Inside Information

An effigy burnt during bonfire night turns out to be a real human body.

At first the police believe that the body was badly charred until the pathologist informs them that the deceased was a black man.

The land where the fireworks took place belongs to a wealthy businessman who only recently bought the mansion and the accompanying land.

It is another story of Scotland Yard where the police have to do a lot of legwork. Going through the records of any missing immigrants.

The police also find more dead bodies as they unearth more clues. It seems someone is shutting up any loose ends.

The key is a journalist who got inside information of a recent robbery in a warehouse.

A good episode and it also shows that nothing is new. A character is asked by Inspector Hammond about the source of his wealth.

Starring the ever-reliable Ronald Adam as the police inspector, this piece is set on November 5th, when it is discovered that the guy on the bonfire is a real person. plenty of opportunity for spectacular sequences involving fire, as well as a warning that celebrations of all kinds are subject to abuse.

Families look on with joy as they witness a guy burned on bonfire night, their joy turns to horror as they realise the guy was in fact a real man. Inspector Hammond investigates.

This is a compact and satisfying mystery, a lot is crammed into that meagre running time of 25 minutes of so, it certainly doesn't hang about.

A very strong and unexpected ending as well, not the solution I was expecting.

A plot that would work today, especially in a horror movies wonderfully dark and macabre. Grim to think of someone being burned alive for the entertainment of people.

Some well known faces, Ronald Adam perhaps being the most recognisable.

Naturally modern day audiences will be a little surprised to hear the word coloured so many times, common place in 1957 I guess.

7/10.