Profile (1954 film)

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Profile
Profile (1954 film).jpg
Directed by Francis Searle
Written by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Brendan J. Stafford
Edited byTom Simpson
Production
company
Major Pictures
Distributed by Monarch Film Corporation
Release date
  • 13 September 1954 (1954-09-13)
Running time
65 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language English

Profile is a 1954 British second feature ('B') [1] thriller film directed by Francis Searle and starring John Bentley, Kathleen Byron and Thea Gregory. [2] It was written by John Temple-Smith, Maurice Temple-Smith and John Gilling.

Contents

The story concerns a murder mystery set in a magazine publishers.

Plot

Aubrey Holland is a rich publisher and about to announce a new magazine, Profile. His wife Margot is only interested in him for his money, and unsuccessfully tries to woo handsome editor Peter Armstrong. As Profile launches, Aubrey unexpectedly dies of a heart attack. Peter is charged with embezzlement. Margot is murdered. The police search for the killer.

Cast

Production

The film was shot at Shepperton Studios, with sets designed by the art director Norman G. Arnold.

Critical reception

Kine Weekly said: "Compact, competently acted and elegantly staged. ... Sacred and profane love commingle in intriguing alchemy as it smoothly builds up to a dramatic dénouement." [3]

Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Formula murder story set against the background of a magazine publishers. The dialogue and playing are up to standard, but the film has, for its length, a somewhat confused and over-complicated plot." [4]

Chibnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film describe the film as: "a lame murder mystery set in the world of magazine publishing." [1]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Tortuous thriller." [5]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "Steel-jawed magazine editor John Bentley is accused of forging a cheque in the name of his publisher, who inconveniently keels over with a heart attack. Meanwhile, the publisher's wife (a totally wasted Kathleen Byron) lusts after Bentley (who's in love with her daughter), but is soon murdered herself. Rubbish? You bet, from Monarch, one of the lowest on the British B-movie totem pole: don't look for style here." [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 153. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "Profile". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Profile". Kine Weekly . 449 (2461): 22. 26 August 1954 – via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ "Profile". Monthly Film Bulletin . 21 (240): 149. 1954 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 363. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  6. ↑ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 741. ISBN   9780992936440.
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