Review of Smokescreen

Smokescreen (1964)
9/10
Very Watchable.
15 February 2021
Very enjoyable "who dunit" not overly long at 70 minutes. It was of particular interest as it was filmed in the area where I live.

Although it is amusing how Roper fiddles expenses wherever he can while investigating insurance fraud, there is an ulterior motive. Anyone who has claimed expenses will laugh at this, or maybe shift uneasily in their seat.

Reference is made to the coastal railway link between Brighton and Eastbourne. No such line has ever existed. The station mentioned, Hellingly, could not possibly be seen from the vantage point shown on Seaford Head. Hellingly is north of Hailsham some 13 miles away. Hellingly Station does feature in the film (Derek Guyler as the Stationmaster) which is of historical interest as the station did close the following year as mentioned in the dialogue. The defunct station now sits on The Cuckoo Line, a local cycle and foot path linking Polegate and Eridge.

This film proves that you do not need a large budget to make an entertaining film. A good script and surrounding locations is all you need.
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