Three Cases of Murder *** (1955, Alan Badel, Orson Welles, John Gregson, Elizabeth Sellars) – Classic Movie Review 10,047

Alan Badel and Orson Welles star in the 1955 British compendium crime drama movie Three Cases of Murder.

The 1955 British compendium crime drama movie Three Cases of Murder offers three creepy yarns, three directors (Wendy Toye, David Eady, George More O’Ferrall) and a fine cast, with main star Alan Badel in all three. Each story is good on its own, but, though the stories are introduced by Eamonn Andrews, there is no real link between the stories and they are unsatisfyingly cobbled together.

The first weird fantasy story In the Picture by Roderick Wilkinson (director Wendy Toye) concerns an art gallery where a guide called Jarvis (Hugh Pryse) finds himself inside the picture of an artist, Jarvis (Badel).

The second standard whodunit story You Killed Elizabeth by David Eady (director Brett Halliday) involves a man called Harry (Badel) who suspects he may be guilty of murdering Elizabeth (Elizabeth Sellars), the woman he loves, and be responsible for his rival, Edgar (John Gregson), supposedly killing himself.

The third Lord Mountdrago by W Somerset Maugham (director George More O’Ferrall) is about the hatred of one Member of Parliament, young politician Owen (Badel), for another, arrogant Foreign Secretary Lord Mountdrago (Orson Welles), leading to a challenge and the death of both.

Three Cases of Murder is well made and capable, with some gripping performances, but lacking in chills r real excitement.

Call it a compendium film, anthology film, omnibus film, or portmanteau film, but such films were popular back in the day.

Patrick Macnee, who plays Guard Subaltern (uncredited), said the Lord Mountdrago segment was mostly directed by Orson Welles.

Other members of the cast are Leueen MacGrath, Emrys Jones, André Morell, Eddie Byrne, John Salew, Jack Lambert, Maurice Kaufmann, Helen Cherry, Arthur Wontner, Zena Marshall, Patrick Macnee, Peter Burton, John Humphrey, David Horne, Evelyn Hall, Mark Sheldon, Wilfrid Walter, Ronald Cardew, Henry Oscar, John Boxer, Vera Pearce and Judith Whittaker.

Three Cases of Murder is directed by Wendy Toye, David Eady and George More O’Ferrall, runs 99 minutes, is made by London Film Productions, Wessex Film Productions and British Lion Film Corporation, is released by British Lion Film Corporation (1955) (UK) and Associated Artists Productions (1955) (US), is written by Donald Wilson, Sidney Caroll, Ian Dalrymple, is shot in black and white by Georges Périnal, is produced by Ian Dalrymple and Hugh Perceval, and scored by Doreen Carwithen.

It was released on DVD in the UK by Odeon Entertainment in 2008.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,047

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