CALLING PAUL TEMPLE

John Bentley  as author-detective Paul Temple

CALLING PAUL TEMPLE (1948). Director: Maclean Rogers. 

Paul Temple (John Bentley) is now an author of popular mystery novels, but once upon a time he worked for Scotland Yard. Now he is called in when there is a baffling series of murders by an unknown person who calls himself "Rex." One poor woman, a songstress named Norma (Celia Lipton) is killed by poisoned lipstick. Temple's associates include Sir Graham Forbes (Jack Raine) and Inspector Crane (Ian McLean), but he also gets a lot of help from his wife, who is called "Steve" (Dinah Sheridan). As more bodies pile up, the Temples wind up in Canterbury where much of the action resolves around an abandoned monastery, inside which the couple nearly fall into a death trap. 

Dinah Sheridan and John Bentley

Calling Paul Temple is a fast-paced British crime film that benefits from good acting and interesting settings. The identity of the killer will probably not surprise most viewers, however. There is an attempt at comedy relief by introducing an Indian manservant named Rikki (Shaym Bahadur), whom Paul doesn't like for some reason; he's actually an appealing character. Bentley appeared in only two more Paul Temple movies, Paul Temple's Triumph and Bombay Waterfront. 

Verdict: Keeps you interested. **1/2.