Three Cases of Murder is a 1955 British horror omnibus film comprising three stories: "In The Picture," "You Killed Elizabeth," and "Lord Mountdrago." Eamonn Andrews introduces each. Alan Badel appears in all three.[2]
| Three Cases of Murder | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | David Eady George More O'Ferrall Wendy Toye Orson Welles (uncredited) |
| Written by | Sidney Carroll Ian Dalrymple Donald B. Wilson |
| Produced by | Ian Dalrymple Alexander Paal |
| Starring | Alan Badel Orson Welles John Gregson André Morell |
| Cinematography | Georges Périnal |
| Edited by | Gerald Turney-Smith |
| Music by | Doreen Carwithen |
Production company | Wessex Film Productions |
| Distributed by | London Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £250,000[1] |
Cast
editMain cast
edit- Orson Welles as Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)
- John Gregson as Edgar Curtain ("You Killed Elizabeth" segment)
- Elizabeth Sellars as Elizabeth ("You Killed Elizabeth" segment)
- Emrys Jones as George Wheeler ("You Killed Elizabeth" segment)
- Alan Badel as Owen (segment "Lord Mountdrago") / Mr. X (segment "In the Picture") / Harry (segment "You Killed Elizabeth")
- André Morell as Dr. Audlin ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)
- Hugh Pryse as Jarvis ("In the Picture" segment)
- Leueen MacGrath as Woman in the House ("In the Picture" segment)
- Eddie Byrne as Snyder ("In the Picture" segment)
- Helen Cherry as Lady Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)
- Eamonn Andrews, Introductions
Supporting cast
edit- Peter Burton as Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
- Philip Dale as Sgt. Mallot (segment "You Killed Elizabeth")
- Christina Forrest as Susan (segment "You Killed Elizabeth")
- Evelyn Hall as Lady Connemara (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
- Ann Hanslip as The Girl (segment "In the Picture")
- David Horne as Sir James (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
- John Humphry as Private Secretary (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
- Maurice Kaufmann as Pemberton (segment "You Killed Elizabeth")
- Jack Lambert as Inspector Acheson ("You Killed Elizabeth" segment)
- Zena Marshall as Beautiful Blonde (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
- John Salew as Rooke ("In the Picture" segment)
- Harry Welchman as Connoisseur (segment "In the Picture")
- Colette Wilde as Jane (segment "You Killed Elizabeth")
- Arthur Wontner as Leader of the House (segment "Lord Mountdrago")
Uncredited/cameo cast
edit- Patrick Macnee as Guard Subaltern
- Marc Sheldon as Man in Background
Production
editThe first and third stories deal with the supernatural. In the first, "In the Picture", a museum worker enters one of the pictures in a gallery, enticed by a mysterious man who turns out to be the picture's painter. In the second, "You Killed Elizabeth", a man falls in love with a woman, only to lose her to his friend; she dies, but which one killed her? In the third, "Lord Mountdrago", a dramatization of a short story by W. Somerset Maugham from his collection The Mixture as Before, a politician seeks revenge on the political opponent who humiliated him, by entering his dreams.
Wendy Toye directed "In the Picture"; David Eady, "You Killed Elizabeth"; and George More O'Ferrall, "Lord Mountdrago."[3]
Orson Welles received top billing, but he appears only in "Lord Mountdrago". According to Patrick Macnee, who had a supporting role, Welles began making suggestions to director George More O'Ferrall throughout the first day of filming, and by the third day he had taken over the direction of the entire segment.[4]
Reception
editThe presence of Orson Welles in the cast meant the film was released in the US before the UK.[2] The film was turned down for exhibition in the UK by both the Rank and Associated British chains.[1] They claimed that the film was mediocre and that Welles was not a big enough box office draw to compensate for this.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Orson Welles film rejected". The Sun. No. 13, 890. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1954. p. 55 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 1 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b John Hamilton, The British Independent Horror Film 1951-70 Hemlock Books 2013 p 24-27
- ^ The Times, "Three Cases Of Murder" Film Short Stories 16 May 1955
- ^ Patrick Macnee, Blind in One Ear (London, 1988)
- ^ ""Wonder Boy" Welles". The Newcastle Sun. No. 11, 277. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1954. p. 27. Retrieved 1 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
