The Frightened Man ** (1952, Dermot Walsh, Charles Victor, Barbara Murray) – Classic Movie Review 12,309

John Gilling’s 1952 crime thriller The Frightened Man comes from Robert S Baker and Monty Berman’s Tempean Films, who made TV’s The Saint in the Sixties. 

Writer/ director John Gilling’s 1952 British black and white crime thriller The Frightened Man stars Dermot Walsh, Charles Victor and Barbara Murray.

The Frightened Man is an okay and quite capable but forgettable 1950s short crime filler feature, featuring Walsh as Julius Roselli, the son of antiques dealer Mr Roselli (Victor). Julius is sent down from Oxford University and gets involved with a gang of jewel thieves in London’s Camden Town. Julius is drawn in to a heist on a gems trader in Hatton Garden, but the gang intend to cut out Mr Roselli, who is their fence.

The acting from the decent cast is modest, the production is cheap looking, and there would be just enough plot for a 50-minute TV episode, but then it is only 69 minutes long anyway. However, the competent direction and air of professionalism save it, and it tells quite a good story with a satisfying ending.

Also in the cast are John Blythe, Thora Hird, John Horsley, Michael Ward, Annette D Simmonds, and Martin Benson.

It plays on British TV in the wee small hours.

It was shot at Alliance Studios, Twickenham, Middlesex, England.

The cast are Dermot Walsh as Julius Roselli, Barbara Murray as Amanda, Charles Victor as Mr Roselli, John Blythe as Maxie, Michael Ward as Cornelius Hart, Thora Hird as Vera, John Horsley as Harry Armstrong, Annette D Simmonds as Marcella, Martin Benson as Alec Stone, Ballard Berkeley as Inspector Bligh, Peter Bayliss as Bilton, and Thomas Gallagher as Matthews.

The Frightened Man is directed by John Gilling, runs 69 minutes, is made by Tempean Films, is released by Eros Films, is written by John Gilling, is shot in black and white by Monty Berman, is produced by Monty Berman and Robert S Baker, and is scored by John Lanchbery.

The British film production company Tempean Films was formed in 1948 by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman, and their first production was Date with a Dream (1948), the screen debut of Norman Wisdom. They later moved into TV, making The Saint (1962 – 1969) with Roger Moore.

Robert S Baker (27 October 1916 – 30 September 2009).

Monty Berman (16 August 1913 – 14 June 2006).

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,309

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