steven-87

I won't repeat the basic premis of the story other than to say the viewer will have an immediate sense that something is very wrong in this house on more than one level. The initial scenes between mother and daughter hint at something very wrong, the intermediate scenes between warring husband and wife indicate a marriage which has all but broken down but the latter scenes between father and daughter allude to something else entirely.... Filmed on the one single studio set, director Patrick Dromgoole manages to slowly build up the tension by letting virtually nothing - other than one key event - happen. By leaving so much unstated, the viewer is left to draw their own conclusion as to the motivation of the titular character. There are a couple of moments where the symbolism (as depicted by the imagery used by Dromgoole) will hint at a solution to this puzzle - but the viewer will have to be alert to spot these amongst the red herrings on display. Well acted, superbly directed, it's the sense of creeping unease as the tale develops that the viewer will be most aware of. 9/10

So, you're Roy Boulting. You're in the middle of the golden years of your career. You're handed James Robertson-Justice, Cecil Parker, Irene Handl and Raymond Huntley as cast members. What could go wrong? Well, sadly, plenty. The rather flimsy plotline - minor boys only public school recruits new French mistress who, at the age of 24 is some 30 years younger than was expected (did no one check her resume?). Headmaster's son falls for Mademoiselle. Headmaster realises he may have had more to do with Mademoiselle than he thought! - is insufficient to really flesh out any of the main characters. The script is flat (almost theatrical) abd the direction uninspired. Agnes Laurent is gorgeous and probably the stand-out performer here, her naivety charming as it flutters around the avuncular pose adopted by anyone male (including one or two of the rather mature-looking boys). The major cast members appear to be acting almost on autopilot. If you approach this movie in the right way, you might find it a passable little romp - the problem is that one expects so much more of such an assembled cast. 3/10.

Set in the infamous winter of 1962-63 (with numerous location shots showing just how wintry it was), this instalment in the Edgar Wallace series is one of the very best. Secretly broke lawyer Alan Phipps (Richard Leech) seems unbothered by having almost been cuckolded by down-on-his-luck John Brodie (a brooding Alex Scott) and, indeed, turns matters round, hiring Brodie to use their past relationship put the wind up wealthy Yvonne Phipps (Maxine Audley). Naturally, all is not as it seems and this one will keep you guessing right up to the end credits. Especially the scene in the hotel bedroom..... Splendidly enjoyable way of passing an hour, each and every one of the cast do a tight script credit but it's the underrated Dudley Foster, who doesn't appear until well into the second half of the episode who steals the show with more than a hint of menace behind his urbane demeanour. The shots of Streatham Ice Rink both at the start and the end of the episode are pure, undiluted early 60s! If I was to be critical, it owuld be that our crooked lawyer's attempts to hoodwink the local CID when being interviewed at home are just a wee bit too obvious.