Sunday, September 8, 2024

HOUSE OF BLACKMAIL 1953 (RENOWN)

Good little mystery film.

A woman named Carol (Mary Germaine) is on her way to meet her brothers' blackmailer when she picks up a man who is hitchhiking. His name is Jimmy (William Sylvester).

She offers him some money if he can pose as a lawyer during her coming meeting. Jimmy agrees, but soon both find themselves trapped in a huge house with a murdered man and several other suspects.

The movie is well done and the cast is very good as well as the direction. William Sylvester always impresses me with his ability to make any role he has interesting.

There are several red herrings, of course, and the final when we discover who the killer is, is somewhat bland, but nontheless entertaining.

I am glad Renown is turning out a lot of these rare British films for people to see. They are a treat. The rest of the cast includes Alexander Gauge, John Arnatt, Ingeborg von Kusserow and a very young and sexy Patricia Owens.

I would recommend this undiscovered gem. I do want to mention that the opening music with the credits make you believe you are watching a comedy, but that is far from the case. It was a bizarre choice in music, but it does add a strange quality to this film.

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