The Ringer **** (1952, Herbert Lom, Donald Wolfit, Mai Zetterling, Greta Gynt, William Hartnell, Denholm Elliott) – Classic Movie Review 10,844

Guy Hamilton makes his directorial debut with the stylishly old-fashioned 1952 British black and white crime thriller The Ringer, one of the best films taken from Edgar Wallace’s work, the 1925 novel The Gaunt Stranger and 1929 play The Ringer, thanks partly to a polished adaptation by Lesley Storm and Val Valentine, and superior handling by Hamilton, but largely to the sterling efforts of the classy cast.

[Spoiler alert] It is lucky to have a relishably ripe performance by Donald Wolfit as Dr Lomond, a vengeance-seeking master of disguise, but also fortunate also to have smooth bad guy Herbert Lom, Mai Zetterling, Greta Gynt, William Hartnell (as cheeky cockney villain Sam Hackett) and a young Denholm Elliott all in substantial roles.

The title character is an elusive super crook and master of disguises, reported dead in Australia but now thought to have come home to Britain to avenge himself on the unscrupulous solicitor Maurice Meister (Herbert Lom) whom he holds responsible for his sister’s death, found drowned after the Ringer had left her in Meister’s care.

Scotland Yard warn Meister the Ringer is in London and a police guard is set up around his house. No intruder could enter but the Ringer finds a way of skilfully evading the police who are protecting the man.

The Ringer is a bit set bound and stagey, but the story, fast-moving direction and the performances keep up a high level of old-style crime mystery entertainment.

There are four previous versions: in 1928 as the silent film The Ringer, in 1931 as The Ringer, in 1932 as The Ringer [Der Hexer], and in 1938 as The Gaunt Stranger. And it was remade as Der Hexer (1964).

It was released on DVD by Network in 2014 in the UK. On DVD, The Ringer is presented in a new transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio.

The cast are Herbert Lom as Maurice Meister, Donald Wolfit as Dr. Lomond, Mai Zetterling as Lisa, Greta Gynt as Cora Ann Milton, William Hartnell as Sam Hackett, Denholm Elliott as John Lemley, Norman Wooland as Inspector Bliss, Dora Bryan as Mrs. Hackett, Charles Victor as Inspector Wembury, Walter Fitzgerald as Commissioner, John Stuart as Gardener, John Slater as Bell, Edward Chapman as Stranger, Campbell Singer as Station Sergeant Carter, Arthur Lovegrove as workman installing window bars, and Robert Raglan).

It is shot at Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England.

The Ringer is directed by Guy Hamilton, runs 78 minutes, is made by London Film Productions, is released by British Lion Film Corporation (1952) (UK), is written by Val Valentine and Lesley Storm, based on Edgar Wallace’s play The Ringer, is shot in black and white by Ted Scaife, is produced by Hugh Perceval and scored by Malcolm Arnold.

Donald Wolfit is immortalised in a fictionalised version of his larger-than-life character in the stage play and 1983 film The Dresser.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,844

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