Dangerous Afternoon

This is definitely one of my favourite British B-movies of the 1960's. A subtle crime film and definitely not in the Edgar Wallace/Butcher's mould-i.e. nobody gets hit over the head. Made by the Theatrecraft production company, it was shown in 1961 on the Odeon Cinema circuit to accompany "A Taste of Honey." The film barely steps out of the studio but at the beginning of the film the action takes place in an actual parade of shops which is fascinating to see. There is a hardware shop, a jewellers, a grocery store (Lyons Maid advert on the door), a chemist and a sweet shop (Platignum pens advert on the door) with a YZ chewing gum machine attached to the wall (I remember these because with every fourth turn of the handle you got a free packet). It would be interesting to find out where this was filmed and to see how much it has changed 49 years on. There is a reference to Bushey in the film but I doubt that this was where the outdoor locations were actually filmed as the film studios were in Twickenham.

Most of the action takes place in an old people's home for gentle lady folk who are not all that they seem. The relationship between the old ladies is very well portrayed as you can just imagine the bickering going on in real life. Early on in the film there are some good scenes set in the kitchen which are slightly reminiscent of those in "Small Hotel" and a great line about it being "ten years since poor old Dan took a 9 o'clock walk" (i.e. he was hanged). There are some top class performances from Nora Nicolson who has some marvellous comic moments and Ruth Dunning as the owner of the establishment is totally believable in her role. Nice to see the strikingly beautiful Joanna Dunham in her first featured role.

I won't spoil the film by giving away any of the plot. It is a hard film to find and has not been shown on television to my knowledge since 2002. There are some inconsistencies in the film but this is to be expected bearing in mind that it probably cost only about £20k to make and was probably wrapped up in about 3 weeks as studio time cost money. I would recommend this film as an addition to anyone's collection of 59 minute British B-movies. An unusual story which is beautifully acted and directed.

Another nifty crime programmer from the team of director Charles Saunders and producer Guido Coen, the makers of JUNGLE STREET GIRLS only the girls here are women... really old ones in a boarding house and all are ex-crooks, run by a crippled Ruth Denning with crafty expressions like she knows and has seen everything...

Contrasting to her naive artistic niece (actually daughter) played by quirky cute-as-a-button Joanna Dunham with equally attractive businessman husband Howard Pays (who co-starred in JUNGLE STREET with cameo Brian Weske)...

But they do little but worry about what's off-screen at the boarding house; harboring the the primary plot-line too quickly set up through stagey (noticeably based on a play) exposition when Dunning's Miss Lefty Frost, which isn't her real name, is being blackmailed by a former partner-in-crime (Gwenda Wilson) who knows her real one...

Yet the scene-stealers are all the really old tenants, in particular Nora Nicholson, still an active pickpocket and shoplifter... yet there's hardly anything DANGEROUS while taking place in more than one AFTERNOON... but here's a potential platform for a progressed remake, especially with all the aged actresses out there now... and most of them, like the long gone gals here, very British.

I was 15 when this movie was released in 1961 being 70 now.I can remember Ruth Dunning playing Mrs Grove in "The Grove family" which ran from 1954-57.Gladys Henson was often paired as the wife of Jack Warner especially in "The Blue Lamp" (1950) which kick started the long running "Dixon of Dock Green" on BBC t.v. in the 1950s.She also appeared in "A Night to Remember" (1958)about "The Titanic" playing the nervous woman reluctant to enter one of the all too few lifeboats.Even in the 1950s I can remember Nora Nicholson playing rather daffy old women in t.v dramas on the BBC.The character of George was played by an actor who specialised in playing criminals - you only had to see his face and I can remember seeing him playing on t.v. the convict Magwich in Dickens "Great Expectations.How I miss those British B features at the cinema.My local cinema showed a cartoon,Pathe News, a 'B' feature followed by the main film.Good value for your 1/6 (one & sixpence)!My rating was 6/10.

"Miss Frost" (Ruth Dunning), confined to wheelchair, runs a guest house for ladies who - like her - have a bit of a criminal past. They all rub along well enough, pilfering from each other and generally goading and provoking until their landlady learns that one of her erstwhile associates has been released from Her Majesty's pleasure and is likely to want to come visit! The outwardly vulnerable "Frost" is no pushover and lays a trap... It's quite a disarmingly effective little crime drama this. The supporting cast provide just enough of an amiable smokescreen to facilitate a decent performance from Dunning as the quite ruthless and calculating woman. The ending is a wee bit contrived but there is quite a confessional with the vicar at the denouement. The production is all pretty basic and it's maybe not got the most alluring of titles for a film, but at just over the hour, I found it quite watchable.

I did not know this film, I don't know the director, and neither do I know the actors. But I was pleasantly surprised by this little B thriller from the early 60's. A story of blackmail, murder, investigation in a typically British atmosphere. Intrigant, rather talkative, no really action scenes in this movie with especially women in leads. The film you can watch at tea time, on rainy Sunday afternoons.

Charles Saunders seems to be the director of many of this kind. It would be interesting to see them. Many have never crossed the Channel. Such a shame. British movie industry deserves to be discovered again. And in the USA too.