The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] *** (1955, Honor Blackman, Peter Reynolds, Gordon Jackson) – Classic Movie Review 13,317

The amusing and well-played British 1955 black and white support feature crime thriller The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] stars Peter Reynolds, Honor Blackman and Gordon Jackson.

Director Douglas Pierce’s amusing and well-played if rather unremarkable and predictable British 1955 black and white support feature crime thriller The Delavine Affair [Murder Is News] features Peter Reynolds, Honor Blackman and Gordon Jackson.

Peter Reynolds stars as London newspaper journalist Rex Banner, who is set up as the fall guy for the murder of his friend, an old character called Gospel Joe, who has a newspaper cutting about a jewel robbery in his hand (a clue!), and it turns out was an informer in the jewel robbery. Both Rex and the police have been summoned to the murder scene by an unknown caller, and Rex has arrived first, just in time to be a suspect.

Rex and his wife Maxine (Honor Blackman) set out to solve the mystery, get a good story, recover the stolen jewels, and unmask the killer. Maxine has got fed up with Rex being away working all the time, especially when he starts to get involved, professionally that is, with alluring married woman Lola (Valerie Vernon), who may know what’s going on with the robbery. Maxine tries to make Rex jealous by stepping out with Florian (Gordon Jackson), a pleasant seeming man she has recently met, who resembles Rex in colouring and build. News photographer Sammy (Michael Balfour) is also at hand to help Rex out.

The fast pace, nifty dialogue and especially the eager-to-please performances keep it above average for a British B-movie of the day. The comedy elements are weak, undermining instead of bolstering the far-fetched thriller plot. Most of the dialogue is nifty, but Rex and Maxine ‘s banter isn’t witty enough to give competition to Nick and Nora Charles, though both actors who play them are a pleasure to watch in their very different ways. Peter Reynolds is the perfect Fifties B-movie bad guy, so it’s a surprise and delight to find him on the side of the angels. at least as much any any journalist could be. Honor Blackman oozes allure, even in the drab frocks she’s made to wear, and is appealing, even when her character is nagging, clingy and jealous.

The screenplay by George Fisher (with additional dialogue by Basil Boothroyd) is based on Robert H Chapman’s 1952 novel Winter Wears a Shroud. The plot is simple but still complicated enough to be properly difficult to follow. It’s entirely a thriller concoction. Not a single thing of this story could happen in real life. But that’s what makes it entertaining,

Happily, there is a small but respectable role (as kindly old Mrs Bissett, who happens to be living where the jewels are stashed) for Katie Johnson, who later that year became a star as the lady in The Ladykillers.

Honor Blackman.

Peter Neil as Inspector Johnson, Peter Swanwick as Meyerling, Laurie Main as Summit are all very enjoyable in quirky support. Also in the cast are Mark Daly, Anna Turner, Mae Bacon, Christie Humphrey and Vernon Kelso.

It is shot by cinematographer Jonah Jones at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, and on location in West London, including Kensington and West Brompton. There’s just enough location photography to give it some atmosphere and period charm. It runs just 64 minutes, and so much is happening that there’s never a dull moment.

Release date: 3 January 1955.

The alternative title Murder Is News is the American TV title.

One Jump Ahead followed in 1955, with Paul Carpenter starring as news reporter Paul Banner, and Diane Hart playing his reporter partner Maxine.

Behind the Headlines followed in 1956, with Paul Carpenter starring as news reporter Paul Banner, and Hazel Court playing his secretary Maxine.

The cast

The cast are Peter Reynolds as Rex Banner, Honor Blackman as Maxine Banner, Gordon Jackson as Florian, Valerie Vernon as Lola, Michael Balfour as Sammy, Peter Neil as Inspector Johnson, Peter Swanwick as Meyerling, Laurie Main as Summit, Katie Johnson as Mrs Bissett, Mark Daly as Mr Bissett, Anna Turner as Mrs Halloran, Mae Bacon [Mai Bacon] as Fanny, Hal Osmond as old man, Vernon Kelso as Macgregor, Christie Humphrey as maid.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,317

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