WHISPERING SMITH VS. SCOTLAND YARD

WHISPERING SMITH VS. SCOTLAND YARD (aka Whispering Smith Hits London/1952). Director: Francis Searle. 

Famous American detective Steve "Whispering" Smith (Richard Carlson) comes to England for a Welsch vacation but is immediately importuned to solve a murder in London. A young woman named Sylvia has been found drowned, an apparent suicide, but her father is convinced it was murder. His secretary, Ann Carter (Rona Anderson of The Flaw), begs Smith to take the case but at first he seems more interested in romancing her. Smith goes about interviewing several people who knew Sylvia: her lawyer, Hector Reith (Alan Wheatley); her fiance, a puppeteer named Roger Ford (Herbert Lom of Mysterious Island); and one of her best friends, Louise Balfour (Greta Gynt). When someone tries to run over Smith and Ann it's clear that somebody is violently opposed to his investigation. 

Richard Carlson and Greta Gynt

Whispering Smith, a character first introduced in a novel and then in movies, was actually a 19th century railroad detective known for being rather quiet, hence "whispering." Alan Ladd played the part in a 1942 western. In this one-shot movie starring Richard Carlson the character has been updated to the 20th century, but he doesn't seem very quiet, but rather brash in the way of most American private eyes. Carlson gives a very good performance, Rona  Anderson is cute and charming, Greta Gynt radiates a certain sensuality and menace, and Wheatley and Lom make convincing antagonists; Lom is especially effective, as usual. Reginald Beckwith [Doctor in Love] is cast as a man who was a victim of vicious blackmail. Usually a comic figure, he gives a good, if brief, dramatic performance in this. An interesting element has to do with a sinister nursing home called Star Opaque, which is actually a mayhem-for-hire outfit run by the creepy Dr. Taren (Daniel Wherry). An early production from Hammer studios, this is better than their usual mysteries, well-acted, with an interesting plot (even if the ending is not that big a surprise) and characters and a swift pace. Nice score by Fred Spencer.

Verdict: Some more Whispering Smith films with Carlson would have been welcome. ***. 

THE FLAW

John Bentley has a fatal flaw

THE FLAW (1955). Director: Terence Fisher.

Paul Oliveri (John Bentley) is a race car driver who sweeps a wealthy woman named Monica (Rona Anderson) off her feet. Paul marries Monica for her money, and makes sure his mistress, Vera (Tonia Bern), gets enough of it to live on. He also makes sure that Monica makes out a will leaving him everything. When Monica learns of the mistress from her solicitor and friend, John (Donald Houston), she decides to divorce him. So Paul concocts a scheme to get rid of John so that his body will never be found, and then murder Monica for her money. But while John is at Paul's mercy he tells him his plan has a fatal flaw ... 

John Bentley and Rona Anderson

The Flaw -- which could refer to sociopathic Paul's character flaws as well as the flaw in his murder plot -- is another of the British crime films directed by Terence Fisher before he became famous as a horror filmmaker. This one is somewhat better than others, but still no world-beater. John Bentley proves a more interesting actor as a bad guy than as a hero, although one can't quite say he's a George Sanders. I don't wish to generalize but I often find that British thrillers of this nature never quite have the oomph of American melodramas of similar theme -- maybe they're just not lurid enough -- admittedly there are exceptions to this rule. Rona Anderson and Tonia Bern look enough alike that at times you're not certain if Paul is talking to his wife or mistress, who doesn't show up very often anyway. There's one okay twist at the end and the song "Getting Away with Murder" that plays in a club sequence is catchy. 

Verdict: Too short a running time to make this especially compelling. **1/2.