A tremendous film showing how changes in circumstances can make
or break a man's character. Christopher Drewe (Stephen Murray) is a
young playwright whose lack of spark reveals his sheltered upbringing
When she is found murdered a manhunt gets underway for - hot tempered Herb (Richard Todd) one of her friends, but not the one who was there at the time!! - that was "Kit Marlowe"!! Herb tries to lose himself in the labyrinth of London and meets the loving and loyal Rose (Patricia Plunkett) who even through his long imprisonment never stops her support of him. After a few hot blooded outbursts, realising that Rosa will stand by him, he begins a metamorphisis from a petty criminal to conscientious worker. Drewe, after sending a couple of anonymous letters written to try to clear Herb's name, settles down to write his play "The Area Steps" with characters and dialogue lifted right from the murdered girl - but who attending the first night would connect him? Herb does, years later, listening to the play on the radio. He finds associates and dialogue taken straight from the past.
Acting within the law Herb tracks him down but the eager and sensitive boy from the film's beginning is now a self absorbed prig who, even though the viewer waits with anticipation to see Drewe concede "yes, it was me" - it doesn't happen and you realise he has no intention of lifting a finger to help. It's very interesting to see how justice is finally done.
The film is stunning and never lets up for a moment, all filmed with Cavalcanti's unusual style. I thought I knew Stephen Murray and he played the blind (in more ways than one) father in "Silent Dust" (1949).
Very Recommended.
- he needs to experience life in the depths to make his literary mark, so starts to haunt the seedy
When she is found murdered a manhunt gets underway for - hot tempered Herb (Richard Todd) one of her friends, but not the one who was there at the time!! - that was "Kit Marlowe"!! Herb tries to lose himself in the labyrinth of London and meets the loving and loyal Rose (Patricia Plunkett) who even through his long imprisonment never stops her support of him. After a few hot blooded outbursts, realising that Rosa will stand by him, he begins a metamorphisis from a petty criminal to conscientious worker. Drewe, after sending a couple of anonymous letters written to try to clear Herb's name, settles down to write his play "The Area Steps" with characters and dialogue lifted right from the murdered girl - but who attending the first night would connect him? Herb does, years later, listening to the play on the radio. He finds associates and dialogue taken straight from the past.
Acting within the law Herb tracks him down but the eager and sensitive boy from the film's beginning is now a self absorbed prig who, even though the viewer waits with anticipation to see Drewe concede "yes, it was me" - it doesn't happen and you realise he has no intention of lifting a finger to help. It's very interesting to see how justice is finally done.
The film is stunning and never lets up for a moment, all filmed with Cavalcanti's unusual style. I thought I knew Stephen Murray and he played the blind (in more ways than one) father in "Silent Dust" (1949).
Very Recommended.