The Embezzler *** (1954, Charles Victor, Zena Marshall, Peggy Mount, Cyril Chamberlain, Michael Craig, Leslie Weston, Avice Landone, Frank Forsyth, Ian Fleming, Phyllis Morris) – Classic Movie Review 13,726

The engaging 1954 British crime thriller film The Embezzler stars Charles Victor as an ageing bank cashier who steals cash from his bank and Zena Marshall as a young blackmail victim he helps.

Writer/ director John Gilling’s 1954 British crime drama film The Embezzler stars Charles Victor as an elderly bank cashier who steals cash from the bank where he works.

Writer/ director John Gilling’s engaging 1954 British second feature black and white crime thriller film The Embezzler is another welcome sturdy filler thriller from the Robert S Baker – Monty Berman production team (TV’s The Saint, The Persuaders).  

It is lifted from possible obscurity and the merely routine by Charles Victor’s extremely appealing, intricately assembled portrayal of Henry Paulson, an elderly, dying bank cashier who absconds with his company’s cash, intending to enjoy the rest of his days in South America. He has got a dodgy ticker and his doc has told him he could have only two more years to live.

Discovered by his boss while nicking the banknotes, he instead has to escape on the train to the seaside, fleeing with the money to a seaside hotel in Eastbourne run by Mrs Larkin (Peggy Mount). There he checks in under the name of Mr Laughton, gets to know the other sad souls in the guest house, and eventually decides to use the money to help a newly married doctor (Michael Craig)’s wife (Zena Marshall), who is being blackmailed by her dodgy ex-flame, Alec Johnson (Cyril Chamberlain), recently released from prison and now just checked at the hotel.

Charles Victor could be too fussy, too sentimental, or play it too much for sympathy, but he avoids all pitfalls and keeps it straight and sincere, totally credible. The admirable Zena Marshall gives a brisk account of herself as the sad-faced heroine in trouble, and the other pleasant players include Avice Landone as Miss Ackroyd, Peggy Mount as Mrs Larkin, Cyril Chamberlain as Alec Johnson, Leslie Weston as Piggott, Frank Forsyth as police Inspector Gale, and Ian Fleming as the Doctor.

A young looking Peggy Mount as the bossy but kindly seaside landlady and Avice Landone as the tippling Miss Ackroyd, naturally targeted by the blackmailer, are great value, and Phyllis Morris is especially entertaining as the endlessly nagging wife Mrs Paulson. It is a decent, significant role, yet it is uncredited (though so are many of the other support actors). Cyril Chamberlain is rather good as the cocky, oily villain. An almost unrecognisably young Michael Craig finds he has little to do as the young husband, a cypher side character.

The film is surprisingly sweet and gentle, with kindly attitudes for a crime story, much more of a character study than a thriller, but, still, nicely done. It has old world English charm, a polite film from a much politer age. It is engaging, likeable and enjoyable. John Gilling’s plotting is neat and tidy, like his direction. There’s not really that much to it, there doesn’t need to be, it’s only 61 minutes long, but quite enough to feel substantial. There are a few valuable views of London and Eastbourne but not too many unfortunately. It is mostly shot on cramped, though adequate sets at Twickenham Film Studios in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

The print is in astonishingly pristine looking condition, well looked after considering its humble status.

Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 December 1965) appeared in more than 100 films between 1938 and 1965. He plays an important role as Chief Inspector Teal in The Saint’s Return, in which Ian Fleming also appears. In 1957 he also had top billing in the comedy There’s Always a Thursday.

It was shot at Southall Studios, London.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,726