An ex-con called Letty Frost (played by Ruth Dunning) runs a boarding house for elderly ladies who are retired criminals themselves - albeit mostly petty sneak thieves. Her new life is threatened by the arrival of one of her former accomplices, Jean Berry (played by Gwenda Wilson), who had attempted to escape from prison with her. It transpires that Letty had got away, although a fall as she went over the wall left her confined to a wheelchair while Jean was promptly recaptured. Jean attempts to blackmail Letty into signing over half of her business to her threatening to tell her beloved niece Freda (played by Joanna Dunham) and her journalist fiancé Jack (played by Howard Pays) about her criminal past if she refuses. However, Letty is too smart for her and she ends up being murdered. Letty gets another of her old friends from London's underworld, George 'Butch' Birling (played by Jerold Wills), to dispose of her body. But, events take an unexpected turn that threatens to expose Letty's past...
Immensely enjoyable British 'B'-pic crime drama, which features a strong performance from veteran actress Ruth Dunning who brings out the ambiguity of her character. She appears to have put her criminal past behind her and comes across as a kindly middle-aged lady who has taken to providing a home and care for the ex-petty criminals at her boarding house. Her attempts to keep them on the straight and narrow (mostly unsuccessful) allow for some charm and light comedy as the seemingly sweet old ladies are forever pilfering from the local shops. And poor old Letty is always returning them to the shopkeepers who are aware of it, but make allowances due to the fact that they are elderly people. Letty tells them off in a firm, but soft manner before letting them off with a slapped wrist giving the impression that she is slightly amused by it all. Letty also dotes on her 21-year-old niece Freda whose parents were supposedly killed in a tragic accident in which a ship they were traveling on had sunk. She ensured that she was cared for whilst inside doing a seven-year stint for a jewel robbery. Yet, there is much mystery surrounding her criminal past. It is suggested throughout, though never fully explained, that she was a hardened criminal capable of being extremely ruthless. It is hinted that she had murdered her boyfriend who it was believed had died in a London gang fight many years before. But, Letty had gone to ground for a few years afterwards. Then, later, after Jack has married Freda, he reveals that he had checked the passenger list of those who had been aboard the sunken ship, but that Freda's parents weren't on it. What was the truth behind that? The suspense aspect is also good as the Yard, led by Trevor Reid's Inspector Craven, begin to piece together the truth behind Jean's murder. In conclusion, although the climax is rather predictable and not atypical of so many British 'B's' of the period, the film is rescued by the intrigue and mystery surrounding Ruth Dunning's character, which means we are left wondering what she was really about once the end credits have rolled since it leaves so many questions unanswered. This stands as one of director Charles Saunders' better efforts while Geoffrey Faithfull's lighting is atmospheric and enhances the attractive setting of the boarding house for ex-petty criminals. The handful of locations, including the parade of shops next to Strawberry Hill train station are well used.
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