Assassin for Hire *** (1951, Sydney Tafler, Ronald Howard, Katharine Blake) – Classic Movie Review 12,783

The 1951 British crime film Assassin for Hire is an unexpectedly decent little thriller starring Sydney Tafler as a London Soho contract killer led to believe wrongly that he has killed his brother.

Director Michael McCarthy’s 1951 British crime film Assassin for Hire is an unexpectedly decent little thriller about a London Soho hitman, Antonio Riccardi (Sydney Tafler), trapped by the canny cop on the case, Detective Inspector Carson (Ronald Howard), into making a false confession that he has killed his own younger brother, whom he has been supporting in music tuition.

Assassin for Hire is an unusually nifty wee yarn, lifted by the credible acting and taut, tense direction by Michael McCarthy (a high spot in his largely routine career). Tafler, Howard, Sam Kydd, Ewen Solon and Martin Benson bring the authentic whiff of the 50s British B-movie: you can just smell the austerity. Tafler, born into a Jewish family in Hackney, London, during the First World War, is playing a young British criminal of Italian heritage.

It also notably features Katharine Blake as Maria Riccardi, John Hewer as Giuseppe Riccardi and June Rodney as Helen Garrett, while Gerald Case is also on the case as Detective Sergeant Stott.

Assassin for Hire is well worth checking out, and very good of its sort, carefully written by serials expert Rex Rienits, based on his radio and TV play, but perhaps don’t expect too much and then you can just sit back and enjoy.

Australian writer Rex Rienits first wrote the story as a radio play, which aired in Australia in 1944 starring Keith Eden. He moved to London in April 1949 and in May 1950 sold the script to TV. The BBC screened the TV film version in September 1950 starring Sydney Tafler.

Shot at Merton Park Studios, it is notable as the first feature film made by British film production company Anglo Amalgamated. Though a support feature, some UK cinemas seem to have been shown it as a main feature.

Assassin for Hire (1951, Sydney Tafler).

The cast are Sydney Tafler as Antonio Riccardi, Ronald Howard as Detective Inspector Carson, Katharine Blake as Maria Riccardi, John Hewer as Giuseppe Riccardi, June Rodney as Helen Garrett, Gerald Case as Detective Sergeant Stott, Reginald Dyson as Josef Meyerling, Sam Kydd as Bert, Ian Wallace as Charlie, Martin Benson as Catesby, and Ewen Solon as Fred.

Assassin for Hire is directed by Michael McCarthy, runs 67 minutes, is made by Merton Park Studios, is released by Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors, is written by Rex Rienits, is shot in black and white by Robert LaPresle, is produced by Julian Wintle, is scored by Ronnie Emanuel, and is designed by George Haslam.

Release date: April 1951.

After Assassin for Hire, Rex Rienits wrote the story for 1952 British crime film Wide Boy for Sydney Tafler.

Michael McCarthy also directed Sydney Tafler in Mystery Junction in 1951.

John Hewer (13 January 1922 – 16 March 2008) became famous as Captain Birdseye.

English actor John Hewer (13 January 1922 – 16 March 2008) became famous in the UK playing the fictitious sailor Captain Birdseye, the mascot for Birds Eye frozen foods in scores of British TV commercials from 1967 to 1998. In a 1993 poll Captain Birdseye was voted the most recognised naval captain after the real Captain Cook.

Sydney Tafler (31 July 1916 – 8 November 1979) was born into a Jewish family, the son of Eva and antiques dealer Mark Tafler. His sister Hylda married the film director Lewis Gilbert. He was married to the actress Joy Shelton from 1941 until his death from cancer, aged 63.

Lewis Gilbert directed both Joy Shelton and Sydney Tafler in the 1950 British drama film Once a Sinner. and in the 1952 British drama film Emergency Call [The Hundred Hour Hunt].

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,783

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