''Murder Reported'' is a 1957

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

second feature ('B') film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Paul Carpenter,

Melissa Stribling Melissa Stribling (7 November 1926 – 22 March 1992) was a Scottish film and television actress. She began her professional career in a repertory company, presenting a different play each week at the Grand Theatre, Croydon in 1948. She remains ...

and

John Laurie John Paton Laurie (25 March 1897 – 23 June 1980) was a Scottish stage, film, and television actor. He appeared in scores of feature films with directors including Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean, Michael Powell and Laurence Olivier, generally p ...

. It was written by

Doreen Montgomery Doreen Catherine Mary Montgomery (12 April 1913 in Glasgow – 24 February 1992 in London) was a British screenwriter. Biography Montgomery graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an arts degree. She submitted scripts to Associated B ...

based on the 1953 novel ''Murder for the Million'' by Robert Chapman.

Plot

Following a tip-off from their newspaper's informant Mr. Hatter, reporters Jeff Holly and Amanda North are assigned to cover a murder case where a body has been found in a suitcase. A woman identifies the body as that of her late aunt, who has already been buried. When her coffin is opened it is found to contain the body of Councillor Hollond, a local politician. Holly and North discover that Hatter murdered Hollond and switched the bodies.

Cast

* Paul Carpenter as Jeff Holly *

as Amanda North *

as Mac *

Peter Swanwick Walter Peter Swanwick (29 September 1922 – 14 November 1968) was a British actor best remembered as the "Supervisor" (sometimes called the Controller) in the 1967 TV series, ''The Prisoner''. Swanwick's film career began with bit parts in fi ...

as Hatter *

Patrick Holt Patrick Holt (31 January 1912 – 12 October 1993) was an English film and television actor. Biography Born Patrick Parsons in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Holt spent some of his childhood in India with his uncle, after which he was sent to ...

as Bill Stevens * Maurice Durant as Carmady * Georgia Brown as Myra * Yvonne Warren as Betty *

Gladys Boot Gladys Boot (1890 – 16 October 1964), was a British actress. She studied acting privately with Elsie Fogerty, and made her stage debut in Newcastle in 1940 in '' Quiet Wedding''; and in London at Wyndham's Theatre the following year in '' Qu ...

as Dorothy

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: "Superficial in its approach and weak in construction, this innocuous thriller loses any opportunities its sordid crime subject might have offered. Nevertheless one must acknowledge in its favour good location photography, crisp dialogue and efficient acting." ''

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 picture attempts the inconsequential approach to crime, but sadly lacks essential pep and polish. Paul Carpenter is a manly Jeff, and Melissa Stribling displays a certain amount of charm as Amanda, but Peter Swanwick has to show his hand much too early as killer Hatter, and the rest mean little." '' Picture Show'' wrote: "Well-made crime film starring Paul Carpenter as newspaper reporter who solves several crimes with the aid of his boss's daughter, Amanda, a part which is attractively played by Melissa Stribling. Supporting roles are competently acted and newcomer Yvonne Warren does well as a glamorous barmaid." ''

Picturegoer ''Picturegoer'' was a fan magazine published in the United Kingdom between 1911 and 23 April 1960. Background The magazine was started in 1911 under the name ''The Pictures'' and in 1914 it merged with ''Picturegoer''. Following the merge it was ...

'' wrote: "By relegating the men in blue to a back seat, the film – despite tolerably good acting – sacrifices credulity and creates more unintentional laughs than intentional thrills. Skip it!" ''

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: "It's pretty old hat in conception, and there isn't much diverting about its variations. It stacks up as just another feature for double-bill filler and mild even in that classification. ... Performances are adequate although nothing much can be done with the frequently tiresome characters. The picture is exceptionally short (less than an hour), and this, possibly, will be its greatest asset in booking." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Breezily acted but crime drama evokes more laughs than thrills."

References

External links

* {{imdb name, 0049524, name=''Murder Reported'' Films directed by Charles Saunders 1957 films British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films