The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre

It was never a show! or a TV series! it was a cinema film series which was then sold to America as a TV series, and now everybody (for some reason) lists it as a TV series rather than a series of films!! But it was first released to British cinemas by Anglo-Amalgamated as second features between 1962-7, sometimes as a companion to the 'Carry-on' films. Most of the films are very enjoyable, as well as seeing actors like Steptoe & Son's Harry H. Corbett doing something totally different!, in his doing a straight role as a police inspector rather than his usual comedy or seeing Londoner Sir Michael Caine in 'Solo For Sparrow' (1962), with an Irish accent!! What else is new? These were over 30 features made for the 'Edgar Wallace' film series but then (for American TV) it was filled up to 50, so how many are true Edgar Wallace??? Writers like Richard Harris and Roger Marshall have said that none of the films were based on Edgar Wallace stories, but were all original in the same way as the colour series of 'The Saint' with Roger Moore that wasn't based on any Leslie Charteris' stories. It's also good to watch to see future stars at the start of their careers in small roles e.g. Wanda Ventham as a waitress in 'Solo For Sparrow' (1962), future 'Eastenders' and 'Carry On' star Barbara Windsor, as well as Kenneth Cope from 'Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)' and Barbara Shelly in 'Deathtrap' (1962) with Kenneth Cope again in 'Change Partners' (1965). Great to watch.

The Edgar Wallace mysteries series of TV programs shot by Merton Park films was much in the vein of the classic 'B' movies of the time.

That said, they are first class productions with many new actors coming through into the big time that would go on to greater things in the cast.

Michael Caine, John Thaw and many others would start here and become well known later in the decade and beyond.

The films fit a lot in to the hour duration and they are well worth watching for all the background scenery too, giving us a view of the nation at the time, now long gone. The scripts are well written and thought out.

Watch the background scenes and interior shots of the buildings to see how much these have changed in the last 60 years!

At the time of filming, the death penalty was still in force and it is surprising that like in real life, did not seem the deterrent that it should have been - reflected in the high body count overall in these films overall!

The catchy theme tune 'Man of mystery by Michael Carr, recorded by the Shadows in 1960, is used as the theme music for the films, although not performed by the Shadows and there are about 4 different versions of the music, the 3 guitar based ones are more in the Shadows style than the first.

You'll notice once you've seen a few of the films a lot of the same cars appearing in later episodes!

The films convey a Britain in the first modern decade after WW2, that would go on to change British society perhaps more than any since.

A great bit of nostalgia and well worth watching.

A series of films with clever plot twists, surprises and the best of British. Looked upon as a TV series, but these were low budget B movies.

The quality does vary somewhat, when they're good, they're great, and episodes such as Change Partners, Ricochet and Playback are all terrific thrillers.

Return to Sender and Locker 69 are the only real clunkers, but in a way, both are still fairly watchable. Sometimes the format did get a little repetitive, and I'd argue that on a few instances there was just a lack of variety.

Expect to see some wonderful, well known faces, the likes of John Thaw, Michael Gough, William Hartnell and of course Michael Caine. Two of my personal favourite performances come from Barry Forster and Kenneth Cope.

That simple, but effective opening sequence still looks great, and that accompanying music still sounds wonderfully haunting.

I love the visuals, the clothes, cars, interiors etc, one thing always gets me, just how busy The High Streets aleUs are.

I'm still struggling to track down The Malpas mystery, for some reason it just seems impossible to track down, one day.

8/10.

I remember my dad watching The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre on Australian TV in the 1960s along with the Perry Mason series. I also saw some installments on the big screen at the cinema as a second feature during the 1960s. Excellent production values, sets, top actors and sharp cinema quality black and white photography. Very good scripts with each episode having a good twist in the tail. The series is currently being repeated on early morning free to air TV in Australia. Still stands up as a good mystery anthology series and well worth a view.

Absolutely brilliant programme, watched many times and always enjoy, so much better imagination than a lot of rubbish on tv now.