Meet Mr. Malcolm
| Meet Mr. Malcolm | |
|---|---|
 Original British trade ad | |
| Directed by | Daniel Birt |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Hone Glendinning |
| Edited by | Anne Barker |
| Music by | Frank Chacksfield |
Production company | Corsair Pictures |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 65 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Meet Mr. Malcolm is a 1954 British 'B'[1] crime film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Adrianne Allen, Sarah Lawson and Meredith Edwards.[2] It was written by Brock Williams based on the novel of the same name by Roger Burford (as Roger East).
Synopsis
Crime writer Colin Knowles is called in by his estranged wife Louie to solve a real-life murder when her employer's body is found at the bottom of a cliff.
Cast
- Adrianne Allen as Mrs. Durant
- Sarah Lawson as Louie Knowles
- Richard Gale as Colin Knowles
- Duncan Lamont as Supt. Simmons
- Meredith Edwards as Whistler Grant
- Pamela Galloway as Andrea Durant
- John Horsley as Tony Barlow
- John Blythe as Carrington-Phelps
- Claude Dampier as Joe Tutt
- Nigel Green as police sergeant
- Simone Lovell
- Jean St. Clair as Mrs O'Connor
- Derek Prentice
Production
It was made at Kensington Studios as a second feature.
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This kind of well-mannered, guessing game detective thriller seems rather old-fashioned. The acting, in the English drawing-room style, with its adjunct, the well-modulated speaking voice, is conscientious but unimpressive, and Claude Dampier imitates the kind of countryman especially reserved for this type of picture. A dull crime story."[3]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Artless, yet occasionally beguiling and exciting, it should intrigue the not too sophisticated. Its length is definitely in its favour. ... The picture cannot boast of flawless team work, but the strained relationship of Louie and Colin, shrewdly plugged, contains human interest and helps to balance the conventional rough stuff. Sarah Lawson, Richard Gale and Duncan Lamont, cast as Louie, Colin and a police superintendent respectively, are the best of the players, and to them goes the credit of putting some seasoning into the ham. Staging adequate rather than outstanding."[4]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "This would be just another well-handled whodunit but for a most slick and amusing performance by John Blythe as a theatrical agent's stooge. ... The action moves along crisply and the dialogue is better than the usual."[5]
Chibnall & McFarlane called the film "an incoherent murder mystery".[1]
TV Guide wrote: "Not very interesting."[6]
References
- ^ a b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "Meet Mr. Malcolm". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Meet Mr. Malcolm". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 21 (240): 26. 1 January 1954. ProQuest 1305810733.
- ^ "Meet Mr. Malcolm". Kine Weekly. 442 (2429): 20. 14 January 1954. ProQuest 2676982672.
- ^ "Meet Mr. Malcolm". The Daily Film Renter. 442 (6599): 5. 7 January 1954. ProQuest 2600884798.
- ^ "Meet Mr. Malcolm". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.