Penny Gold * (1973, James Booth, Francesca Annis, Nicky Henson, Una Stubbs, Sue Lloyd, Joss Ackland) – Classic Movie Review 9186

Director Jack Cardiff’s 1973 Penny Gold has a very friendly cast to recommend it, but it is a creaky old Seventies British thriller about a dead woman’s evil twin sister (Francesca Annis) being involved in a rare stamp scam (hence the title).

James Booth stars as Inspector Matthews, who is investigating the woman’s murder near Windsor Castle. The cast of professionals (Booth, Annis, Una Stubbs, Nicky Henson, Sue Lloyd, Joss Ackland) helps a fair bit, but the plot is rarely credible and the movie fails to perk up very much.

Also in the cast are Marianne Stone, Penelope Keith, Joseph O’Conor, Richard Heffer, George Murcell, John Savident, Clinton Greyn, Christian Rodska, John Rhys-Davies and Marc Zuber.

Booth and Stubbs were co-stars in TV’s Till Death Us Do Part.

Henson and Stubbs were married in real life from 1969 to 1975 (divorced) with two children.

In 2001, Keith and Stubbs were starring together in Noel Coward’s Star Quality in London’s West End.

Penny Gold is directed by Jack Cardiff, runs 90 minutes, is made by Fanfare Films, is released by Scotia-Barber (1973) (UK), is written by David Osborn (original story and screenplay) and Liz Charles-Williams (original story and screenplay), is shot by Ken Hodges, is produced by George H Brown and is scored by John Scott.

It was filmed at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and on location at Windsor, Berkshire, and the exterior of Stanley Gibbons shop in The Strand, London.

It opened on 21 June 1973 at the Leicester Square Theatre, London.

RIP Nicky Henson. He died on December 15, 2019, aged 74.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9186

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