The Switch

A typical British supporting feature of its day, with the classy Zena Marshall as the victim of a watch-smuggling racket. With the heroic figures of Anthony Steel, Dermot Walsh, and Conrad 'William Tell' Phillips on the case though, it's clear that the villains don't have much of a chance. Not as complicated as some of the contemporary Edgar Wallace movies but not lacking in some dry humour and very watchable. Steel was no longer a major star by now and Fifties leading lady, at least in 'B' pictures, Susan Shaw, has only a minor role as the Search Officer.

I enjoy watching these old British crime films...... this one is in the Edgar Wallace Mystery type of story and direction.... There's a good few well known British film actors in this including a very funny cameo by Jimmy Hanley, as himself. The film has the typical British humour and even makes reference to Ian Fleming and his James Bond novels including a good guy, Conrad Phillips, just back from Japan and with a few 'spy' gadgets that were super small (for the day 😀) and even two way radios..... disguised as cigarette cases, the film is well worth watching and from my own experience, not readily available, indeed I was lucky enough to catch it on, Talking Pictures TV (They have a website too that you can watch it on if you can't get the channel yourself) ..... if you enjoy these old 1950's or early 1960's films this film will not disappoint....

She plays the bit part of a search officer. She became a alcoholic on her way to an early death. Anthony Steel is on his own downward path. Even Jimmy Hanley has a beef camcameocameo. This otherwise a fairly standard if entertaining B feature of the type turned out in their dozens until the end of double bT.ills self their dom.

Nope, there's nothing at all original with this short-ish feature, but it's still just about worth watching. You see, freelance model "Carolyn" (Zena Marshall) has gone and got herself mixed up with some luxury watch smugglers and they have had to put her under lock and key when their shipment goes missing and she's thought to be the culprit! Perplexed that she hasn't been in touch, her beau "John" (Conrad Phillips) manages to enlist the help of customs inspector "Craddock" (Anthony Steel) and policeman "Tomlinson" (Dermot Walsh) - and soon they are hot on the trail of the gang. The plot itself is all pretty procedural - as is the acting and writing, but hats off to Peter Butterworth for a fun cameo as a fashion photographer and to Jimmy Handley for brightening things up too - for a frame or two - as our story bubbles along for just over an hour of vintage cars and pretty scenery without the merest hint of menace or jeopardy.

John Curry gets mixed up with Carolyn Markham, who's targeted by a gang who have smuggled in a stash of watches.

A very enjoyable mystery, it put me in mind of The Edgar Wallace mysteries and The Frances Durbridge shows, it's along the same lines. It's a clever mystery, that moves along at a decent pace, and has several moments of intrigue.

What starts off as a seemingly ordinary crime, car theft, soon turns into something a whole lot more interesting, kidnap, assault, violence and murder.

That Alpine Sunbeam was one exquisite looking car, a time when Great Britain truly did manufacture the most exquisite cars.

I loved the visuals, the cars, the fashions, people and streets, you can't argue with the style of the 1960's.

Quality acting from a very reliable cast, Conrad Phillips, Bill Craddock and the excellent Zena Marshall.

Two amusing moments, Peter Butterworth's scene was very funny, I also chuckled seeing Jerry Desmonde, hard to take him seriously, buy a good actor Northerner.

7/10.