The Dark Man (1951)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Jeffrey Dell

Writer:

Jeffrey Dell (writer)

Release Date:

6 August 1951 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Cast

Maxwell Reed	...	The Dark Man
Edward Underdown	...	Inspector Jack Viner
Natasha Parry	...	Molly Lester
Barbara Murray	...	Carol Burns
William Hartnell	...	The Police Superintendant
Leonard White	...	Detective Evans
Gerald Anderson	...	Walsham Bay Police Inspector
Geoffrey Bond	...	Walsham Bay Police Sergeant
John Derrick	...	Detective-Sergeant Wells
Denis Webb	...	Scotland Yard Detective (as Dennis Webb)
John Hewer	...	Cab Driver - Victim
Ernest Haines	...	Mostyn
Walter Horsbrugh	...	The Detective-Commander
Duggie Ascot	...	George, stage manager (as Duggie Ascott)
Robert Long	...	Charles Burns

Runtime:

UK:91 min | USA:73 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Independent Artists

B movie short effective thriller

I wanted to see 'The Dark Man'for a while mainly because of Maxwell Reed; i seem lately to have watched him in a few of his 'Clouded Yellow'/'Night Beat'/'Dear Murderer'/'Square Ring'. I got a copy of Dark Man off ebay finally.It is a short 'B' film, however it is well done for its style, punchy and effective. Unfortunately, i think the shortened US version is the one doing the rounds, not the longer UK version.I'd be interested in seeing the original longer release. A very young Natasha Parry is the leading lady and does the job very nicely, though the age difference between her and Edward Underdown is a bit too great for easy belief. Maxwell Reed is the title's otherwise unnamed 'Dark Man' and he fits the role well both in his looks and behaviour. He brings an edgy presence to the film, the dark side of Underdown's whiter than white policeman. The 2 men have a passing physical resemblance as well. There is interesting location filming down on the coast and a very unusual finale on the shooting range. The way Maxwell Reed stalks Natasha Parry, building her fear, is effective and realistic; a simple beach scene has dark undertones. The director also writer Jeffrey Dell didn't helm many projects, a pity based on this effort.