Model for Murder

Merchant mariner Keith Andes is in London to speak with the ex-fiancee of his dead brother. When she turns up dead in the middle of a jewel robbery by fashion house head Michael Gough, he is clunked on the head and framed. It's up to him to try and prove his innocence with the help of Hazel Court.

It's a fun little B mystery, directed by Terry Bishop, with lots of pretty girls and several brief, eccentric characters. Gough is suave as the bad guy whose well laid plans for the robbery go awry; George Benson is fun as the boring and slightly boorish industrialist dating the model; and Charles Lamb has a nice little bit as a lock keeper, making sure he pockets a tip while saying he shouldn't have. Andes is a trifle suave and perfunctory as the innocent man accused as murder, but at 70 minutes, it's great to watch the tightly written how-catch-him movie wind its way through the plot

An old-fashioned thriller with American Keith Andes as an American ship's officer mixed up with fashion models and scoundrels like Michael Gough and Edwin Richfield. Entertaining if implausible. And when does the First Mate of a merchant ship (oil tanker?) leave the ship on arrival in port? Never in my experience, they have work to do.

Another 1950's low budget B film, which features American actor, Keith Anders as seaman Dave Martens, who while on shore leave, takes time out to investigate the death of his brother. In his search to try and get to the bottom of his brother's death, he quickly becomes involved with the world of London's haute couture, where he meets fashion designer Sally Meadows, top stylist Kingsley Beauchamp and Madame Dupont, who is the financial backer of a shady fashion company. Our American hero quickly becomes the number one suspect over some stolen diamonds as well as being implicated in the murder of the fashion model who was actually wearing them. Keith Anders as Dave, works hard to inject some energy and style in what is a very dull and implausible storyline. Michael Gough is miscast as the the sinister and suave criminal in chief, since he seems to be overwrought for most of the scenes, and indeed spends most of his time constantly giving everyone a maniacal stare. However, Alfred Burke and Edwin Richfield, who starred in so many B films in supporting roles do a fine job as the two 'low life' individuals working for Gough, but despite their best efforts, the weak storyline and the unconvincing acting of Gough, makes it a yawn.

Cult stars of horror films, Hazel Court and Michael Gough, have leading roles in this thriller, set in the glamorous world of haute couture. Gough is Kingsley Beauchamp, head of a West End fashion house, who's planning to steal some valuable jewellery that's on loan to him. Keith Andes is the American Merchant Navy officer visiting the salon to meet his late brother's girlfriend, played by Julia Arnall. Returning an expensive dress, borrowed for her night out, she surprises the robbers in the act and is fatally stabbed by Beauchamp's chauffeur. Guess who's then fitted-up for the murder?

For a thriller, this is acutely lacking in pace and tension and so doesn't really work. The cast are some compensation for this, however. Keith Andes gives a strong performance in the lead, bringing some credibility to the sort of character the script has lying shocked and injured in hospital, then immediately tearing around all over London, despite being a total stranger in the city. There's the poise, allure and glamour of Hazel Court and Julia Arnall; Patricia Jessel as Beauchamp's designer and associate, Madame Dupont, good old Edwin Richfield playing the murderous chauffeur, Alfred Burke as a crooked bod named Podd, and not least, Michael Gough himself in full villainous mode. Hence my slightly generous rating.

An American comes to London to look for the girl friend of his dead brother.He finds her modeling in a haute culture salon.Unfortunately for her she interrupts thieves looting the safe of diamonds on behalf of the crooked boss of the salon.The American is knocked out trying to confront the thieves and to nobody's great surprise he is suspected by the police of having committed the murder.As is usual in these type of films he is at the forefront of bringing the gang to justice.Despite the best efforts of both Michael Gough and Hazel Court this film never raises the level of excitement above mediocre at best.Too much of this film seems to have been borrowed from similar films of the same era.