This is a low budget B or maybe co feature from Monarch.They have brought together a reasonable cast upon which they presumably have spent most of the budget.they clearly weren't able to afford much for their American import,Phyllis Kirk.The plot is quite reasonable with a number of twists and turns till we get to the climax.There unfortunately we are rather let down by the writer and director.It is unfortunately just plain silly.Dan O herily does a reasonable job as the insurance investigator who is of course always one step ahead of the law.there is a very amusing scene in the middle of the film when Jack Watling is almost caught with his trousers down by his fiancée at the house of his mistress.he then orders his mistress out forgetting that it is her house they are in.Not a great film but beats anything they are going to show us on TV over Christmas.
7 Reviews
Has its moments!
JohnHowardReid13 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Made at Nettlefold Studios. Location scenes filmed in France. Producer: William Gell. A Monarch Production, released in the U.S.A. by RKO- State Rights Films: September 1959. No New York opening. U.K. release through Monarch: 3 June 1957. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 16 October 1958. 7,510 feet. 83 minutes. Cut by 20th Century-Fox to 74 minutes in Australia. U.S. release title: City After Midnight.
SYNOPSIS: A jewel thief's ex-wife is accused of killing her fiancé's father. That's simple and easy to comprehend, isn't it?
NOTES: A film version of a John Dickson Carr novel is such a rarity, it should not go unnoticed, even when the film is not quite up to scratch. In fact, the only other film adaptation of a Carr novel that I can recall is a French movie directed by Duvivier, called "The Burning Court" (1963), starring Nadja Tiller and Jean-Claude Brialy.
Yes, I know about "The Man with a Cloak" (1951) — that's taken from a Carr short story — and "Dangerous Crossing" (1953) — originally a radio play. Which all adds up to four movies all told. Not exactly a roll-call tribute to one of the best thriller writers of the 20th century.
COMMENT: Fair detective yarn. The mystery itself is unusually unexciting for a John Dickson Carr puzzle and though there is a bit of action, proceedings are not helped by sluggish and unimaginative direction and some of the dullest photography ever seen in an "A"- feature.
Still, the principals, Dan O'Herlihy and Phyllis Kirk, are likable, and Petula Clark looks delightfully decorative in a non-singing role.
Unfortunately, a lot of the dialogue is repetitious. The film could be improved by some judicious cutting, particularly of the scenes involving Guido Lorraine's theatrically exaggerated French detective.
OTHER VIEWS: If unsubtle, the many false trails are cleverly devised and dramatically quite effective. The pace is too slow for suspense, but the photography is excellent and the backgrounds authentic. — Monthly Film Bulletin.
A flat, not fully realized adaptation of Carr's novel. — Chris Steinbrunner & Otto Penzler in the "Encyclopedia of Mystery & Detection".
SYNOPSIS: A jewel thief's ex-wife is accused of killing her fiancé's father. That's simple and easy to comprehend, isn't it?
NOTES: A film version of a John Dickson Carr novel is such a rarity, it should not go unnoticed, even when the film is not quite up to scratch. In fact, the only other film adaptation of a Carr novel that I can recall is a French movie directed by Duvivier, called "The Burning Court" (1963), starring Nadja Tiller and Jean-Claude Brialy.
Yes, I know about "The Man with a Cloak" (1951) — that's taken from a Carr short story — and "Dangerous Crossing" (1953) — originally a radio play. Which all adds up to four movies all told. Not exactly a roll-call tribute to one of the best thriller writers of the 20th century.
COMMENT: Fair detective yarn. The mystery itself is unusually unexciting for a John Dickson Carr puzzle and though there is a bit of action, proceedings are not helped by sluggish and unimaginative direction and some of the dullest photography ever seen in an "A"- feature.
Still, the principals, Dan O'Herlihy and Phyllis Kirk, are likable, and Petula Clark looks delightfully decorative in a non-singing role.
Unfortunately, a lot of the dialogue is repetitious. The film could be improved by some judicious cutting, particularly of the scenes involving Guido Lorraine's theatrically exaggerated French detective.
OTHER VIEWS: If unsubtle, the many false trails are cleverly devised and dramatically quite effective. The pace is too slow for suspense, but the photography is excellent and the backgrounds authentic. — Monthly Film Bulletin.
A flat, not fully realized adaptation of Carr's novel. — Chris Steinbrunner & Otto Penzler in the "Encyclopedia of Mystery & Detection".
"If that's an invitation I'll have a martini"
hwg1957-102-2657045 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There has never been a good full length feature film of a John Dickson Carr novel as his books have great plots and well written characters and his two main detectives, Dr. Gideon Fell and Sir Henry Merrivale are most entertaining. Which is a shame. This film based on the book 'The Emperor's Snuff Box' is not bad but doesn't have the creeping suspense of a Carr novel. It does have an amiable performance from Dan O'Herlihy as Dermot Kinross the insurance investigator which nicely contrasts with the more overheated acting from Phyllis Kirk as the unjustly accused woman. Wilfrid Hyde-White and William Franklyn also added charm and threat respectively. Petula Clark is also in it as a loyal sister but doesn't get to sing unfortunately. A watchable film for a wet Sunday afternoon.
Worth watching.
searchanddestroy-15 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I won't resume the story, it has already been done on the summary line. I will just say that's an acceptable mystery noir from UK. Not action sequences, a bit boring, very talkative, directed by Compton Bennet, who gave us some interesting and rare features. Maybe some others from him are available somewhere.
This one, not charmless, takes place on the french Riviera, in the late fifties. That's not my best noir ever, this kind of topic I mean. But you can be pleased by watching it. A real rare gem.
I just comment it because no one has done it before.
Enjoy the score, very in this movie atmosphere...
This one, not charmless, takes place on the french Riviera, in the late fifties. That's not my best noir ever, this kind of topic I mean. But you can be pleased by watching it. A real rare gem.
I just comment it because no one has done it before.
Enjoy the score, very in this movie atmosphere...
Elaborate Movie From John Dickson Carr Novel
boblipton26 June 2022
Wilfrid Hyde-White is rich, aristocratic, and has a lot of people with good reason for killing him, from his collection of jewelry and antiques, to his son, whose marriage he suggests he may forbid, to his daughter, who is married but carrying on an affair. So it's hardl surprising that he's killed at the 30-minute mark in this movie derived from John Dickson Carr's The Emperor's Snuffbox.
Carr is an outsized figure in the evolution of the murder mystery. Not only was he a leading proponent of the locked room mystery, produced so many books he had a pseudonym almost as famous as his real name, and was an early proponent of the historical mystery. The book this was based on was not one of his regular series, but it is considered one of his best.
As for the movie, it's an engaging mystery, with Phyllis Kirk, Petula Clark and Dan O'Herlihy in good-sized roles. Still, it spends most of its time concentrating on the elaborate unraveling of the mystery, rather than the characters, who become thinly realized as a result.
Carr is an outsized figure in the evolution of the murder mystery. Not only was he a leading proponent of the locked room mystery, produced so many books he had a pseudonym almost as famous as his real name, and was an early proponent of the historical mystery. The book this was based on was not one of his regular series, but it is considered one of his best.
As for the movie, it's an engaging mystery, with Phyllis Kirk, Petula Clark and Dan O'Herlihy in good-sized roles. Still, it spends most of its time concentrating on the elaborate unraveling of the mystery, rather than the characters, who become thinly realized as a result.
That woman opposite
coltras3521 February 2023
In a French coastal town, Det. Dermot Kinross is inspecting the murder of antiques dealer Maurice Lawes, and the evidence points to Lawes's son, Toby - and especially to Toby's bride-to-be, Eve Atwood. Eve's ex-husband, Ned, had his eyes set on something Lawes possessed.
I love reading John Dickson Carr, the master of the Locked Room mystery, so I was eager to see an adaptation, curious how Carr's complicated yet clever plot would fit in a film, and the result is quite good. It's a solidly executed mystery, has an array of interesting characters and noir-like atmosphere. It's not amazing, but it's intriguing and compelling enough, and it's well-acted, though Dan O Herlihy makes a bland hero:
I love reading John Dickson Carr, the master of the Locked Room mystery, so I was eager to see an adaptation, curious how Carr's complicated yet clever plot would fit in a film, and the result is quite good. It's a solidly executed mystery, has an array of interesting characters and noir-like atmosphere. It's not amazing, but it's intriguing and compelling enough, and it's well-acted, though Dan O Herlihy makes a bland hero:
O'Herlihy makes the story just a bit better
planktonrules7 November 2023
The film begins with a British policeman struggling with a burglary suspect. The suspect shoves the cop into the wall...and the next day the policeman dies from his head wounds.
The story then switches to an insurance investigator (O'Herlihy) visiting various homes on the street, as apparently these are rich folks who all have policies with his company. Some new characters are introduced and soon you learn that Sir Maurice's son is planning on marrying a woman who was married to a scoundrel some time ago. Where does all this go next? Well, A LOT of places as the plot is pretty complex...but ultimately enjoyable.
This is a decent murder mystery and I think Dan O'Herlihy's fine acting helped a bit to make the film just a bit better. Not a great film...but a very good one.
The story then switches to an insurance investigator (O'Herlihy) visiting various homes on the street, as apparently these are rich folks who all have policies with his company. Some new characters are introduced and soon you learn that Sir Maurice's son is planning on marrying a woman who was married to a scoundrel some time ago. Where does all this go next? Well, A LOT of places as the plot is pretty complex...but ultimately enjoyable.
This is a decent murder mystery and I think Dan O'Herlihy's fine acting helped a bit to make the film just a bit better. Not a great film...but a very good one.
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