For Them That Trespass (1949)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Alberto Cavalcanti

Writers:

Ernest Raymond (novel)
J. Lee Thompson (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 July 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

"Cristy" Drew, an aspiring young writer, trying to broaden his experience, gets involved with "Frankie" Ketchen and her two suitors...

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Killer | Prison | Murder | Scotland Yard

Cast

Richard Todd	...	Herbert Edward Logan
Patricia Plunkett	...	Rosie
Stephen Murray	...	Christopher Drew
Michael Laurence	...	Jim Heal
Vida Hope	...	Olive Mockson
Rosalyn Boulter	...	Frankie Ketchen
James Hayter	...	John Craigie 'Jocko' Glenn
Harry Fowler	...	Dave, Rosie's friend
George Hayes	...	The Mad Artist
Michael Brennan	...	Det. Insp. Benstead
Joan Dowling	...	Gracie, Rosie's friend
Michael Medwin	...	Len, Herbie's bar pal
Irene Handl	...	Inn Proprietress
John Salew	...	Prosecutor Ainsley
Robert Harris	...	Defense Counsel Sir Huntley

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | West Germany:12 | UK:PG | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Welwyn Studios, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Mirror Crack'd (1980)

Top Flight UK Film Noir

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

For Them That Trespass – 1949 UK

Stephen Murray is an unsuccessful writer who decides he needs a bit of life experience. He decides to take in some of the nightlife on the wrong side of the tracks. Bars, clubs and "friendly" women are all new to Murray. He soon falls for a bit of fluff named Frankie, who is played by Rosalyn Boulter. Murray gets quite comfortable with Boulter and they spend several nights at the old horizontal mambo. While Murray enjoys the fun he knows he could never introduce Boulter to his "class" of people. Right from the start he uses a false name with Boulter. The nightly tryst goes fine till Boulter's big lug of a boyfriend returns from a rail trip. Boulter pushes Murray out the window and tells him to beat the feet. The boyfriend, Michael Laurence, is a jealous thug with a mean streak. Murray is quite happy to hit the bricks and escape. Laurence breaks in and sees the open window, which with Boulter's lack of attire tells him what he needs to know. Laurence beats Boulter to death and leaves. He crashes at another dolly's place to establish an alibi. The next morning Murray reads about the murder in the papers. The police have a suspect in mind and have issued his name and description. The suspect, Richard Todd, is a small time crook who had been seen at Boulter's place that day. What should Murray do? Murray knows Todd is innocent and that it was the Laurence who did the deed. Murray decides the best thing to do is nothing at all. The police "will" figure out they are after the wrong man. Meanwhile, Todd sees in the same paper he is wanted on the murder beef and hits the road. Todd, who was a friend of Boulter had used her flat to hide some money earlier in the day. While Todd is hiding out he meets and falls for shop girl Patricia Plunkett. The police of course are not far behind and shortly put the grab on Todd. Just as quickly he is put on trial. Todd's only alibi is that he was out of town pulling a job. Needless to say, this does not go over with the jury who quickly return a guilty verdict with a sentence of death. Todd's sentence is commuted to 15 to life and off he goes to jail. Murray who has been following the trial still does nothing for fear of what people might think. Todd spends the next 15 years swearing he was framed while Murray becomes a successful writer. Todd is released and finds Plunkett waiting for him. They get married and start a family. Problems finding work as a ex-con gives Todd plenty of reason to go looking for the real killer. Hearing one of Murray's plays on the radio he recognizes several phrases that only Boulter used. Todd hunts down Murray and accuses him of being the killer. Murray denies it but suggests he look up Boulter's boyfriend Laurence. Todd does this and soon finds himself being pushed in front of a train by Laurence. A lively exchange of blows soon results in Laurence being the one on the wrong end of the oncoming train. Laurence survives long enough to give a deathbed confession to the police. This does not clear Todd with the law though. They still want some collaboration of Laurence's story. Todd figures that there is only one way that Murray could have known about Laurence being the murderer. He had to have been a witness. Todd arranges another meeting with Murray. Murray shows and Todd asks him to step up and clear him. Murray responds that he has no intention of giving up his wealth and reputation. "Who is going to believe a convict like you!" says Murray. "I would" says a police detective as he steps out of the shadows.

This is a well-done bit of work with everyone shining. The director was Alberto Cavalcanti. "They Made me a Fugitive" is one of his films. The screenplay was by soon to become director, J. Lee Thompson. Thompson would make several good UK noir such as "The Yellow Balloon", "Weak and the Wicked", "Yield to the Night", "Murder Without Crime" and "Tiger Bay". He then moved across the pond to make "Cape Fear" with Mitchum and Peck.

Stephen Murray some might recall from the top UK noir "Silent Dust". Richard Todd made several noir such as "Interrupted Journey" and "Intent to Kill".