Tale of Three Women * (1954, Hazel Court, David Horne, Derek Bond, Gene Anderson, Jack Watling, Catherine Finn, Karel Stepanek) – Classic Movie Review 13,565

‘Ever since EVE, WOMEN have influenced MEN!’ The 1954 British compendium film Tale of Three Women stars Hazel Court, David Horne, Derek Bond, Gene Anderson, Jack Watling, Catherine Finn, and Karel Stepanek.

‘Ever since EVE. WOMEN have influenced MEN!’ The Danzigers 1954 British compendium film production Tale of Three Women stars Hazel Court, David Horne, Derek Bond, Gene Anderson, Jack Watling, Catherine Finn, and Karel Stepanek.

The film is a compilation of three stories, The Wedding Gift, The Thief of London and The Final Twist. originally part of the Danzigers TV drama anthology series Adventure Theater [aka Calling Scotland Yard] that aired on NBC from 16 June 1956 to 1 September 1956. Though the show was produced in England in 1953, it was never broadcast on TV in the UK as a series. American actor Paul Douglas was the host, but all the cast were British.

Prompted by her boyfriend (Derek Bond), a conwoman (Hazel Court) marries a wealthy gem merchant (David Horne) to kill him, but is struck down with a conscience, in The Wedding Gift.

A woman (Gene Anderson) saves her kleptomaniac fiancé (Jack Watling) from jail and a life as a professional pickpocket, in The Thief of London.

The wife (Catherine Finn) of a murderous jeweller (Karel Stepanek) finds he is having an affair, in The Final Twist. The jeweller robs himself and commits murder.

Gibert Harding narrates a dull compendium of three rather ordinary tales of the expected, all very flatly handled, all too short to be fully satisfying, though The Wedding Gift is the best of the three. However, it is nice to spend some time with one or two of the cast members, especially Hazel Court, Jack Watling, and Oliver Johnston as the butler in The Wedding Gift.

Also in the cast are Oliver Johnston, Peter Gawthorne, Hélène Cordet, Michael Ripper, Philip Leaver, Patricia Owens, Gordon McLeod, Robert Perceval, and Digby Wolfe.

Tale of Three Women is directed by Paul Dixon and Thelma Connell, runs 85 minutes, is made by Danziger Productions, is released by Paramount British Pictures (UK), is written by Paul Tabori, James Eastwood and Paul Mikes, is shot in black and white by Jack E Cox, and James Wilson, is produced by Edward J Danziger and Harry Lee Danziger, and is scored by Edwin Astley.

It is made at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,565

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