The Flaw ** (1955, John Bentley, Donald Houston, Rona Anderson) – Classic Movie Review 10,856

Director Terence Fisher’s 1955 black and white British B-picture thriller The Flaw is an okay British 1950s crime filler, in which it is smoothie professional race car driver Paul Oliveri (John Bentley)’s evil plot to bump off his rich heiress wife Monica Oliveri (Rona Anderson) on a mountain vacation, after marrying her for her money.

Her loving old friend and solicitor John Millway (Donald Huston) tells her Paul is having an affair. She tells Paul she knows of his affair and is leaving home. Paul tracks down John and invites him back to his house for a drink and starts discussing his wish to kill Monica.

The Flaw is a film with its full complement of flaws, but Hammer horror director Fisher and the three star actors are true professionals and make something of the trashily torrid stuff.

The story and screenplay are by Brandon Fleming. It is a remake of The Flaw (1933) with Henry Kendall, Eric Maturin and Phyllis Clare.

The runtime is just 61 minutes.

It is released on DVD with Witness in the Dark (1959).

Also in the cast are Tonia Bern as Vera, Doris Yorke as Mrs Bower, J Trevor Davies as Sir George Bentham, Cecilia Cavendish as Lady Bentham, Vera McKechnie as Nancy, Ann Sullivan as Enid, June Dawson as Mrs Kelver, Langley Howard as Harman, Gerry Levey as Night Club Singer, Herbert St John as Theatre Manager, Christine Bocca as Box-Office Girl, Derek Barnard as Commissionaire, Andrew Leigh as Old Theatregoer, and Eric Aubrey as Young Man.

The Flaw is directed by Terence Fisher, runs 61 minutes, is made by Cybex Film Productions, is released by Renown Pictures Corporation (UK), is written by Brandon Fleming, is shot in black and white by Cedric Williams, and produced by Geoffrey Goodheart and Brandon Fleming, scored by Gerrey Levey.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,856

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