FINAL APPOINTMENT

John Bentley and Eleanor Summerfield

FINAL APPOINTMENT (aka The Last Appointment/1954). Director: Terence Fisher. 

Reporter Mike Billings (John Bentley of Calling Paul Temple) tries to investigate when he learns that a solicitor, Hartnell (Hubert Gregg), has been getting threatening letters. Hartnell wants no part of this even when he is later reminded by Billings and Inspector Corcoran (Liam Redmond) that he was the lead prosecutor for a court-martial and is also told that three other men who served on the panel have been murdered -- on the same date over three years; Hartnell is certainly next. Now you would think most people would take the threat to their life seriously under the circumstances, but as this is a mediocre British mystery Hartnell instead acts like an ass. 

No concerns: Hubert Gregg

There are a couple of other suspects, of course, including two co-workers of Hartnell's who embezzled funds and are paying the money back to avoid a scandal. The man who was court-martialed is apparently dead, but his brother is still among the living. Final Appointment is briskly-paced under Terence Fisher's direction, and there's even a bit of suspense, although there are no big surprises at the finale. Billings has an irritating lady reporter girlfriend, Jennie (Eleanor Summerfield), who gets jealous at the drop of a hat, even going so far as to check out a secretary, Laura (Jean Lodge), that he is only trying to get information from; this leads into Jennie nearly getting taken hostage at the climax. Sam Kydd scores as another court-martialed soldier who comes to an unfortunate end. Fisher, of course, was at his best in the horror field [The Gorgon]. 

Verdict: So so British thriller without too many thrills. **1/4.