Account Rendered *** (1957, Griffith Jones, Ursula Howells, Honor Blackman, Ewen Solon) – Classic Movie Review 13,381

‘Suddenly in the Night… A Woman of Wayward Passions Pays for Her Evil!’ The 1957 British crime thriller B movie Account Rendered is based on the 1953 novel by Pamela Barrington, and stars Griffith Jones, Ursula Howells, Honor Blackman, and Ewen Solon.

‘Suddenly in the Night… A Woman of Wayward Passions Pays for Her Evil!’

Director Peter Graham Scott’s 1957 British second feature crime thriller film Account Rendered is based on the 1953 novel by Pamela Barrington, and stars Griffith Jones, Ursula Howells, Honor Blackman, and Ewen Solon. This minor picture is made by Major Pictures, and is released by J Arthur Rank Film Distributors as a useful support to one of its pictures.

Griffith Jones gives a creepy turn as Robert Ainsworth, the accused husband attempting to prove that he didn’t bump off his faithless wife Lucille (Ursula Howells).

Detective Inspector Marshall (Ewen Solon) investigates after wealthy Lucille Ainsworth is found strangled on Hampstead Heath. Her husband was following her as he suspected her of being unfaithful. But he is just one of many suspects. What are Carl Bernard as Gilbert Morgan and John Van Eyssen as Clive Franklyn up to?

This cheaply and quickly made British B movie supporting flick boasts effective performances and an efficient, if routine, plot in the decently developed screenplay by Barbara S Harper. Director Peter Graham Scott stokes up some suspense and tension.

A little-known appearance from Avengers and Bond beauty Honor Blackman gives the film a lift and a little distinction as Sarah Hayward, the hero’s friend and helper, while Ewen Solon and Robert Raikes are more than acceptable as the cops on the case, Detective Inspector Marshall and Detective Sergeant Berry.

It is shot in the studio at Southall Studios, Southall, Middlesex, England.

Release date: 8 August 1957.

It screened at London’s Odeon Marble Arch cinema supporting Night Passage. Its general release was supporting Across the Bridge from 1 September 1957 on the Gaumont circuit after a pre-release week at the Dominion Tottenham Court Road and New Victoria, Victoria, from 25 August.

The cast

The cast are Griffith Jones as Robert Ainsworth, Ursula Howells as Lucille Ainsworth, Honor Blackman as Sarah Hayward, Ewen Solon as Detective Inspector Marshall, Carl Bernard as Gilbert Morgan, Mary Jones as Nella Langford, Philip Gilbert as John Langford, John Van Eyssen as Clive Franklyn, Robert Raikes as Detective Sergeant Berry, Gordon Phillott as Rigby, Doris Yorke as landlady, Vernon Smythe as Colonel Jarvis, Gerda Larsen as Blondi, Harry Ross as Bernard Goodman, Barry Steele as barman, and Edwin Richfield as porter.

Account Rendered is directed by Peter Graham Scott, runs 59 minutes, is made by Major Pictures, is released by J Arthur Rank Film Distributors, is written by Barbara S Harper, is shot in black and white by Walter J Harvey, is produced by John Temple-Smith, Francis Edge and Luigi Rovere.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,381

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