Murder at 3am ** (1953, Dennis Price, Peggy Evans, Rex Garner) – Classic Movie Review 10,877

The 1953 British crime thriller film Murder at 3am stars Dennis Price as Inspector Peter Lawton of Scotland Yard investigating a series of baffling late-night murders of young women. 

‘Kill-crazy prowler strikes again!’

Director Francis Searle’s humble 1953 British short black and white second feature crime thriller film Murder at 3am stars Dennis Price as detective Inspector Peter Lawton of Scotland Yard investigating – with the help of Rex Garner as Sergeant Bill Todd – a series of baffling late-night murderous attacks on young women, all taking place at 3 am, with each new clue ending up literally in a dead end.

All the murder victims were coming home from London nightclubs whose names seem to follow a pattern and the dates were all of high tide on the River Thames, so a woman is set up as a decoy at a club on the next expected date.

But then Inspector Lawton is horrified to discover that new evidence pinpoints his sister Joan Lawton (Peggy Evans)’s boyfriend (Philip Saville) as the murderer.

This quota quickie film has promising aspects to it, most of them unrealised, for alas 60 minutes is not really long enough to tell this rather intriguing story. The production is too meagre for the film’s ambitions, and it is a surprise to find its star in such humble circumstances this early in his career.

The screenplay is by John Ainsworth, from his original story, with additional dialogue by Moie Charles.

Odeon Entertainment DVD release date: 21 April 2008.

Also in the cast are Arnold Bell as McMann, Greta Mayaro as Lena, Philip Saville as Edward/ Jim King, Leonard Sharp as Old Skip, Nora Gordon as Nanna, Renee Goddard as Lady Branstead, Arthur Lovegrove as Inspector Cobb, Daphne Maddox as Victim, Robert Weeden as constable, John Davis as transmitting constable, Victor Harrington as nightclub patron, and Aileen Lewis as nightclub patron.

Nora Gordon and Leonard Sharp were husband and wife but share no scenes.

It is the last film of Peggy Evans (1921–2015), best known for The Blue Lamp (1950). Evans died On 26 July 2015, at age 94.

Philip Saville (28 October 1927 – 22 December 2016) became one of Britain’s most prolific TV and film directors.

Eric Spear, who writes the score, wrote the theme music for Coronation Street.

Murder at 3am is directed by Francis Searle, runs 60 minutes, is made by David Henley Productions, is released by Renown Pictures Corporation, is written by John Ainsworth and Moie Charles (additional dialogue), based on a story by John Ainsworth, is shot in black and white by S D Onions, is produced by John Ainsworth and David Henley, and is scored by by Eric Spear.

Release date: July 1953 (UK)

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,877

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