Trent's Last Case (1952)

Director:

Herbert Wilcox

Writers:

Pamela Bower (screenplay), E.C. Bentley (novel)

Stars:

Michael Wilding, Margaret Lockwood, Orson Welles

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Wilding	...	Philip Trent
Margaret Lockwood	...	Margaret Manderson
Orson Welles	...	Sigsbee Manderson
John McCallum	...	John Marlowe
Miles Malleson	...	Burton Cupples
Hugh McDermott	...	Calvin C. Bunner
Jack McNaughton	...	Martin
Sam Kydd	...	Inspector Murch

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

detective | based on novel

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Taglines:

A Woman's Kiss That Killed

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'affaire Manderson

Company Credits

Production Co:

Herbert Wilcox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film acting role for Henry Edwards.

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Goofs

When John Marlowe opens the envelope that Manderson had given him, he supposedly finds £1,000 in banknotes and a collection of uncut diamonds. But when he examines the banknotes, they are unprinted, blank pieces of paper.

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Soundtracks

"Piano Concerto No.24 in C Minor [K 491]"
(uncredited)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Arranged and conducted by Anthony Collins
Performed by Eileen Joyce

User Reviews

Stuffy, dull British mystery from Republic studios...

MICHAEL WILDING is an armchair detective who sets out to determine whether or not the death of ORSON WELLES was suicide or murder. He thinks he's solved the case, only to learn that all is not what it appears (without giving the outcome away).

Unfortunately, the script is a dreary, talky and ponderous, making the film appear to be an amateurish stage play, although based on a novel. It's static. Nothing at all cinematic about the approach, nor is there any imagination in the directing.

Of all the players, MARGARET LOCKWOOD as the beautiful wife of the deceased man and JOHN McCALLUM as the man's secretary have key roles that they play with assurance. ORSON WELLES, with fake nose and bushy brows, might as well have been from another film. His ten or fifteen minutes of time on screen renders nothing but ham. Director Herbert Wilcox was evidently unable to tone him down and as a result his key scenes throw the film off stride. MICHAEL WILDING has a colorless role as the newspaper reporter who suspects foul play but can't prove anything.

With a talky script and lack of any cinematic touches, TRENT'S LAST CASE goes nowhere fast and leaves the viewer expecting a strong twist that never arrives--instead, a flat ending.

Production values are fine even though the film comes from the usually low-budget Republic studios.