''Dual Alibi'' is a 1947 British

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Alfred Travers Alfred Travers (born Alfred Karl Ludwig Jungermann; 1906, date of death unknown) was a Turkish-born British screenwriter and film director. Career Travers came to England in the 1930s, and during World War II worked for the British Council an ...

and starring

Herbert Lom Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchačevič ze Schluderpacheru (11 September 1917 – 27 September 2012), known professionally as Herbert Lom (), was a Czech-British actor with a career spanning over 60 years. His cool demeanour and precise, elegan ...

, Phyllis Dixey and Terence De Marney. It is a

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

. It was written by Vivienne Adès, Stephen Clarkson and Travers, and made by

British National Films The British National Films Company was formed in England in 1934 by J. Arthur Rank, Lady Annie Henrietta Yule of Bricket Wood, and producer John Corfield. Origin Joseph Arthur Rank was a devout member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church (Great Brit ...

Elstree Studios Elstree Studios is a generic term which can refer to several current and demolished British film studios and television studios based in or around the town of Borehamwood and village of Elstree in Hertfordshire, England. Production studios ha ...

Synopsis

A top French

acrobatic Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most often performed in acro ...

act, the de Lisle twins, are hired by a British promoter to perform in his

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...

show. While they are working there one of the twins falls in love with a

cigarette girl Cigarette girls in Florida in 1956 Cigarette girl at the Bellmansro restaurant in Sweden, 1940 In Europe and the United States, a cigarette girl was an attractive young woman who sold or provided cigarettes from a tray held by a neck strap, ...

and aspiring singer named Penny. After the twins win the French

lottery A lottery (or lotto) is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find som ...

she steals their ticket, with the help of a

spiv A spiv is a petty criminal in the United Kingdom who deals in illicit, typically black market, goods. Spivs were particularly active during the Second World War and in the post-war period when many goods were rationed due to shortages. According ...

ish publicity agent, and goes to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

to claim the prize. The twins follow them to seek revenge.

Cast

as Jules de Lisle / Georges de Lisle * Phyllis Dixey as Penny aka Gloria Gregg * Terence De Marney as Mike Bergen * Ronald Frankau as Vincent Barney *

Abraham Sofaer Abraham Isaac Sofaer (1 October 1896 – 21 January 1988) was a Burmese-born British actor who began his career on stage and became a familiar supporting player in film and on television in his later years. Life and career Sofaer was born in R ...

as French Judge *

Eugene Deckers Eugene Francis Deckers (22 October 1917, in Antwerp – 1977, in Paris, France) was a Belgium, Belgian actor. Career After establishing himself on the British stage, Deckers made his first English language film appearance in 1946. Formerly a ...

as French ringmaster * The Cromwell Brothers as trapeze act * Ben Williams as Charlie * Clarence Wright as M. Mangan * Beryl Measor as Gwen * Harold Berens as Ali * Sebastian Cabot as Loterie Nationale official *

Andreas Malandrinos Andreas Malandrinos (; 14 November 1888, in Greece – 11 July 1970, in Surrey) was a Greek-born actor who started appearing in British films from 1909, until his death 61 years later in Surrey, England. He was fluent in six languages and used ...

as French Judge * Marcel Poncin as French lawyer *

Wallas Eaton Wallas Eaton (18 February 1917 – 3 November 1995), sometimes credited as Wallace Eaton or Wallis Eaton, was an English film, radio, television and theatre actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his voice roles between 1949 and 1960 in th ...

as court official * Gerald Rex as call boy * Margaret Withers as Blackpool landlady * H.G. Guinle * Leonard Sharp * Ernst Ulman * Eric Mason * Griffiths Moss * Gerald Conway

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "The basic idea of the film is not original, but Herbert Lom makes the dual role impressive and convincing. Terence de Marney as the 'spiv-type' Bergen is admirable, but Phyllis Dixey gives him poor support and her acting lacks polish. The scenes at Blackpool and in the circus are realistic, but it is a pity that early shots of people applauding and of the trapeze act should have been repeated in later sequences of the film." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "The film is not exactly a classic but it is, nevertheless, a sound job of work. The story ... has plenty of action and colour, while sex cunningly illuminates its hectic design. Its circus atmosphere can't be faulted and the doubling of the Cromwell Brothers for Herbert Lom is as clever as the double-exposure photography, Technically, it is first rate." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "With a little more expenditure on production and wiser casting, picture would have rated better playing time than it probably will receive. However, Herbert Lom's acting makes it acceptable drama. Greatest defect is the casting of Phyllis Dixey as femme lead. Notorious for a stage strip-tease act she may have a certain following, but her scree

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0038498 1947 films 1947 drama films British drama films Films directed by Alfred Travers British black-and-white films Films shot at British National Studios Films set in Paris Films set in Blackpool Films about twin brothers 1940s English-language films 1940s British films Films scored by Stanley Black