Model for Murder

Another 1950's low budget B film, which features American actor, Keith Anders as seaman Dave Martens, who while on shore leave, takes time out to investigate the death of his brother. In his search to try and get to the bottom of his brother's death, he quickly becomes involved with the world of London's haute couture, where he meets fashion designer Sally Meadows, top stylist Kingsley Beauchamp and Madame Dupont, who is the financial backer of a shady fashion company. Our American hero quickly becomes the number one suspect over some stolen diamonds as well as being implicated in the murder of the fashion model who was actually wearing them. Keith Anders as Dave, works hard to inject some energy and style in what is a very dull and implausible storyline. Michael Gough is miscast as the the sinister and suave criminal in chief, since he seems to be overwrought for most of the scenes, and indeed spends most of his time constantly giving everyone a maniacal stare. However, Alfred Burke and Edwin Richfield, who starred in so many B films in supporting roles do a fine job as the two 'low life' individuals working for Gough, but despite their best efforts, the weak storyline and the unconvincing acting of Gough, makes it a yawn.

Merchant mariner Keith Andes is in London to speak with the ex-fiancee of his dead brother. When she turns up dead in the middle of a jewel robbery by fashion house head Michael Gough, he is clunked on the head and framed. It's up to him to try and prove his innocence with the help of Hazel Court.

It's a fun little B mystery, directed by Terry Bishop, with lots of pretty girls and several brief, eccentric characters. Gough is suave as the bad guy whose well laid plans for the robbery go awry; George Benson is fun as the boring and slightly boorish industrialist dating the model; and Charles Lamb has a nice little bit as a lock keeper, making sure he pockets a tip while saying he shouldn't have. Andes is a trifle suave and perfunctory as the innocent man accused as murder, but at 70 minutes, it's great to watch the tightly written how-catch-him movie wind its way through the plot

Unfortunately 1959 was a simply terrible year for fashion. Hazel Court and the actress playing her sister Nancy are forced to beetle around in frumpy "sack back" dresses and bucket hats, while the star model gown is a vulgar creation in gold lame. The girl playing the brother's ex-fiancee is good, with her rank starlet voice and industrialist boyfriend.

The villains, Gough, Burke and Richfield give their usual sterling performances.

I think those dresses really were called "sacks".

I've always wondered how somebody throwing a knife can propel it with sufficient force and accuracy to embed it in someone (or a door or wall if they miss), but that particular feat is again accomplished when the model in this film is murdered.

Whatever. A good cast scurry about this lively potboiler made with nonchalant competence and scripted with a sense of humour.

An American comes to London to look for the girl friend of his dead brother.He finds her modeling in a haute culture salon.Unfortunately for her she interrupts thieves looting the safe of diamonds on behalf of the crooked boss of the salon.The American is knocked out trying to confront the thieves and to nobody's great surprise he is suspected by the police of having committed the murder.As is usual in these type of films he is at the forefront of bringing the gang to justice.Despite the best efforts of both Michael Gough and Hazel Court this film never raises the level of excitement above mediocre at best.Too much of this film seems to have been borrowed from similar films of the same era.