The Depraved

Wow, with a title like that you can't go wrong! And it was Brian 'The Avengers' Clemens first screenwriting credit! And...uh oh...it's, erm, another dreadful quota quickie from the Danziger Brothers. Except for a little visual flare in the first reel, Depraved depressingly displays the Danziger's desparately drab demimonde. Avoid.

Married Anne Heywood begins an affair with US Army captain Robert Arden. Soon they determine to murder her husband.

It's a variation on DOUBLE INDEMNITY and not a particularly good one. Like almost every Danziger production, the first annoying thing was the score, which consists of a single theme, repeated with no variation. Other issues include the rather lackadaisical manner in which the local Army base is run. Line readings are overwrought, and the lines themselves are not particularly interesting.

The Danzigers knew they were not creating great works of cinema. They were almost strictly a second feature operation. Still, even their American equivalent, Lippert, put some effort and well-known, if faded, stars in their productions. This one doesn't seem to have been intended to do more than fill in a one-hour gap in a program, and it does so poorly.

This is a nice and neat little suspense piece in the tradition of "Double Indemnity." and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" An army captain (Robert Arden) falls for an abused wife (Anne Heywood) of a rich man (Basil Dignam).

The most noteworthy thing, and what attracted me to watch the movie, is that it was written by master story teller Brian Clemens ("Danger Man," "The Avengers," "Captain Kronos: Vampire Killer"). Clemens' works always move quickly and mix humor, adventure and suspense in a generally pleasing manner. This movie shows that Clemens knew his craft from the beginning of his 50+ year career.

He puts in three or four clever plot twists that help refresh the formulaic plot. For example, the abused wife is not nearly as helpless as we thought upon first seeing her.

I found Robert Arden quite good and believable as the captain. Although he did a good amount bit roles in television work, this seems to have been his only really starring movie role. It is a shame. He has a Fred MacMurray type of niceness to him which should have led him to more straight heroic roles.

Anne Heywood is our femme fatale/heroine.I knew Anne Heywood from her terrific acting in "The Fox." She is very good here as well. One sees exactly why Captain Dillon is willing to risk everything five minutes after meeting her.

While this does have elements of classic Film Noir, it is not really representative of that genre. In classic Film Noir, the hero has some disturbance in his past that catches up to him. Here Ms. Heywood is the new and only disturbance.

I think suspense and mystery fans will generally enjoy it. It is only slightly above the level of a good detective television series, but as long as you are not expecting too much that will do.

A U.S. Army captain stationed in England falls for a local woman (Anne Heywood) whose brutish husband beats her and before long a murder plan is hatched...

It's quintessential noir, plot-wise (from the template forged by James M. Cain), and the story's by Brian Clemens of THE AVENGERS fame but except for some nice b&w photography and a blue-sy score, there's reely nothing new in what looks to be one of the last of Britain's "quota quickies" before the Act was repealed in 1960 (even if it was filmed in Ireland). A modest effort that ought to keep any noirista glued to the tube, nonetheless.

This film sounded promising but was a total dud. The script is terrible, a ripoff of 40s American noire classics like "Double Indemnity" and others. There is no continuity in dialog at all, with characters jumping all over the logic board. The acting of Anne Heywood, Robert Arden and Basil Dignam is atrocious. Over-the-top acting can be fun in the right genre, but this ain't it. On another note, the set decoration is among the worst I've ever seen, especially the front door/foyer area of Heywood's country house. UGH!!!!