The Verdict *** (1964, Cec Linder, Zena Marshall, Nigel Davenport, Paul Stassino, Derek Francis) – Classic Movie Review 13,309

The capable and engrossing 1964 British crime thriller film The Verdict stars Cec Linder, Zena Marshall, Nigel Davenport, Paul Stassino and Derek Francis, and is part of the Edgar Wallace Mysteries film series.

Director David Eady’s capable and engrossing 1964 British crime thriller film The Verdict stars Cec Linder, Zena Marshall, Nigel Davenport, Paul Stassino and Derek Francis. It is part of the Edgar Wallace Mysteries film series made at Merton Park Studios. It is written by Arthur La Bern, based on the 1929 novel The Big Four by Edgar Wallace.

Cec Linder stars as rich big-time racketeer Joe Armstrong arrives in London after being deported from America. Derek Francis co-stars as Superintendent Brett, who turns up investigating a murder that Joe committed 24 years previously, and eventually arrests him. But Joe arranges for his oily accomplice Larry Mason (Nigel Davenport) to rig the jury for his murder trial. However, crime boss Danny Thorne (Paul Stassino) wants some of Joe’s money for himself. And what is Joe’s mistress, foreign floosie Carola, (Zena Marshall) up to? No good, apparently.

The Verdict is an intricate, well-judged tale of dishonour among thieves, with four outstanding performances from fine actors, who bring stock characters to vivid, credible life: Cec Linder as Joe Armstrong, Zena Marshall as Carola, Nigel Davenport as Larry Mason, and Derek Francis as Superintendent Brett. They really capture the seedy lowlife side of the Brit mid-Sixties.

It is brisk, crisp and fast moving, just as it has to be, to be done and dusted in 59 minutes, with a few neat twists along the way to a satisfying conclusion. Edgar Wallace writes great crime plots! It is quite a chilly, Brit noirish film, with no sympathetic characters, and that’s good in the crime film world, and ideally achieved here.

The cast are Cec Linder as Joe Armstrong, Zena Marshall as Carola, Nigel Davenport as Larry Mason, Paul Stassino as Danny Thorne, Derek Francis as Superintendent Brett, John Bryans as Prendergast, Derek Partridge as Peter, John Glyn-Jones as Harry, David Cargill as Johnny, Derek Aylward as Phillip-Greene, William Dysart as Det Sgt Good, John Moore as House Detective, Kenneth Benda as Lord Chief Justice, William Raynor as Clerk of the Court, Denis Holmes as Mr Matthews, Dorinda Stevens as Molly, Phyllis Rose as woman in night club, Sidonie Bond as reporter, John Murray Scott as reporter, Peter Thomas as reporter, and Allan Warren as page boy.

The Verdict is directed by David Eady, runs 59 minutes, is made by Merton Park Studios, is distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated, is written by Arthur La Bern, is based on the novel The Big Four by Edgar Wallace, is shot in black and white by James Wilson, is produced by Jack Greenwood, and is scored by Bernard Ebbinghouse, with sets designed by art director Peter Mullins.

Polish-born Canadian actor Cec Linder is remembered for his role as CIA agent Felix Leiter in the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964).

British actress Zena Marshall (1 January 1926 – 10 July 2009) was often cast in ‘ethnic’ roles, such as the Chinese character Miss Taro, in the first James Bond film Dr No (1962).

The Edgar Wallace Mysteries 

There were 48 films in the British second-feature film series The Edgar Wallace Mysteries, produced at Merton Park Studios for Anglo-Amalgamated and released in cinemas between 1960 and 1965.

• Urge to Kill (March 1960)
• Clue of the Twisted Candle (September 1960)
• The Malpas Mystery (October 1960)

• Marriage of Convenience (November 1960)
• The Man Who Was Nobody (December 1960)
• Partners in Crime (February 1961)
• The Clue of the New Pin (February 1961)
• The Fourth Square (June 1961)
• Man at the Carlton Tower (July 1961)
• Clue of the Silver Key (August 1961)
• Attempt to Kill (September 61)
• Man Detained (October 1961)
• Never Back Losers (December 1961)
• The Sinister Man (December 1961)
• Backfire! (February 1962)
• Candidate for Murder (February 1962)
• Flat Two (February 1962)
• The Share Out (February 1962)
• Number Six (April 1962)
• Time to Remember (July 1962)
• Solo for Sparrow (September 1962)
• Playback (September 1962)
• Locker Sixty-Nine (September 1962)
• Death Trap (October 1962)
• The Set Up (January 1963)
• Incident at Midnight (January 1963)
• The £20,000 Kiss (January 1963)
• On the Run (February 1963)
• Return to Sender (March 1963)
• Ricochet (March 1963)
• The Double (April 1963)
• To Have and to Hold (July 1963)
• The Partner (September 1963)
• Accidental Death (November 1963)
• Five to One (December 1963)
• Downfall (January 1964)
• The Verdict (February 1964)
• We Shall See (April 1964)
• The Rivals (May 1964)
• Who Was Maddox? (June 1964)
• Face of a Stranger (September 1964)
• Act of Murder (September 1964)
• Never Mention Murder (November 1964)
• The Main Chance (November 1964)
• Game for Three Losers (April 1965)
• Change Partners (July 1965)
• Strangler’s Web (August 1965)
• Dead Man’s Chest (October 1965).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,309

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