THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
UK, 1957, 84 minutes, Black and white.
John Mills, Derek Farr, Noelle Middleton, Roland Culver, Wilfrid Hyde White, Mervyn Johns.
Directed by Gerald Thomas.
The Vicious Circle is a whodunnit based on a television serial by the screenwriter Francis Durbridge (called The Brass Candlestick).
It is definitely a film of its time, very British in its rather stiff upper lip manner (except with John Mills and Derek Farr have a fistfight). John Mills is a Harley Street doctor accused of a murder. Roland Culver and Wilfrid Hyde White are entertaining as the local police and Interpol. Mervyn Johns is a suspicious doctor. When you start to work out who the villain could possibly be (apart from Lionel Jeffries in an early role), it has to be John Mills' best friend, Derek Farr. The film is lightly done in the Agatha Christie Edgar Wallace tradition.
1. Entertaining murder mystery? Thriller?
2. Black and white photography, London locations? Atmosphere of the '50s? Harley Street, the airport, hotels? Musical score?
3. The title and its focus on Dr Latimer, his being framed, the resolution of the plot? Framed by his best friend?
4. The plausibility of the situation: the impersonated phone call to Dr Latimer, the writing of names in a diary, the set up at the airport, photos, blackmail? Coincidences and Dr Latimer going to his friend to stay in hiding? The role of the police, the deception of the Interpol office? The revelation of the truth, the illegal organisation and false passports? Getting Dr Latimer to incriminate the villain?
5. The doctor, Harley Street specialist, engaged to Laura (and his suspicion of her)? His meeting the actress, the matches, the situation and being framed, taken in by the police, eluding them, staying with his friend? Collaborating with the police? Meeting the criminal at the zoo, arranging the false passport, the betrayal by his friend? The finale with tongue in cheek at the airport?
6. The villain as the proper wealthy Englishman, calling his friend 'Squire' all the time ... ? His being the obvious villain? His henchman and his pretending to be a reporter, arranging the blackmail, the passports? Their being arrested especially in the plane?
7. The portraits of the police with the veteran character actors? Dr Kimber and his becoming involved? Mrs Amber and her being blackmailed, lies?
8. The popularity of this kind of very British murder mystery, police thriller?
