The Straw Man (1953)

Director:

Donald Taylor

Writers:

Doris Miles Disney (novel), Donald Taylor

Stars:

Dermot Walsh, Clifford Evans, Lana Morris

Cast

Cast overview:
Dermot Walsh	...	Mal Farris
Clifford Evans	...	Jeff Howard
Lana Morris	...	Ruth Hunter
Amy Dalby	...	Lucy Graham
Ronald Ward	...	Clay Rushlow
Josephine Stuart	...	Miss Ward
Peter Williams	...	Inspector Conrad
Philip Saville	...	Link Hunter

Storyline

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1953 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hedgerley

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Good story, poor production

A man, Philip Saville, is on death row for his ex-girlfriend's murder. The insurance company who has the MURDERER insured, is less than amused with this course of events. If he is put to death they will have to cough up the cash. They assign their top investigator, Clifford Evans, to the case. Evans is to see if maybe the man "just might be" not guilty.

Evans interviews Saville and comes away with a gut feeling that the man is not guilty. Evans decides to go over the case right from the start.

Savillie had been on his honeymoon with Lana Morris when his ex had showed up dead. The Police had sifted through the clues and ended up at Saville's door.

Saville's alibi for the date is in question, he says he was drunk and has no memory of the night. The police searched his house and interviewed his servant. The servant recalls seeing some bloodied clothes and Saville was quickly put under lock and key.

There is a quick trial and he receives the death sentence. Evans must hurry now to beat the rope.

Evans hires a local Private Investigator, Dermot Walsh, to help him with his inquires. They go over all the court records, check the murder site and interview everyone involved, including the new bride, Lana Morris.

They find nothing to help Evans with his case. He keeps looking and discovers a rat in the cheese cupboard.

It turns out that Walsh is the murderer. He and Morris had been stepping out together for some time. They had cooked up the scheme to get Saville's property and bank accounts. The insurance policy would have just been an added bonus.

Walsh realizes that Evans has tumbled to his play and decides to bump him off as well. Needless to say, Evans survives, and Walsh and Morris get what they deserve.

A neat little story by Doris Miles Disney is given a flat treatment by director Donald Taylor. The film just barely rises above Taylor's shoddy direction. Evans, Walsh and Lana Morris do their best in what could have been a cracker-jack little thriller.

The director worked mainly on documentary subjects during WW2. This might explain his work here.

Evans had roles in SUSPECTED PERSON, THE SAINT MEETS THE TIGER, I'LL GET YOU, VIOLENT PLAYGROUND and SOS PACIFIC. Walsh was in BEDELIA, THE FRIGHTENED MAN, COUNTERSPY, THE BLUE PARROT, BOND OF FEAR, THE HIDEOUT, WOMAN OF MYSTERY, SEA FURY and THE WITNESS. Lana Morris was in, THE WOMAN IN QUESTION, BLACK 13 and RADIO CAB MURDER.

The d of p was Gerald Gibbs. His films include, NO ORCHIDS FOR MISS BLANDISH, THE STEEL KEY, BLACK 13, OPERATION DIPLOMAT, THE INTIMATE STRANGER, FORTUNE IS A WOMAN, THE MAN UPSTAIRS and A PRIZE OF ARMS.