Account Rendered

This film was shot around Hampstead Heath.There is a glimpse of Hampstead police station.The film works as a whodunit because nearly everyone seems to have a motive to kill the victim.Though it has to be said that Griffith Jones is quids in.Losing a hated wife and gaining the delectable Honor Blackman who would go on to far better films than this.

A pretty run-of-the-mill, but yet still reasonably entertaining British murder mystery, there are a few well-done bits, but not quite enough for them to really be notable. The characters, the acting and the story never rise above the ordinary, however it can at least be said that they never fall below the mark either. The special weather effects for lightning, achieved by scratching actual film, are a sight to see, even if they look quite fake. There is not much else to strongly recommend this early English film on, but if comes to television, it is perhaps worth a look. Honor Blackman would, of course, later go on to be Pussy Galore.

This is a brilliant thriller on a small scale, the restricted format of less than 80 minutes comprising a considerable mess of intrigues, as this wife already from the beginning shamelessly confesses to her infidelity, while her husband receives an alarming note which we are never initiated in, there is a reckless artist involved also who gets mixed up in some fights, and there is extortion and embezzlement, all in a wonderful complex of a mystery where everyone could be guilty wile they all are proved innocent by alibis. Honor Blackman is the leading actress here, not far from a Lizabeth Scott character, while the fast action makes it difficult for all the men involved to catch on, but it all makes sense in the end with great satisfaction to the audience after a Hitchcockian train finale.

Peter Graham Scott , Decades have passed since Subterfuge he made around 1966 (ish) and it only now clearly indicates that he was a very busy quick on the draw director,! Sub was a flop from which the unique Joan Collins was the only value in a weak and tiresome spy plot.

This made for tv rated a B ( for the uninitiated meant for those far off years when cinemas screened TWO films, the weaker story always took screening precedence with the stronger one to finally follow ) 'Account 'was a well written plot during which Mr. Scotts usual tight and taught mystery was unevenly directed and in 2 glaring scenes was abysmally over acted and possibly experimented with an aspiring assistant director to take the reins , which resulted in some pretty harsh flack ! Apart from that , the narrative does hold our interest as to who was the murderer ? As a previous viewer said, she or he thought they realized the answer and got it wrong, as did I also !

Over all interesting with a dash of mirth added for good measure ? Worth watching, as long as the viewer accepts the occasional wallowing over dramatization here and there ?

This strangely short murder-mystery is a good reminder of why the English film industry was so strong during this period.

The cast of relative unknowns (with the exception of a young Honor Blackman) deliver a tight story in a precise way. The sub texts of the story are not laboured, creating an involving story.

It's worth the time.