DOUBLE CONFESSION
UK, 1950, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, Peter Lorre, William Hartnell, Naunton Wayne, Ronald Howard, Kathleen Harrison, Leslie Dwyer,, Edward Rigby, George Woodbridge, Mona Washbourne, Vida Hope, Esma Cannon.
Directed by Ken Annakin.
This is a murder mystery with a twist. It is a British feature from the beginning of the 1950s, very British in its characters, seaside setting on a holiday day, rather restrained investigation. The film is directed by Ken Anakin who had a very long career, starting with this kind of film in Britain, moving to Disney features during the 1950s, some rather more spectacular action adventures in the US in the 1960s, Those Magnificent Men…
Derek Farr was a sympathetic leading man of the period. Joan Hopkins, a rather gentle screen presence, made only a few films and retired to marry Dir Henry Cass. But, it is quite a surprise to find Peter Lorre in this kind of British film, quite an eccentric character. The film boasts quite a number of British character actors in supporting roles, led by William Hucknall as the building of the piece and literally Leslie Howard son, Ron Howard, as a newspaper editor.
The action takes place over one day, a dead man in the sea, a dead woman in a house, the links with the various characters, the police investigation – and some local colour with visitors to the seaside who have nothing to do with the plot!
1. The title? Expectations? Crime, murder mystery?
2. A day at the seaside, summer, holiday, the beachfront, the crowds, the people on the beach, the fair and the attractions, the hotel, apartments and offices, dining? The cliff, the sea, the house by the sea? The musical score?
3. Jim Headley, on the mail train, walking to the house, the night, the cliff, encountering the friendly fisherman? His seeing Jim Durham leaving the house, hiding? The next morning, the death of the man falling over the cliff into the sea? The woman in the house?
4. The police, the investigation, on the site, the recovery of the body from the sea, the dead woman in the house and her being taken out, finding half of the suicide letter? The interviews, the various meetings? The large Inspector following Jim all day?
5. Jim, away from England, his returning, the back story, Lorna typing for Durham, the marriage, Jim’s absence from England, Durham owning the house by the water, the wife living there under an assumed name? Her relationship with Durham?
6. Jim, going to the newspaper office, the discussion with the editor, asking for a job, getting information? Arousing suspicions? And the editor going to see Durham to get further information?
7. The passengers on the bus, coming for a day at the sea, Leonard and his yacht, coat and tie, trousers rolled up, in the water, Kate and her enjoying the day? The later meeting up at the funfair and enjoying the rides? Nothing to do with the plot!
8. And, on and off the bus, losing her purse, looking sad? Tripping on Jim lying on the beach? Sitting down, the rapport between them, and talking? The promise for lunch? Her leaving the hotel? The later encounters, looking over the sea, talking, going for a swim, the threat from the speedboat? Her telling Jim her story, single mother, jilted, the adoption of her daughter, the relatives going to Australia, not wanting to lose her daughter? Going to the fair, the shot from the shooting gallery? A revealing that she knew that Jim had killed his wife? Her continued support?
9. Durham, self-made man, saving the life of Painter, Painter hanging around, drinking and giving up drink, feeling a debt to Durham? In the apartment? The conversations? His wanting to kill Jim, drinking, going on the speedboat, the official police complaint, going to the bar, at the fair, taking the gun and shooting? His return to the apartment?
10. Durham, the relationship with Jim’s wife? His success over the years, owning the funfair, the hotel, the notices with his name writ large? His personality, managing the hotel, the staff?
11. Jim going to see him, the discussions about his wife, Jim phoning him anonymously, letting him know that he had seen him at the house and leaving?
12. Everybody gathering in the room, the police, the interrogations? Painter claiming he kill the wife – but not knowing that she had taken pills and killed herself? Jim giving the police the other half of the suicide letter? Jim and his wanting revenge against Durham, to implicate him? The revelation about the dead man in the sea, the knot on his tie?
13. Painter, the upset, on the roof, Durham holding onto his tie, Painter falling to his death?
14. The evidence of the time not, the Durham had seen Jim’s wife dead, had left, encountered the man on the cliff, trying to save him? The tie not?
15. The Jim had seen his wife dead, revenge that Durham had driven her to her death?
16. And the audience satisfied with the nice happy ending for Jim and an and the child?
