Murder in Reverse

Last updated

Murder in Reverse
Murder in Reverse poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Montgomery Tully
Written byMontgomery Tully
Produced by Louis H. Jackson
Starring William Hartnell
Chili Bouchier
Jimmy Hanley
Cinematography Ernest Palmer
Edited byEve Catchpole
Douglas Myers
Music by Hans May
Production
company
Distributed byAnglo-American Film Corporation
Release date
  • 22 October 1945 (1945-10-22)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Murder in Reverse (also styled Murder in Reverse?) is a 1945 British thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Jimmy Hanley and Chili Bouchier. [1] It was written by Tully based on the 1931 story Query by "Seamark" (Austin J. Small). [2]

Contents

A successful film in its time, Murder in Reverse was shown at the British Film Institute on the big screen in June 2010 to great success, selling out the auditorium.[ citation needed ]

Plot

Tom Masterick, a stevedore in Limehouse, London, is married with a young daughter. He discovers that his wife has been having an affair with a man named Fred Smith. In a fit of rage, Masterick fights Smith in a saloon bar, and the fight spills out onto the streets, leading to a high stakes chase on a docks crane, which ends with Smith falling to his apparent death. Despite no body being found and Masterick 's insistence that he did not commit murder, he is found guilty and sentenced to death, which is later commuted to 15 years in prison, despite his insistence that he saw Smith alive after his apparent death.

Upon his release, Masterick is determined to uncover the truth about Smith’s fate and the events that led to his wrongful imprisonment. He discovers that his wife had disappeared with Smith and that their daughter, Jill, had been adopted by Masterick's close friend and newspaper editor, Sullivan, who had tried unsuccessfully to change public opinion in Masterick's favour during his early incarceration. Sullivan fears that revealing the truth about Masterick's past could hurt Jill, who has no memory of her real parents. Jill, who is in a relationship with junior reporter Peter Rogers, becomes involved in the case and believes Mastrick is the victim of a miscarriage of justice, oblivious he is her real father.

Following private investigation, Masterick finds his former wife, now abandoned by Smith and living in poverty. She advises where Smith can be found, but is unsuccessful in her attempt to reconcile with Masterick, who is only driven by his desire for justice and sets out to find Smith.

Masterick finds Smith running a public house and in an act of duplicity, convinces him that he is not out to avenge him. Following a conversation, the two agree to split any compensation that Masterick believes he will receive for his wrongful imprisonment. They visit Crossley, the prosecution barrister at Masterick's trial, now a judge, who is entertaining guests at a dinner party. Masterick explains that there has been a miscarriage of justice, and the victim is alive and well, standing next to him. However, the judge is unwilling to help, citing the passage of time and the legal technicalities surrounding the case.

Frustrated and desperate, Masterick fatally shoots Smith in front of the judge and his guests, seeking revenge for Smith's failure to come forward during the trial. In the epilogue, Sullivan remarks that Masterick cannot be convicted of murder since he already served a prison sentence for it. The killing was, in effect, a "murder in reverse."

Cast

Production

The film was shot at Elstree Studios, [1] and on location including Dartmoor prison. [3] It was among the first films directed by Montgomery Tully, who had previously worked on many short films during World War II. [4]

Release

William Hartnell (left) assessing film cuttings with a cinema manager at a showing of the film in Glasgow in October 1945. William Hartnell promoting Murder in Reverse, October 1945.jpg
William Hartnell (left) assessing film cuttings with a cinema manager at a showing of the film in Glasgow in October 1945.

The film saw a general cinema release rather than having a West End showing, due to being an independent production. [5] Hartnell made a personal appearance at the film's showing in Glasgow's Regal and Coliseum Cinema in October 1945. [6]

Reception

Box office

According to trade papers, the film performed well at the British box office in 1945. [7]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Hartnell gives a good performance as Masterick, an essentially decent man whose life is ruined by a silly woman. John Slater, as Fred Smith, and the rest of the cast are efficient in a well-directed and rather unusual thriller." [8]

Reviewing the film in 1949, The Philadelphia Inquirer praised it highly, describing the film as building to "a tricky climax which leaves the audience breathless and virtually able to write its own ending". They particularly highlighted the performances of Hartnell as "extraordinarily good as the betrayed husband", while noted other cast such as Slater, Sheridan and Bouchier as being "excellent". [9]

The Saffron Walden Weekly News also praised the film as an "amazing story", noting that Hartnell gave an "outstanding performance". [10]

The Middlesex Advertiser and County Gazette also praised the film highly, describing it as a "really first-rate adventure yarn filled with vivid characters brought to life by a lengthy cast of experienced British players". [11]

It was considered a "good British film" by the Birmingham Post , who remarked that it was "a change to find a picture which has the courage to treat a serious matter seriously". [12]

Chibnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film describe the film as "a well-received, uncompromising thriller." [13]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rates the film as "good", writing: "Harsh, well-directed thriller." [14]

Leslie Halliwell said: "A reasonable crime entertainment of its day which seemed to introduce a new star, but it hasn't worn well." [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hell Is a City</i> 1960 British film by Val Guest

Hell Is a City is a 1960 British crime thriller film starring Stanley Baker, based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Maurice Procter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chili Bouchier</span> British actress (1909–1999)

Chili Bouchier was an English film actress who achieved success during the silent film era, and went on to many screen appearances with the advent of sound films, before progressing to theatre later in her career.

<i>The Flanagan Boy</i> 1953 film by Reginald Le Borg

The Flanagan Boy is a 1953 British film noir directed by Reginald Le Borg. It was made by Hammer Film Productions and stars Barbara Payton, Tony Wright, Frederick Valk and Sid James. It was based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Max Catto.

<i>The Man in the Road</i> 1956 British film by Lance Comfort

The Man in the Road is a 1956 British second feature thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit and Cyril Cusack. It was written by Guy Morgan based on the 1952 novel He Was Found in the Road by Anthony Armstrong.

<i>Jackpot</i> (1960 film) 1960 British film by Montgomery Tully

Jackpot is a 1960 British second feature crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Betty McDowall and Eddie Byrne. It was written by Tully and Maurice J. Wilson.

<i>Portrait of Alison</i> 1956 British film by Guy Green

Portrait of Alison is a 1956 British crime film directed by Guy Green and starring Terry Moore, Robert Beatty and William Sylvester. It was written by Green and Ken Hughes based on the BBC television series Portrait of Alison which aired the same year.

<i>Your Witness</i> (film) 1950 British film by Robert Montgomery

Your Witness is a 1950 British drama film directed by and starring Robert Montgomery, Leslie Banks, Felix Aylmer and Andrew Cruickshank. It was released in the U.S. as Eye Witness.

<i>Stolen Assignment</i> 1955 British film by Terence Fisher

Stolen Assignment is a 1955 British comedy 'B' film directed by Terence Fisher and starring John Bentley and Hy Hazell. It was produced by Francis Searle for Act Films Ltd and was a sequel to Fisher's Final Appointment (1954), featuring sleuthing journalists Mike Billings and Jenny Drew.

<i>The Last Man to Hang</i> 1956 British film by Terence Fisher

The Last Man to Hang? is a 1956 crime film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Tom Conway and Elizabeth Sellars. It was produced by John Gossage for Act Films Ltd.

<i>Just My Luck</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by John Paddy Carstairs

Just My Luck is a 1957 British sports comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Margaret Rutherford, Jill Dixon and Leslie Phillips. It was written by Peter Cusick, Alfred Shaughnessy and Peter Blackmore.

<i>The Third Alibi</i> 1961 British film by Montgomery Tully

The Third Alibi is a 1961 British 'B' thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Laurence Payne, Patricia Dainton, Jane Griffiths and Edward Underdown. The screenplay is by Maurice J. Wilson and Tully, based on the play A Moment of Blindness by Pip and Jane Baker.

<i>The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery</i> 1950 mystery film by Paul L. Stein

The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery, also known as Murder on the Air, is a 1950 British second feature comedy crime film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Robert Beatty, Rona Anderson, and Clifford Evans. The film is a hybrid: the Twenty Questions sections take place in a studio recording of the BBC radio programme with the regular panellists and presenter. This is threaded into the plot as the clues trigger a series of murders, each linked to the clue.

<i>The Hypnotist</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by Montgomery Tully

The Hypnotist is a 1957 British thriller film directed and written by Montgomery Tully and starring Paul Carpenter, Patricia Roc and Roland Culver. It is based on a 1956 play by Falkland Cary. A hypnotist has grown sick of his wife and attempts to convince one of his patients to murder her.

<i>Alias John Preston</i> 1955 British film by David MacDonald

Alias John Preston is a 1955 British 'B' thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Christopher Lee, Betta St. John and Alexander Knox. A mysterious and wealthy man moves to a small village where he outwardly appears to be a friendly figure but nurses a dangerous secret.

<i>Cover Girl Killer</i> 1959 British film by Terry Bishop

Cover Girl Killer is a 1959 black and white British 'B' thriller film written and directed by Terry Bishop and starring Harry H. Corbett, Felicity Young, Victor Brooks and Spencer Teakle.

<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. It was written by Paul Erickson.

<i>The Great Van Robbery</i> 1959 British film by Max Varnel

The Great Van Robbery is a 1959 black-and-white British crime film starring Denis Shaw and Kay Callard, directed by Max Varnel. It was written by Brian Clemens and Eldon Howard and produced by The Danzigers.

<i>Blackout</i> (1950 film) 1950 British film by Robert S. Baker

Blackout is a 1950 British crime drama film directed by Robert S. Baker and starring Maxwell Reed and Dinah Sheridan. It was made as a supporting feature.

<i>The Key Man</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by Montgomery Tully

The Key Man is a 1957 British black and white second feature directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Lee Patterson, Paula Byrne and Colin Gordon. The screenplay was by Julian MacLaren-Ross adapted from his original story. The film was released in the USA by United Artists.

<i>Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard</i> 1939 British film

Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard is a 1939 British comedy-drama film directed by Fred Elles starring Mary Clare in her only title role and Nigel Patrick in his film debut. It is based on the Mrs Pym novels by Nigel Morland, and written by Morland, who re-used the title for a 1946 book.

References

  1. 1 2 "Murder in Reverse". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Goble, Alan, ed. (1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Bowker Saur. p. 415. ISBN   1-85739-229-9.
  3. ↑ "A "seamark" tale". The North Devon Journal-Herald. 24 January 1946. p. 8.
  4. ↑ Mayer, Geoff (2012). Historical Dictionary of Crime Films. Scarecrow Press. p. 378. ISBN   9780810867697.
  5. ↑ "Murder in Reverse gets general release". Sunday Pictorial. 21 October 1945. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Hartnell makes personal appearance at Glasgow film showing". Daily Record. 30 October 1945. p. 8.
  7. ↑ Robert Murphy, Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48 2003 p 208
  8. ↑ "Murder in Reverse" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 12 (133): 117. 1 January 1945 – via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ "'Murder in Reverse' Opens at the Stanton". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 17 June 1949. p. 43.
  10. ↑ "Film News by 'Projector'". Saffron Walden Weekly News. 31 May 1946. p. 10.
  11. ↑ "Murder in Reverse a "first-rate adventure"". Middlesex Advertiser and County Gazette. 26 October 1945. p. 6.
  12. ↑ "Film shows in Birmingham". Birmingham Post. 19 December 1945. p. 2.
  13. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 145. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  14. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 231. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  15. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 701. ISBN   0586088946.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.