Death in the Dressing Room

"Death in the Dressing Room" was the second of the three pilot episodes that formed the basis for the feature film "Colonel March Investigates" ("Hot Money" was first, "The New Invisible Man" came third). Set at the Embassy Club run by Arthur Cabot (Richard Wattis), Colonel March is invited to watch a genuine Javanese dance performed by Francine Rapport (Dana Wynter), who is blackmailing Joan Forsythe (Sheila Burrell) by threatening to expose certain letters to the mother of Joan's fiancée. During the performance, March notices a movement indicating a cry for help; not surprisingly, Francine is soon discovered lying dead on the floor of her dressing room, right after March prevents a nervous Joan from making a quick exit. As would so often be the case, a paucity of suspects makes the culprit easy to spot, but a good cast led by Karloff keeps things moving. Dana Wynter (billed as Dagmar Wynter) was making the first of her numerous television appearances, remaining best known for her female lead in 1955's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." The busy Richard Wattis, also making his TV debut, had already worked with Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff's old horror co-star, in 1951's "Mother Riley Meets the Vampire," and would later work with Peter Cushing in 1957's "The Abominable Snowman," one of several Hammer credits from 1952 to 1973.

Colonel March happens to be at a night club with its owner watching a Javanese dance takes place when a murder occurs.

The Javanese dancer Francine Rapport is found dead in her dressing room. Minutes before her performance she was accused of blackmail by Joan Forsythe over some letters her fiancee had written. The club owner had some stern words with her.

Forsythe is the main suspect but Colonel March saw the dancer perform movements that indicated a cry for help. Something he thought was strange.

Colonel Forsythe displays his in depth knowledge of Javanese dance, without it Miss Forsythe might have met her executioner.

March is invited to a nightclub by Arthur Cabot to see Francine Rapport perform a Javenese dance. March is a fan and somewhat of an expert in Javanese dance. During the performance, March sees in the dance moves what he believes to be a cry for help. Soon thereafter, Rapport is found dead in her dressing room. It seems she had been blackmailing a man over some letters he had written to her. When the man's girlfriend is caught trying to flee the dressing room, she immediately becomes the prime suspect. March goes to the British Museum to do some research on dance and his exchange with the librarian while there is the best part of the episode (perhaps because I'm a retired librarian). While reading, March suddenly laughs loudly (and what a great laugh Karloff had) and the librarian comes up to him and says "You shouldn't laugh in here." He asks "Why not, isn't it allowed?" Says she: "Oh, it's allowed, it's just never done." Soon later someone throws a knife at March but it lands into a book he's holding. As he's leaving holding the book with the knife sticking out of it, the librarian approaches him and showing no concern about how the knife really got into the book says "Books should not be mutilated. You're a very naughty boy." "I'm not the only one" says March. Sure, overly stereotypical of librarians, but funny. There are so few suspects that's it's not hard to figure out who the culprit is, but nonetheless a highly enjoyable episode. Richard Wattis as Cabot was easy to recognize; I think of him mostly in comic roles as an officious character. On the other hand, Dana Wynter wore such heavy make-up, I only know she was in the episode because of the IMDb credits.

Death in the Dressing Room is a good, solid mystery, one which I'd say is rather old fashioned, I got a definite 1940's vibe.

I wasn't gripped at the beginning, but as it develops, it opens up very well, with a strong story, some rare humour, and even the life of the dear Colonel placed in danger.

I like the flavour of this episode, there is something very different about it, but it has a real appeal. The library scene is a treat.

It's funny how we each interpret what we see differently, Colonel March isn't just a great Detective, he's incredibly perceptive as well, with knowledge that appears to be boundless.

Miss Rapport was a very interesting character, great dancer too.

I really enjoyed it, 7/10.

DEATH IN THE DRESSING ROOM is the second of three episodes of the Colonel March TV series which were stitched together for the anthology film COLONEL MARCH INVESTIGATES. This one's another strong contender with an intriguing, exotic-themed plot involving Javanese dancing, with which March seems to be unusually experienced.

The setting of a sultry nightclub is an unusual one and the only time I can remember this type of backdrop existing in the show, which usually takes place in country mansions, businesses, or abroad. The dance material is entertaining and there are a few memorably spooky moments included. The reliable Richard Wattis makes for a good guest star in this one and there's a part for German actress Dana Wynter before she went on to be in INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.