Jagd auf Z

Number three of Nettlefold's 'Paul Temple' potboilers is a garrulous and uninvolving affair until about the halfway mark, when it picks up considerably and the women start wearing the trousers (in the case of Dinah Sheridan's 'Steve', literally).

Despite two of the previous reviewers evoking The Goons in their headings no one so far seems to have noticed that the actress playing the unfortunate Celia (in her only appearance in a feature film), Anne Hayes, continued her run of bad fortune the following year when she became the first Mrs Peter Sellars.

Andrew Leigh has been working on his secret formula -- what does it do? Shut up, he explained -- when a couple of henchmen show up, threaten his daughter, and eat his biscuits without asking. They're working for the Z organization, a bunch of spies who sell their secrets to the highest bidder. Somehow, John Bentley and Dinah Dinah Sheridan as mystery writer Paul Temple and his wife Steve wind up at the hotel where the spies and police chasing spies congregate. Can Temple and company stumble their way to success in less than eighty minutes? It is to laugh.

It's based on one of the radio show's serial that originally aired in November and December of 1939, doubtless changed from Nazi agent to something that suggests The 39 Steps without much humor. With Jack Livesey, Jenny Mathot, and Leo de Pokorny in his final screen performance.

This is the third, and the best, of the four Paul Temple films made between 1946 and 1952. They were: SEND FOR PAUL TEMPLE, aka THE GREEN FINGER (1946, see my review), starring Anthony Hulme as Temple; CALLING PAUL TEMPLE (1948, see my review), starring John Bentley as Temple as did the next two; this film; and PAUL TEMPLE RETURNS, aka BOMBAY WATERFRONT (its American title) (1952, see my review). In this and the next film, 'Steve' Temple, Paul's wife, is played by Dinah Sheridan, though in the final film she was replaced by Patricia Dainton. The initial film was directed by John Argyle, and the three others were all directed by Maclean Rogers. All are based upon the detective character created by Francis Durbridge, and this film is based upon Durbridge's radio serial 'News of Paul Temple'. All of the films are definitely 'B' pictures without any pretensions. This one is far more interesting than the others and has a more elaborate and interesting story. There is a sinister international criminal organisation known as 'Z' which is headed by an unknown man called 'Z' which steals high technology secrets, particularly those relating to defence, and sells them to the highest bidder. They are ruthless and kill anyone who gets in their way. Temple has to find out who they are and stop them, and at the same time save the life of a kidnapped professor who is nearly finished designing his 'biggest thing since radar during the War'. It is a secret formula for controlling atomic weaponry. There is a race against time and various people get killed along the way. Most of the action and filming take place in the New Forest, which, as everyone knows, has not been 'new' for centuries. There are some interesting shots at Northolt Airfield, which is still used by the military and the Prime Minister but was then an ordinary civilian London airport, prior to the existence of Heathrow and Gatwick. One curious aspect of the film is that whenever someone gets stabbed to death or blown up, Temple and the police inspector merely rush off to deal with the next emergency, and make no apparent effort to secure the scene of the crime, deal with the corpse, collect evidence, or even call the police. I suppose the producer did not wish the film to exceed its 76 minutes and hence its limited budget. Oh well, that's the movies, especially the 'B' movies. But this is a very good way to pass a rainy afternoon, or at least that part of it before teatime. I recommend heavier fare after being fortified by a good cuppa, dontchathink?

PAUL TEMPLE'S TRIUMPH is the third of four Paul Temple films, shot on the cheap at Nettlefold Studios and adapted from the radio plays by Francis Durbridge. This follows on from the stodgy SEND FOR PAUL TEMPLE and the acceptable CALLING PAUL TEMPLE and was followed by PAUL TEMPLE RETURNS, which is my personal favourite of the four.

These films are hampered by a low budget and Maclean Rogers's indifferent execution, but for fans of the era they provide a few thrills. Once again the usual go-to guy, John Bentley, essays the role of Temple with Dinah Sheridan his reliable partner Steve. The plot of this one begins with the kidnapping of a scientist and the subsequent investigation turns up a sinister criminal gang with murder in mind.

PAUL TEMPLE'S TRIUMPH was considered to be a lost film for a while, much like the two TOFF adaptations also starring Bentley. It lacks a decent supporting cast (PAUL TEMPLE RETURNS had the likes of Christopher Lee in support) but it still manages a few good twists along the way, including one ahead-of-its-time shocking moment. And the short running time means that this is one quota quickie that never outstays its welcome.

Just watched this oldie, agree with previous remarks but ....can't find an image of Paul & Steve's Aston Martin 'washboard' convertible model with the rear wheel spats annoyingly!!!