ACCOUNT RENDERED

John Van Eyssen and Ursula Howells

ACCOUNT RENDERED (1957). Director: Peter Graham Scott. 

Robert Ainsworth (Griffith Jones of Hidden Homicide) is unhappily married to the faithless Lucille (Ursula Howells), who is carrying on with a man, Clive Franklyn (John Van Eyssen), who is painting her portrait. Said portrait reflects the ugliness of her soul beneath the alleged beauty. Robert follows his wife after her assignation with Clive, and sees her arguing with a fellow in a park. He trips, hits his head, falls unconscious, and later finds out that during this time Ursula was strangled. Robert is, of course, the main suspect, but there is also Clive, as well as Sarah (Honor Blackman), who is secretly in love with Robert. Ursula was also dallying with John (Philip Gilbert), who is married to the neurotic Nella (Mary Jones) -- could one of them have done the deed? Robert's friend Gilbert Morgan, (Carl Bernard), provides an alibi for Robert but does he have secrets of his own?

Griffith Jones

Account Rendered is another very short, very minor British murder mystery which makes no attempt at cleverness a la Agatha Christie. The killer should come as no great surprise to anyone. In an attempt to avoid suspicion, Robert keeps silent about what he saw in the park, even though the fellow with his wife could have been the murderer! There is absolutely nothing to distinguish this film from dozens of others, although the acting is more than adequate and Van Eyssen is quite effective as the artist. This later turned up as an episode of the American anthology series Kraft Mystery Theater!

Verdict: Minor British melodrama. **.  

HIDDEN HOMICIDE

Griffith Jones, Maya Koumani, Patricia Laffan

HIDDEN HOMICIDE (1959). Director: Anthony Young. 

Michael Cornforth (Griffith Jones) is spirited away from his flat by an unknown person and wakes up in his cousin's cottage with his dead body inside. Two women -- Jean (Patricia Laffan) and Marian (Maya Koumani) -- happen along and Michael bares his soul to them. Attracted to Micheal, Jean decides to cover up the business with the corpse although Marian is a bit more skeptical. Now Michael has to find out not only who kidnapped him but who murdered his cousin, a man from whom he might have inherited money. Seems he not only had the means but the motive. 

James Kenney

Hidden Homicide is a twisty British thriller that sets up an intriguing situation, although one has to suspend disbelief at times. The acting is sufficient, with James Kenney [The Gelignite Gang] having fun as Oswald, a presumed friend of Michael's who comes to Jean's assistance at one point. The plot is the kind of convoluted thing you would see years later in Italian giallo films, and frankly this could have used a couple of gruesome murders. It does have some lively moments, and a couple of good twists, but it's also a little too weird and disjointed. Kenny is quite good in this. 

Verdict: Moderately entertaining. **1/2.