I was rather pleasantly surprised by this film. For a start, I didn't expect it to be in colour and I was more than pleased to see fifties stock Frenchman Eugene Deckers getting a well-deserved main role as the Police Commandant Moussac a friend of disabled flyer Rip Reardon.
Rip returns to Port Afrique after the war to find things have changed. He is told his wife is less than faithful, and shady club owner Nino (James Hayter) makes him an immediate offer for his plantation which he has left in the care of his partner Dennis Price. Pier Angeli (never took to her) plays the glam/love interest as the club singer who happens to live with Reardon's wife.
Upon reaching home Reardon finds his wife dead, apparently a suicide. The Commandant publicly supports this view but, like Rip, he knows it's murder.
Reardon engages in some suspect and illegal actions to get at the truth, including burgling Police HQ! We quickly realise his partner's up to no good and Rip's efforts result in a couple of attempts on his life. Ridiculously, during one fight with two arabs, his apparently crippled leg causes him no bother at all!
After enough red herrings to feed the 5000, we think the culprit is obvious when Rip's partner makes a run for it. Rip gives chase in a light plane which conveniently crash lands near where Price and his missus are camping but, I must admit, the reveal came as a bit of a surprise, amply repaying the time spent in watching the movie.
Not great, but a nice afternoon/early evening watch.
Oh, and look out for a brief appearance by Christopher Lee as an artist (if you can take your eyes off his life-model!)
Review of Port Afrique
