Delayed Action

I rated this film 5/10 being an average "B" film often shown in British cinemas in the 1950s before the big feature.I have a specialist DVD dealer in north London who specialises in these vintage films from the 1930s/40s/50s etc. with whom I trade occasionally.I was saddened years ago to read that the late June Thorburn died prematurely in a flying accident and was anxious to see her.Additionally I was intrigued to see this DVD had a performance by Robert Ayers who amongst other roles played Arthur Peuchen (commodore of the Royal Yacht club in Canada) who appeared in "A Night to Remember" (1958) and who was on board the "Titanic".As they were short of seamen to man one of the lifeboats, an officer asked if there was anyone with boat experience.Peuchen said "I am a yachtsman, I will go if you like" and Peuchen saved himself by shinning down the falls to the lifeboat waiting below.

Of course Alan Wheatley plays his usual suave villainous character.Who can forget his performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1950s children's TV series, "The Adventures of Robin Hood" with Richard Greene. This film ends prematurely and the plot is confusing and not properly explained to the viewer.Maybe the running time had to be edited, hence my average rating.

Robert Ayres is a failed novelist who sells an 18 month option on his life to Alan Wheatley.Wheatley might decide to kill him and take over a newly created identity.It doesn't really make much sense.The main pleasure is in seeing so many familiar faces Bruce Seton as Wheatleys assistant.Michael Balfour plays a character called Honey.Ballard Berkeley is a detective.On 23 minutes you will see the reflection of the camera crew in the car door.Definitely a highlight!

This plot has occasionally been done for laughs, and here too it's tongue seems in it's cheek, along with it's laconically apposite title.

The two urbane schemers played by Alan Wheatley and Bruce Seton seem straight out of a play by Pinter, their motives as inscrutable throughout the film's brief running time as they are plainly malign. Whether it was intended as a parody is hard to fathom but it remains weirdly compulsive viewing.

Robert Ayres writes his suicide note, puts it on the mantle and goes out, where he is met by men who take him to Alan Wheatley. Since Ayres doesn't value his life, Wheatley wishes to buy an option on it. He is about to begin a vast scheme to mulct a large sum of money. Ayres will act as a front. Should the authorities come calling, Wheatley will flee with the money and Ayres will kill himself, leaving no trail. Ayres agrees. He takes the large salary and sets it up in a trust for his daughter. But a year later, Ayres has written a good novel and meets June Thorburn. They are in love.

It's a nice variation on those stories where someone has hired a murderer to kill him, produced by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman. It's offered in a competent production, and the story grows snarled towards the end, with double cross and character change. Although there is nothing startlingly cinematic about it, everyone in front of and behind the camera performs ably, producing a nice little thriller.

If you can get over the rather ridiculous plot line, the film holds interest quite well. That said, it only runs for an hour- which is probably just as well. Of the main players, Ayers is very stiff and (I found) to be an unappealing character. It is difficult to generate much sympathy when you wander through the movie in a perpetual bad mood Bruce Seaton and Alan Wheatley give professional performances and there is the lovely June Thorburn to add gloomier. Thorburn only appears half way through (more the pity) and her character is hardly developed at all. For all the faults of the movie, it is a pleasant enough time filler. Of particular interest is the background of how things were in the 50s(I imagine it was shot in London somewhere).