SUSPENDED ALIBI

UK, 1957, 61 minutes, Black-and-white.
Patrick Holt, Honor Blackman, Valentine Dyall, Naomi Chance, Lloyd Lamble, Andrew Kier, Frederick Piper, Viola Lyel.
Directed by Fred Shaughnessy.

A small British supporting feature of the mid-1950s, more like an episode of a series on television in later decades. However, it works rather well. It was directed by Alfred Shaughnessy, a writer who had a long career in British film.

One of the differences is that in this film the audience knows who is the murderer is very early in the film. But the central character is accused of the murder, has created an alibi but is exposed, there is a further murder, a court case, condemnation and potential execution.

Patrick Holt is an editor who has become involved with one of his contributors, Naomi Chance, now wants to break it off. He has had some tension with his wife, played by very glamorous Honor Blackman, to become James Bond’s pussy galore in a few years. He editor creates a card game is an alibi for his visit to the writer. However, a neighbour joins the actor who is providing the alibi, they clash about cheating, the editor’s son’s knife is on the table, a scuffle and the actor is killed.

Valentine Dyall, with a distinctive fine radio voice, is the inspector. While the murderer is interrogated, he also has an alibi but fears that the woman may reveal something goes to visit her flat and kills her. The murderer, Lloyd Lamble came from Melbourne.

A chance piece of evidence comes to the attention of the prison chaplain who checks with the editor’s wife and finds that the pen he has is not here is that the murderer has taken his by mistake. He meanwhile is escaping to the continent but is held up at the channel.

1. A British supporting crime feature? Entertaining and interesting?

2. 1957, homes, jobs, flats, the police station? The musical score?

3. The audience knowing the killer, the puzzle about how he will be unmasked? The court, alibi is an deception?

4. Paul Pearson, in himself, his work, staff, the involvement with the writer? Tensions with his wife? Bonds with his son? His sons admiring him, the issue of the knife? The phone call, his going to the public phone box, being spied on by the neighbour? Going to visit, setting up the card game with his actor friend, providing an alibi, the later phone call, the encounter with Waller in the corridor? Going home, unsuspecting?

5. While the busybodies, the husband critical of his wife, her looking out the window, listening to the party line, knowing everything that was going on, disliking Paul Pearson, thinking in the scandal? Being interviewed by the detectives? Providing information?

6. The actor friend, card game, while a arriving, the cards, the meeting with Paul Pearson in the corridor, while is later lies? The argument, cheating, the struggle, the knife, the wrong pencil? The killing? The cover-up?

7. The police inspector, his assistant, the interrogations, building up a case?

8. Lynn, the shock, Paul and his lies, his excuses? Waller, suspicions, going to visit him, losing his temper? The issue of the delivery boy and Wallace alibi?

9. The writer, her apartment, her attachment to Paul, his wanting to break? Waller going to visit her, her diary, pushing her at the window? Taking the diary?

10. The court case, the newspapers, found guilty?

11. The chaplain, comfort, the issue of the pen, phoning Lynn, checking out the pencils?

12. The killer, going to the continent, the mistake with the money at the channel, his being held up, arrested?

13. Reconciliation with wife and son?