"Wanted for Murder", based on a play by Percy Robinson and Terence de Marney, is a rock-solid black & white thriller set in post-WWII London. Eric Portman stars as Victor Colebrooke, a dapper gentleman living under a cloud. He's dominated by the legacy of his insane father, and is also haunted by thoughts of his grandfather, who was a notorious hangman. He goes out regularly at night and often strangles the young women with whom he spends time. Scotland Yard, represented by persistent detectives Conway (Roland Culver) and Sullivan (Stanley Holloway), finally focuses on him as a viable suspect in this string of killings. However, will they be in time to save the life of Anne Fielding (Dulcie Gray), who's been dating Victor? Victor does NOT take it well when she falls out of love with him and begins seeing amiable young bus conductor Jack Williams (Derek Farr).
Efficiently directed by Lawrence Huntington, this features some great use of locations, and tells a very engrossing story. It's the capable performance by Portman that serves as a true anchor: Victor is confident enough and arrogant enough to send the police postcards and otherwise taunt them, but it's clear that he may well have inherited his late fathers' madness. Portman is able to make this sociopath character interesting, and not entirely unsympathetic. He's well supported by a sterling British cast that also includes people like Barbara Everest (as Victors' mother), Jenny Laird, Kathleen Harrison (in another of her hired-help roles), Bill Shine, John Ruddock, and Wilfrid Hyde-White (as the guide in Madame Tussaud's).
"Wanted for Murder" is appropriately suspenseful and creepy at times, but what was appreciable were the little, light comic touches throughout (like a bumbling cop smoking some evidence, or Anne & Jack going to a fancy restaurant only to learn that some of their dishes are unavailable). The film even ends on a priceless comedic note. All of the characters are engaging in their own way - Culver, Holloway, and Everest were particularly enjoyable to this viewer. The ending is abrupt, however, and may rob some viewers of real satisfaction.
Emeric Pressburger was one of the credited screenwriters.
Eight out of 10.
Efficiently directed by Lawrence Huntington, this features some great use of locations, and tells a very engrossing story. It's the capable performance by Portman that serves as a true anchor: Victor is confident enough and arrogant enough to send the police postcards and otherwise taunt them, but it's clear that he may well have inherited his late fathers' madness. Portman is able to make this sociopath character interesting, and not entirely unsympathetic. He's well supported by a sterling British cast that also includes people like Barbara Everest (as Victors' mother), Jenny Laird, Kathleen Harrison (in another of her hired-help roles), Bill Shine, John Ruddock, and Wilfrid Hyde-White (as the guide in Madame Tussaud's).
"Wanted for Murder" is appropriately suspenseful and creepy at times, but what was appreciable were the little, light comic touches throughout (like a bumbling cop smoking some evidence, or Anne & Jack going to a fancy restaurant only to learn that some of their dishes are unavailable). The film even ends on a priceless comedic note. All of the characters are engaging in their own way - Culver, Holloway, and Everest were particularly enjoyable to this viewer. The ending is abrupt, however, and may rob some viewers of real satisfaction.
Emeric Pressburger was one of the credited screenwriters.
Eight out of 10.