary Dear. He was later to make more spectacular films including Operation Crossbow, The Shoes of the Fisherman, Logan's Run.
1. Entertaining thriller? Murder story? Psychological thriller?
2. Spanish locations, black and white photography? Musical score?
3. The title and its ironies? ln relationship to Kim, her life, her brother? Murder?
4. The plausibility of the plot: Kim and her behaviour, her father, the diamonds, business deals? Her trip to New York? The death of her brother? His arrival, the pressures on her, the psychological pressure? Her behaviour, contact with the police officer? The associate of her brother and her pressure on Kim? Her uncle and his siding with the brother? The meticulous detail that the police officer knew about Kim's life - even to the speed in driving the car around the cliffs? Plausible or implausible - but plausible for entertainment value?
5. Kim, audience sympathy for her, believing her, the mystery of her brother, the audience believing him sinister? His behaviour, words, collaboration with his associate? Kim as persecuted, in her room? The food and her fear? The driving? The bewilderment, recourse to local police? To her uncle? The growing pressure, her admitting the truth about killing her brother? Her realization that she had been deceived?
6. The police officer, sinister, pretending to be Kim's brother? His efficiency, knowledge, carrying out his plan? His associate and her sinister pressure? The severe housekeeper? The police inspector and his suave manner, the driving of the car, the threats to Kim? The tormenting her - as if she was going to be taken out to sea and murdered? The realization of the truth, the phone call?
7. The uncle, his sympathy towards Kim, his siding with her brother? Her be wilderment? The truth?
8. The local police, supporting Kim, investigating the brother, sending for the fingerprints? Everything pointing to the authenticity of the brother? The secret meetings with Kim? His finally being bought in on the truth?
9. Popular murder story? Psychological drama? Crisp entertainment?
