Celia

Celia is Hy Hazell. an out-of-work actress. She is inveigled by Bruce Lester, a private investigator, into an undercover job. It seems that Elsie Wagstaff has married John Bailey and has cut off communications with her niece and nephews, who are worried that Bailey intends nefarious doings. As the movie goes on, the audience discovers that this is indeed the case; in cooperation with Lockwood West, Bailey intends to drug the old woman and throw her off the balcony, having told the gossips in the village that his wife walks in her sleep. Can Miss Hazell and Mr. Lester save the old woman?

This is a perfectly decent thriller bookended by some light-hearted banter If not exactly a world-beater, it is a perfectly pleasant time-waster for anyone who likes a bit of chills in a country home.

Celia, played by the delicious Hy Hazell, is co-opted by her private eye boyfriend to pose as a servant girl to infiltrate a household where he suspects there is a murder being planned. The reason for this intended crime is never made clear but certainly appears to be well advanced.

The intended victim's husband is in league with another person who is posing as a doctor to keep the woman, Aunt Nora, in a sedated state.

Another typical British B offering that was churned out in great numbers in the period.

A well paced thriller that will hold your interest throughout.

8/ 10.

Celia (Hy Hazel), an attractive but hard-up actress, has a passion for expensive hats. She is offered the chance to earn some money to buy one by her friend Larry who runs a detective agency. His clients Mr and Mrs Haldane were concerned for their rich Aunt Nora, having had no contact from her. The Haldanes had visited Nora's country house only to be told by her new, younger husband Lester (John Bailey) that she was ill and did not wish to see them. Celia reluctantly agrees to infiltrate the house by posing as a replacement housekeeper.

'Celia' was one of the earliest films made by Hammer Film Productions on behalf of Exclusive Films. This small company ran on a shoestring and started out by making films of successful BBC radio programmes such as the legendary Dick Barton. It is hard to imagine a more budget budget-film than this one. All the interior shots were made entirely within a country mansion in Cookham, Berkshire, specially hired by the company for around £25 a week (1949 prices) with almost every room as well as gardens being used for shooting – and it shows. In fact, the star Hy Hazell happily lived in the mansion during shooting and so saved hotel costs. The entire film cost about £13,000. (The same mansion was used in the making of 'Doctor Morelle – The Case of the Missing Heiress' – released in June 1949). Miss Hazel gives an enjoyable performance opposite the creepy John Bailey.

Detective Bruce Lester (Larry) calls on the help of friend Hy Hazell (Celia) to help him discover what has happened to Elsie Wagstaff (Aunt Nora). She goes undercover as a housemaid in the country house in which Wagstaff is hidden away and young husband John Bailey (Lester) seems to be scheming up some evilness.

It's a short film and it keeps you watching for the duration. There are no surprises and Hy Hazell carries the film along with her enthusiasm. It takes a bit of a while to get going and it's ok while it lasts. It's a comedy so there is never really any real threat to anyone's life although the film does succeed in delivering some tension, eg, hiding in the bedroom.

Of more interest is reading about Hy Hazell and the way she died in real life. She choked on a steak whilst eating at a Westminster restaurant at the age of 50. I want to know more. It's more interesting than the film.

Private Detective Larry Peters suspects that Lester Martin has evil intentions towards his new, much older wife Nora. Not even family can gain access to Nora, so Larry convinces his friend Celia, an actress, to pose as a charwoman and gain access to Nora.

When you read the plot, you could be forgiven for thinking it's a little hammy, and perhaps it is, but it's an effective enough thriller, and it's not without interest or suspense. There are some nice touches of humor, and it's nice to see a female lead in a thriller from that time. It's rather well made; for a film from 1949, it moves rather slickly from one scene to the next. It doesn't feature long, drawn-out, conversation-heavy scenes. An older woman with a younger husband back in the '40s would have been a rare occurrence.

Lester truly is a monstrous piece of work, but it has to be said that poor Nora is a little dimwitted. However, one could read a magazine or watch a love rat series about people scammed by love on a daily basis.

Hy Hazel is fantastic as Nora, a tremendous character actress, a woman with star quality and looks to match.

6.5/10.