The Delavine Affair is a 1955 British second feature[1] crime film directed by Douglas Peirce and starring Peter Reynolds, Honor Blackman and Gordon Jackson.[2] The screenplay was by George Fisher and Basil Boothroyd, based on the 1952 novel Winter Wears a Shroud by Robert Chapman.[3]
| The Delavine Affair | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Douglas Peirce |
| Screenplay by | George Fisher Basil Boothroyd |
| Based on | Winter Wears a Shroud by Robert Chapman |
| Produced by | John Croydon Henry Passmore |
| Starring | Peter Reynolds Honor Blackman Gordon Jackson |
| Cinematography | Jonah Jones |
| Edited by | Inman Hunter |
Production company | Croydon Passmore Productions |
| Distributed by | Monarch Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 64 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editJournalist Rex Banner, with the aid of his wife Maxine, attempts to solve a jewel robbery, but the criminals try to frame Rex for their murder of a witness.
Cast
edit- Peter Reynolds as Rex Banner
- Honor Blackman as Maxine Banner
- Gordon Jackson as Florian
- Valerie Vernon as Lola
- Michael Balfour as Sammy
- Peter Neil as Inspector Johnson
- Peter Swanwick as Meyerling
- Laurie Main as Summit
- Katie Johnson as Mrs. Bissett
- Mark Daly as Mr. Bissett
- Anna Turner as Mrs Halloran
- Mai Bacon as Fanny
- Hal Osmond as old man
- Vernon Kelso as Macgregor
- Christie Humphrey as maid
Production
editThe film was produced at Walton Studios and on location in West London, including Kensington and West Brompton. Sets were designed by the art director John Stoll.
Critical reception
editMonthly Film Bulletin said: "A murder comedy-melodrama on familiar lines. The story is seldom very plausible, coincidence reaches out with a long arm, and the developments and the solution have their vague aspects. The film, though, is reasonably bright in tone, and the playing of the principals to some extent makes up in enthusiasm for what it lacks in polish."[4]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Witty comedy-thriller with over-familiar plot but polished performances."[5]
Filmink called Reynolds, best known for villains, "a boringly ordinary hero" in this film.[6]
TV Guide gave the film two out of five stars, noting a "Routine crime drama."[7]
References
edit- ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ "The Delavine Affair". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Delavine Affair". Monthly Film Bulletin. 22 (252): 23. 1955 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 300. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (11 November 2024). "Peter Reynolds: Forgotten Cad". Filmink. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "The Delavine Affair". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016.
External links
edit
 | This article related to a British film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This 1950s crime film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |