Lady of Vengeance

The plot description at IMDb is wrong: it's not about a man who gets caught up in a string of killings. There's only one attempt at killing by DENNIS O'KEEFE--and that's all.

The ingredients are here for much more suspense than is actually generated. Trouble is the script is too long-winded before it gets to the point. The result is a flat effect, too much exposition before the plot gets down to serious business.

In the meantime, ANTON DIFFRING does a commendable job of playing a very polished, very assured contract killer who hopes, as a reward, to get ownership of one of the most valuable stamps in the world. It's an offer he can't resist. Seems that DENNIS O'KEEFE is intent on finding someone to kill his niece in an act of revenge after her sudden suicide death which can be traced to the "Mr. X" who must be destroyed.

The plot twist is a good one, but it takes too long to get to that point and by that time a viewer is apt to lose interest in the slow-paced story.

Summing up: Could have been scripted a lot tighter for more suspense.

1956's "Lady of Vengeance" was an obscure British 'B' rarely seen in its day, issued by United Artists in the US in August 1957, first popping up on Turner Classic Movies in November 2008. Dennis O'Keefe is the imported Hollywood star, 12 years before his death, as powerful newspaper mogul William T. Marshall, whose pretty young ward (Eileen Elton) inexplicably commits suicide by jumping in front of a passing train. Marshall soon receives a message from the dead girl, explaining the circumstances surrounding her decision, which leads him to bribe a shady stamp collector named Emile Karnak (Anton Diffring) into helping him 'commit a murder,' on the condition that the intended victim suffers a slow and painful demise. Bogged down by a romantic sideline involving Marshall's lovely secretary (Ann Sears), plus occasional flashbacks featuring his ward, the film provides an excellent example of villainous Anton Diffring's scene stealing artistry. "Lady of Vengeance" appeared twice on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater - May 9 1964 (paired with 1958's "Terror in the Haunted House") and Aug 28 1965 (paired with 1953's "The Neanderthal Man").

It's one of Dennis O'Keefe's latter days movies, but Anton Diffring steals the show from him ,in his portrayal of an almost mad philatelist who would do anything to get an invaluable stamp, a genuine item O'Keefe bought in an auction sale ; the stamp collector is so lured by this rare item he accepts to become a hired killer.

The title sets the tone: the lady seeks vengeance ; but as she threw herself under a train, it's her guardian who is asked (by a beyond the grave letter) to do the job.

The movie sometimes drags on (and the female part is insignificant) but the last fifteen minutes will keep you glued to your chair ; the lady seems to have risen from the dead to enjoy her vengeance ; the recorded tape adds to a fine suspense .

Presumably this was made to go on the bottom half of a United Artists double bill.

Most of the film consists of talk. There is virtually no action. The title and much of the plot makes little sense. Dont go out of your way to watch this.

"Lady of Vengeance" from 1957 could have been better, yes, but it is what it is -- one of those "B" British films that can be kind of fun.

This one stars Dennis O'Keefe, who made several of these types of films.

Dennis O'Keefe plays a newspaper mogul, William Marshall, whose ward (Eileen Elton) committed suicide. He receives a letter from her after her death that tells the story of what led her to such a drastic act.

Marshall approaches a stamp collector named Karnak (Anton Diffring) in order to get his help in committing a murder, on one condition: the victim must suffer a slow, painful death.

In other hands, this might have been terrific; here it comes off as average, due to a distracting subplot and the fact that the script could have been tighter.

Most notable about this film is the performance of Anton Diffring, a striking actor both in looks and persona, who worked in character roles in films in Britain, Germany, and in international films such as Fahrenheit 451. He died in 1989, possibly from AIDS. He gives a marvelous performance here and it's easily the best thing about the film.