Black Orchid (1953)

A doctor's wife dies. Her death is ruled as natural causes. He marries her sister (his assistant) and it begins to look suspiciously like murder.

Director:

Charles Saunders

Writers:

Francis Edge (screenplay), John Temple-Smith (screenplay),

Stars:

Ronald Howard, Olga Edwardes, John Bentley

Cast

Cast overview:
Ronald Howard	...	Dr.John Winnington
Olga Edwardes	...	Christine Shaw
John Bentley	...	Eric Blair
Mary Laura Wood	...	Sophie Winnington
Patrick Barr	...	Vincent Humphries
Sheila Burrell	...	Annette
Russell Napier	...	Inspector Markham
Mary Jones	...	Mrs. Humphries
Alan Robinson	...	Solicitor
Ian Fleming	...	Coroner
Tom Gill	...	Travel Agent Clerk
Tucker McGuire	...	American Woman
Richard Shaw	...	Lorry Driver
Daniel Wherry	...	Padre

Storyline

A doctor's wife dies. Her death is ruled as natural causes. He marries her sister (his assistant) and it begins to look suspiciously like murder.

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Plot Keywords:

vindictive wife | husband wife relationship | false accusation | murder | revenge | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1953 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Finchley Road, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kenilworth Film Productions, Mid Century Film Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The traffic accident late in the film takes place in front of the St. John's Wood tube station, at the intersection of Finchley Road and Grove End Road, London NW8. (The view has changed somewhat on 2010 Google Maps, but the main landmarks are still visible.)

User Reviews

Rather good film

I caught this film late one night on the ABC and was pleasantly surprised to find Ronald Howard - best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in the 1954 television series - playing the main character Dr.John Winnington, a kind hearted doctor who has the misfortune to stuck in a loveless marriage to a selfish woman, more interested in dinner parties than his work in curing disease.

I thought Black Orchid was a rather good film, short and sweet (running a little less than one hour). A neat little murder mystery in a who-dunnit structure. The audience is able to participate in attempting to pick who the "real" killer is, following Christine and John's friend Eric as they desperately try to clear Winnington's name and find her sister's "real" murderer, whoever that may be...

4 out of 5 stars.