I thoroughly enjoyed The Brighton Strangler. It seemed initially like a B-rated noir but grew to be so much more thanks to three things...a great script, wonderful sets/costumes and phenomenal acting particularly by John Loder who plays the main character and actor phenom Reginald Parker.
The story is about a famous theatre actor Reginald, who has been playing the lead in a long running play written by his fiancée, writer Dorothy Kent, entitled The Brighton Strangler. The two have plans to Barry and be together for New Year's Eve. We see Reginald congratulate the cast on the final night as he prepares to head to the train station, where he will travel to his bride to be for their nuptials on Christmas Eve. And then the theatre is bombed by the Germans...destroying the theatre in the resulting fire. Reginald is presumed dead, but actually was struck on the head. Dazed and confused he finds a luggage claim ticket for Victoria Station, where he claims his luggage and upon overhearing a conversation about Brighton...thinks he is the character he had been playing so long on stage, Edward Grey...the Brighton Strangler. This sets up a series of tragic events when real-life begins to imitate fiction!
The acting was so good I was captivated by the story...and the end was unexpected! I think thriller and noir fans alike will appreciate this underrated little gem. The details from WWII were great, as were the little set details like Christmas trees with tinsel. I highly recommend this film...classic thriller noir, there is a little something for everyone.
The story is about a famous theatre actor Reginald, who has been playing the lead in a long running play written by his fiancée, writer Dorothy Kent, entitled The Brighton Strangler. The two have plans to Barry and be together for New Year's Eve. We see Reginald congratulate the cast on the final night as he prepares to head to the train station, where he will travel to his bride to be for their nuptials on Christmas Eve. And then the theatre is bombed by the Germans...destroying the theatre in the resulting fire. Reginald is presumed dead, but actually was struck on the head. Dazed and confused he finds a luggage claim ticket for Victoria Station, where he claims his luggage and upon overhearing a conversation about Brighton...thinks he is the character he had been playing so long on stage, Edward Grey...the Brighton Strangler. This sets up a series of tragic events when real-life begins to imitate fiction!
The acting was so good I was captivated by the story...and the end was unexpected! I think thriller and noir fans alike will appreciate this underrated little gem. The details from WWII were great, as were the little set details like Christmas trees with tinsel. I highly recommend this film...classic thriller noir, there is a little something for everyone.