A Woman of Mystery
| A Woman of Mystery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ernest Morris |
| Written by | Brian Clemens Eldon Howard |
| Produced by | Edward J. Danziger Harry Lee Danziger |
| Starring | Dermot Walsh Hazel Court |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | Maurice Rootes |
| Music by | Edwin Astley Albert Elms |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists Corporation (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
A Woman of Mystery is a 1958 British crime film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Dermot Walsh, Hazel Court, and Ferdy Mayne.[1] It was written by Brian Clemens and Eldon Howard and produced by The Danzigers.
The film features an early performance from Michael Caine in an uncredited role.
Plot
[edit]Ray Savage, reporter for a sensational magazine in London is assigned over his objections to investigate a pretty blonde hat-check attendant's suicide. Inquiring at Jane Hale's place of work he learns that someone from her past had recognized her, and she was afraid. Finding a luggage label on her suitcase, he follows the lead to a dubious hotel where the manager tells him someone had taken a shot at her while she was staying there. From there he goes to her former place of work, then to the home of her friend at work who tells him that Miss Hale regularly called her mother, long distance. Following the number to a sanatorium where questioning Mrs. Hale yields nothing, but the cooperative administrator tells him the upscale neighborhood Jane was living before she went on the run.
Finally determining that she had been employed at an escort agency, he is so excited as to ignore the indications that he is being followed until he returns home to be attacked by three men who try to duplicate Miss Hale's supposed suicide by knocking him on the head and turning the gas on. Rescued by his girlfriend he grabs a gun and starts taking up housebreaking, until he determines the escort agency is cover for a counterfeiting operation. Then he shoots it out with the villains but feels frustrated because the mastermind behind the operation, the man who killed Jane, has apparently gotten away unseen. That doesn't last, because Jane's new boyfriend comes after Ray to try to kill him and Jane's friend who came to talk to Ray.
Cast
[edit]- Dermot Walsh as Ray Savage
- Hazel Court as Joy Grant
- Jennifer Jayne as Ruby Ames
- Ferdy Mayne as Andre
- Ernest Clark as Harvey
- Diana Chesney as Mrs. Bassett
- Paul Dickson as Winter
- Michael Caine as minor role (uncredited)
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A routine thriller of "the time was now seven thirty and...." school, flatly presented and feebly acted."[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "A Woman of Mystery | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ "A Woman of Mystery". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 25 (288): 64. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
External links
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- 1958 films
- 1958 crime films
- British black-and-white films
- British crime films
- Films shot at New Elstree Studios
- 1950s English-language films
- Films directed by Ernest Morris
- 1950s British films
- Films scored by Edwin Astley
- Films scored by Albert Elms
- English-language crime films
- 1950s British film stubs
- 1950s crime film stubs