Account Rendered

Ursula Howells, wife of merchant banker Griffith Jones, exchanges catty remarks with Honor Blackman at a party, goes to her lover, painter John van Eyssen, to see the painting of herself she is giving to her husband on his birthday, leaves abruptly to go to Hampstead Heath. When there, she screams at the camera and soon the police are investigating her murder. There are half a dozen fine candidates in this mystery.

This 58-minute B movie is directed at such a breakneck speed by Peter Graham Scott that there is no wasted time. There's also nothing in terms of grace notes, rendering the skilled players almost superfluous. True, Harry Ross, who turns up late, gets some humor out of his three-minute turn, but that's about the limit of it.

On the other hand, the movie does play fair enough with the rules of writing a mystery; I thought I had spotted the murderer early based on structure, but turned out to be wrong. As a result, if you enjoy a mystery without much in the way of frills, this is for you. Me, I want more.

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 ?

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.

Lucille Ainsworth is married to Robert Ainsworth (Griffith Jones). She has commissioned her portrait to be painted by an artist, Clive (John van Eyssen) as a gift to her husband. Clive is also her lover.

When Lucille sees the portrait, she hates it. She goes to Hampstead Heath, where she is later found murdered.

Afraid he is going to be accused, her husband fakes an alibi with his business partner, Gilbert Morgan (Carl Bernard).

Meanwhile, Lucille's best friend (Honor Blackman) is in love with Robert. It falls to two police detectives to discover the murderer, which they do with careful police work. They trace a coat back to its original owner, and figure out how one person could be at the murder site, despite having an alibi -- too far away to reach the murder scene at the right time.

Imagine you have gone to the pictures in the fifties, possibly with mum and dad. You start by seeing this little jewel of a film, then the forthcoming attractions, Pearl and Dean adverts and then Pathé News!!! Before the main feature, sit back and enjoy a choc-ice. The main film could have been....... (use your imagination). Brings it all back, doesn't it?

If only all 1 hour TV police stories made today were as well written as well acted and as well directed.