I Met a Murderer *** (1939, James Mason, Pamela Mason, Sylvia Coleridge, William Devlin) – Classic Movie Review 11,981

Director Roy Kellino’s 1939 British thriller film I Met a Murderer is written and produced by Pamela Kellino, Roy Kellino and James Mason, and stars James Mason, Pamela Mason, Sylvia Coleridge and William Devlin.

James Mason co-writes and stars in this intriguing little independent film about what happens when a caravan-travelling female writer meets a male fleeing killer. Co-star Pamela Kellino and director Roy Kellino were Mason’s friends; after their divorce he married her.

Mason plays frustrated famer Mark Warrow, who lives a henpecked life with his horrible wife Martha (Sylvia Coleridge) until one day he bumps her off in a fit of frustrated rage after she kills his beloved dog. Then he runs off from the police, and meets the writer Jo Trent (Pamela Kellino), who realises who he is as a murderer, but befriends him to write a book she is to call I Met a Murderer. Then, of course, the two fall in love and become lovers on the run.

In its day it was much admired for its style, flair, emotion and atmospheric location filming but, although these remain in evidence, the film now seems quite faded. Mason’s performance is still very worthwhile, and this and the attractively odd story make it worth a look.

The film was shot on the Isle of Wight and in Buckinghamshire in 1939.

In 1935, Pamela Kellino met actor James Mason on the set of his second film, Troubled Waters, on which her husband was working as a cinematographer. James Mason and Pamela Kellino were quickly attracted to each other. Mason became close friends with both Kellinos, moved in with them, and collaborated with them on several stage and screen projects, culminating in I Met a Murderer. Shortly after, Roy Kellino divorced Pamela, naming James Mason as co-respondent, and she married Mason in 1940.

The cast are James Mason as Mark Warrow, Pamela Mason as Jo Trent, Sylvia Coleridge as Martha Warrow, William Devlin as Jay, Peter Coke as Horseman, Esma Cannon as Blonde Camper, Sheila Morgan as Brunette Camper, James Harcourt as Hay Wagon Driver, Peter Popp and John Brooking.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,981

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