Routinely implausible B movie starring Gordon Jackson as thoroughly decent chap recently released from prison after a minor lapse of judgement, and starting a new life with a new name, Roger Fenton, and a job as an estate agent. All is well until fellow ex-con, The Slug, (Sam Kydd) turns up, demanding money to buy his silence about Roger's past. Fortunately for Roger, the price is the smallest blackmail fee in film history: Roger will spend two pounds a week in Slug's newsagent and 'let you keep the change' - perhaps this is how blackmail used to work on the mean streets of Surbiton, or wherever this is set. Then Slug, wisely, decides that two shillings a week won't make his fortune, and, stupidly, ups the ante to £600. Roger decides to kill him, downs a bottle of whiskey, and waits for him at eight in the evening at his office to do the deed. He has a change of heart, and leaves. Slug turns up as arranged - naturally the office building is entirely unlocked, otherwise the plot can't proceed - followed by Mrs West (Mary Clare), a client wanting to pay her £300 deposit on a house, who bafflingly supposes that an estate agent will still be working there at that time of night. Slug kills her, and the finger points at Roger, until the truth emerges.
This is one of those quickie movies whose script does not allow for any normal conversation to occur because it would take too long. When Slug makes his ridiculous demand for £600 - 'and then you'll never see me again' - Roger says 'how do I know you won't just ask for more?' (Roger's no fool). 'I've given you my promise, haven't I?' says Slug, so that's alright with Roger (who is a fool, after all). Inspector Wilson (Victor Brooks) is similarly trusting. Roger's only alibi can be provided by Maria (Maya Koumani), the unfeasibly young and exotically glamorous wife of Roger's ancient boss (Llewellyn Rees). Wilson's interrogative technique - 'Fenton says he was with you at eight o'clock on Friday Mrs Shipley, is this true? 'No, it's not,' 'Thank you, that'll be all.' - is not exactly 'Line of Duty'. The prim office secretary (Annette Kerr) is reported to have visited Roger at home, but Wilson is on the case - 'Did you visit Fenton at home Miss Collins?' Wilson demands to know: 'No, I didn't,' says Miss Collins, absolutely appalled that anyone would think she might go to a man's house. 'Thank you, Miss Collins,' says Wilson, who has worn her down into submission with his cunning trick questions. Finally, Mr Shipley debunks his wife's lies, and a vital clue leads to the real killer. We don't get to see the scene where Wilson confronts The Slug, no doubt luring him into a confession with his 'Did you kill Mrs West?' trap of ensnarement. Roger, meanwhile, can enjoy his impending happy marriage to the woman he met yesterday (June Thorburn). Likeable rubbish.
This is one of those quickie movies whose script does not allow for any normal conversation to occur because it would take too long. When Slug makes his ridiculous demand for £600 - 'and then you'll never see me again' - Roger says 'how do I know you won't just ask for more?' (Roger's no fool). 'I've given you my promise, haven't I?' says Slug, so that's alright with Roger (who is a fool, after all). Inspector Wilson (Victor Brooks) is similarly trusting. Roger's only alibi can be provided by Maria (Maya Koumani), the unfeasibly young and exotically glamorous wife of Roger's ancient boss (Llewellyn Rees). Wilson's interrogative technique - 'Fenton says he was with you at eight o'clock on Friday Mrs Shipley, is this true? 'No, it's not,' 'Thank you, that'll be all.' - is not exactly 'Line of Duty'. The prim office secretary (Annette Kerr) is reported to have visited Roger at home, but Wilson is on the case - 'Did you visit Fenton at home Miss Collins?' Wilson demands to know: 'No, I didn't,' says Miss Collins, absolutely appalled that anyone would think she might go to a man's house. 'Thank you, Miss Collins,' says Wilson, who has worn her down into submission with his cunning trick questions. Finally, Mr Shipley debunks his wife's lies, and a vital clue leads to the real killer. We don't get to see the scene where Wilson confronts The Slug, no doubt luring him into a confession with his 'Did you kill Mrs West?' trap of ensnarement. Roger, meanwhile, can enjoy his impending happy marriage to the woman he met yesterday (June Thorburn). Likeable rubbish.