Dead Man's Chest (1965 film)

Last updated

Dead Man's Chest
Dead Man's Chest film Theatrical release poster (1965).png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPatrick Dromgoole
Screenplay byDonal Giltinan
Produced byJack Greenwood
Starring John Thaw
Ann Firbank
John Meillon
Edited byDerek Holding
Music byBernard Ebbinghouse
Production
company
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date
  • 1965 (1965)
Running time
59 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Dead Man's Chest is a 1965 British second feature [1] film directed by Patrick Dromgoole and starring John Thaw, Ann Firbank and John Meillon. [2] It is part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios.

Contents

Plot

Hard-up journalists David Jones and Johnnie Gordon decide to play a hoax, faking a murder to highlight the danger of circumstantial evidence in the criminal justice system. But things go terribly wrong. Gordon is trapped a wooden chest in the boot of a stolen car, whereabouts unknown. Panicking that Gordon will suffocate, Jones goes to the police, who think the entire story is a lie. They find the circumstantial evidence deliberately planted by Jones and Gordon as part of their original plan, and Jones is arrested for murder. Jones's wife goes to Scotland in search of Gordon's girlfriend and through her finds Gordon in hiding, working in a hotel. Jones is released.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Competently acted and presented, this B picture impresses most through Donal Giltinan's quite inventive though highly improbable story, which manages to keep the fairly intricate plot unentangled, even if there is something a little glib about the ending. An unambitious but efficient little film of its class." [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Two-Way Stretch</i> 1960 British film by Robert Day

Two-Way Stretch, also known as Nothing Barred, is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Robert Day and starring Peter Sellers, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Lionel Jeffries and Bernard Cribbins. The screenplay is by Vivian Cox, John Warren and Len Heath. A group of prisoners plan to break out of jail, commit a robbery, and then break back into their jail again, thus giving them the perfect alibi – that they were behind bars when the robbery occurred. However, their plans are disrupted by the arrival of a strict new Chief Prison Officer.

<i>Sitting Target</i> 1972 British film by Douglas Hickox

Sitting Target is a 1972 British crime film directed by Douglas Hickox and starring Oliver Reed, Ian McShane and Jill St. John. It was based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Laurence Henderson.

<i>They Made Me a Fugitive</i> 1947 British film by Alberto Cavalcanti

They Made Me a Fugitive is a 1947 British black-and-white film noir directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and starring Sally Gray and Trevor Howard. It was written by Noel Langley, based on the 1941 Jackson Budd novel A Convict Has Escaped. Cinematography was by Otto Heller.

<i>Time Without Pity</i> 1957 British film by Joseph Losey

Time Without Pity is a 1957 British film noir thriller film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo McKern, Paul Daneman, Peter Cushing, Alec McCowen and Renee Houston. It is about a father trying to save his son from execution for murder.

<i>Eight OClock Walk</i> 1954 film by Lance Comfort

Eight O'Clock Walk is a 1954 British drama film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Richard Attenborough, Cathy O'Donnell, Derek Farr and Maurice Denham.

<i>The Green Scarf</i> 1954 British film by George More OFerrall

The Green Scarf is a 1954 British mystery film directed by George More O'Ferrall and starring Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo Genn, Kieron Moore, Richard O'Sullivan and Michael Medwin. The film's plot concerns a man who is accused of a seemingly motiveless murder. The film was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Shingleton. It was written by Gordon Wellesley based on the 1951 Guy des Cars novel The Brute.

<i>Nothing Barred</i> 1961 British film by Darcy Conyers

Nothing Barred is a 1961 British black and white comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Leo Franklyn and Naunton Wayne. It was written by John Chapman.

<i>Circumstantial Evidence</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by Daniel Birt

Circumstantial Evidence is a 1952 British crime film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Rona Anderson, Patrick Holt and Frederick Leister. It was made as a supporting feature.

<i>Now Barabbas</i> 1949 British film

Now Barabbas, also known as Now Barabbas Was a Robber, is a 1949 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Richard Greene, Cedric Hardwicke and Kathleen Harrison. It was based on a 1947 play of the same title by William Douglas Home. The film features one of the earliest screen performances by Richard Burton and was an early role for Kenneth More.

Three Steps to the Gallows is a 1953 British second feature crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Scott Brady, Mary Castle and Gabrielle Brune. It was released in the US by Lippert Pictures as White Fire.

<i>Kill Her Gently</i> 1957 British film by Charles Saunders

Kill Her Gently is a 1957 British second feature thriller film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Griffith Jones, Maureen Connell and Marc Lawrence.

<i>The Brain Machine</i> (film) 1956 British film by Ken Hughes

The Brain Machine is a 1956 British thriller film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Maxwell Reed, Elizabeth Allan and Patrick Barr.

<i>Feet of Clay</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Frank Marshall

Feet of Clay is a 1960 British crime film directed by Frank Marshall and starring Vincent Ball, Wendy Williams and Hilda Fenemore. It was written by Mark Grantham and produced by The Danzigers.

<i>My Death Is a Mockery</i> 1952 British film by Tony Young

My Death Is a Mockery is a 1952 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Tony Young and starring Donald Houston, Kathleen Byron and Bill Kerr. It was written by Douglas Baber from his novel of the same name.

<i>Man at the Carlton Tower</i> 1961 British film by Robert Tronson

Man at the Carlton Tower is a 1961 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Maxine Audley, Lee Montague and Allan Cuthbertson. The screenplay was by Philip Mackie, based on the 1931 Edgar Wallace novel The Man at the Carlton. It is part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios from 1960 to 1965.

<i>Marriage of Convenience</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Clive Donner

Marriage of Convenience is a 1960 British crime film directed by Clive Donner and starring Harry H. Corbett, John Cairney and John Van Eyssen. The screenplay was by Robert Banks Stewart, based on the 1924 Edgar Wallace novel The Three Oak Mystery. It is part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios from 1960 to 1965.

<i>Accidental Death</i> (film) 1963 British film by Geoffrey Nethercott

Accidental Death is a 1963 British drama directed by Geoffrey Nethercott and starring John Carson, Jacqueline Ellis, and Derrick Sherwin. It was written by Arthur La Bern based on a story by Edgar Wallace.

<i>Band of Thieves</i> (1962 film) 1962 British film by Peter Bezencenet

Band of Thieves is a 1962 British musical film directed by Peter Bezencenet and starring Acker Bilk, Geoffrey Sumner and Jennifer Jayne. It was produced as a second feature in an attempt to cash in on the Trad jazz craze. It was shot at Pinewood Studios, with cinematography by Nicolas Roeg.

<i>Death Trap</i> (film) 1962 British film by John Moxey

Death Trap is a 1962 British film directed by John Moxey and starring Albert Lieven, Barbara Shelley and John Meillon. It is part of the long-running series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios.

<i>The Set Up</i> (1963 film) 1963 British film by Gerard Glaister

The Set Up is a 1963 British second feature film directed by Gerard Glaister and starring Maurice Denham, John Carson and Maria Corvin. Part of the series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios, it is based on a Wallace story.

References

  1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 326. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. "Dead Man's Chest". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  3. "Dead Man's Chest". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 32 (372): 183. 1 January 1965. ProQuest   1305824875 via ProQuest.