The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] *** (1955, Honor Blackman, Peter Reynolds, Gordon Jackson) – Classic Movie Review 13,317

The amusing and well-played British 1955 black and white support feature crime thriller The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] stars Peter Reynolds, Honor Blackman and Gordon Jackson.

Director Douglas Pierce’s amusing and well-played if rather unremarkable and predictable British 1955 black and white support feature crime thriller The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] features Peter Reynolds, Honor Blackman and Gordon Jackson.

Peter Reynolds stars as a newsman Rex Banner, who is set up as the fall guy for the murder of a character called Gospel Joe, who it turns out was an informer in a jewel robbery. Reynolds and his wife Maxine (Honor Blackman) set out to solve the mystery.

The fast pace, nifty dialogue and especially the eager-to-please performances keep it above average for a British B-movie of the day.

The screenplay by George Fisher (with additional dialogue by Basil Boothroyd) is based on Robert H Chapman’s 1952 novel Winter Wears a Shroud.

There is a small role (as Mrs Bissett) for Katie Johnson, who later that year became a star as the lady in The Ladykillers.

Honor Blackman.

Also in the cast are Valerie Vernon, Peter Neil, Michael Balfour, Laurie Main, Mark Daly, Anna Turner, Mae Bacon, Christie Humphrey and Vernon Kelso.

Release date: 3 January 1955.

It was shot at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, and on location in West London, including Kensington and West Brompton.

The alternative title Murder Is News is the American TV title.

The cast

The cast are Peter Reynolds as Rex Banner, Honor Blackman as Maxine Banner, Gordon Jackson as Florian, Valerie Vernon as Lola, Michael Balfour as Sammy, Peter Neil as Inspector Johnson, Peter Swanwick as Meyerling, Laurie Main as Summit, Katie Johnson as Mrs Bissett, Mark Daly as Mr Bissett, Anna Turner as Mrs Halloran, Mae Bacon [Mai Bacon] as Fanny, Hal Osmond as old man, Vernon Kelso as Macgregor, Christie Humphrey as maid.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,317

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