Third Party Risk ** (1954, Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva, Finlay Currie, Maureen Swanson) – Classic Movie Review 13,025

Hammer Films’ 1954 black and white thriller film Third Party Risk stars Lloyd Bridges as an American holidaying in Spain, who bumps into an old buddy who embroils him in events that lead to murder.

‘Look… but don’t touch! She’s DEADLY GAME’

Director Daniel Birt’s 1954 Hammer Films second-feature black and white thriller film Third Party Risk [The Deadly Game] is based on the 1953 novel by Nicolas Bentley, and stars Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva, Finlay Currie, and Maureen Swanson.

Lloyd Bridges stars as American songwriter Philip ‘Phil’ Graham, holidaying in Spain, who bumps into an old RAF buddy, Tony Roscoe (Peter Dyneley). who asks him to join a group led by mysterious hotel guest, banker Mr Darius (Finlay Currie). After Tony is urgently required to fly home to London on business, Phil returns to England and finds Tony dead on the floor of his darkroom, and of course he is the No.1 murder suspect.

Lloyd Bridges came to London in a career lull as the obligatory visiting minor US star in this routine, but interesting enough Hammer Films crime drama based on Nicolas Bentley’s novel. There is enough plot to fill the relatively short running time of 70 minutes, and there are plenty of oddball characters to keep it motoring along.

Bridges is solid and likeable as the hero, and it is especially good to see again splendid 1950s stalwarts Finlay Currie, Ferdy Mayne  as Maxwell Carey), Roger Delgado as the local detective, Russell Waters as the scientist, and George Woodbridge as the rotund English inspector. And that is Jane Asher as the girl.

Deadly Game American poster for Third Party Risk.

It was released in the US by Lippert Pictures as The Deadly Game.

Release date: 8 October 1954.

The cast are Lloyd Bridges as Philip Graham, Simone Silva as Mitzi Molnaur, Finlay Currie as Mr Darius, Maureen Swanson as Marina, Ferdy Mayne as Maxwell Carey, Peter Dyneley as Tony Roscoe, George Woodbridge as Inspector Goldfinch, Russell Waters as the scientist, Roger Delgado as Detective Gonzales, Seymour Green as Rope-Soles, Leslie Wright as Sergeant Ramirez, Mary Parker as Nancy, Jane Asher as girl, Patrick Westwood as porter, Armand Guinle as hotel manager, and Toots Pound.

It is made by Hammer Films at their Bray Studios in Berkshire on sets designed by J Elder Wills.

Third Party Risk is directed by Daniel Birt, runs 70 minutes, Hammer Film Productions, is released by Exclusive Films (UK) and Lippert Pictures (US), is written by Daniel Birt and Robert Dunbar, is shot in black and white by Walter J Harvey, is produced by Michael Carreras and Robert Dunbar, is scored by Michael Krein, and is designed by J Elder Wills.

Simone Silva posing topless with Robert Mitchum at the 1954 Cannes festival.

Simone Silva (15 August 1928 – 30 November 1957) was an Egyptian-born French film actress who appeared in a handful of 1950s British B-movies. Silva’s only top billing came as a femme fatale in Third Party Risk. Silva was known less for her acting than for her voluptuous body and publicity seeking. She made global headlines after she posed topless with Robert Mitchum at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.

British writer, publisher and illustrator Nicolas Clerihew Bentley (14 June 1907 – 14 August 1978) was best known for his humorous cartoon drawings. He was the son of Edmund Clerihew Bentley, the inventor of the clerihew verse form.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,025

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