The plot of this film concerns a British Army Officer being court- martialled for the murder of a fellow officer on a WW2 battlefield. It is told in flashback through the eyes of witnesses and the accused himself. There is a good script and the acting is never less than acceptable. What lets the film down is the very low budget. At first it's hard to tell when this court martial is taking place as the hairstyles of the servicemen and the hairstyle and clothes of the sole female star seem to suggest the 1960's rather than the 40's. The budget is also a problem when it comes to battle scenes. An attempt has been made to combine archive and newly shot footage which is totally unconvincing and just looks cheap. Overall the film has the look of a TV episode. Despite the above I found this film held my attention throughout it's brief running time and there is a good twist in the tale at the end. I intend watching it a second time which is some kind of recommendation, although I think that the charity shop will be it's ultimate destination.
4 Reviews
It doesn't deserve a "6", but they did make an effort!
JohnHowardReid6 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Laurence Payne (Major Keller), Susan Stephen (Laura), Ralph Michael (Winch), Richard Caldicott (Harrison), Basil Dignam (Morrell), Austin Trevor (Power), Simon Lack (Wilson), Weyman Mackay (Beaumont), Jack MacNaughton (Miller), Tony Thawnton (Rydon), J. Mark Roberts (Holt), Hugh Cross (Captain Cuby), David Courtney (Cummins), Michael Anthony (Burford), John Scott (Colonel Johnson), Humphrey Lestocq (Lieutenant Cameron), Douglas Ives (Corporal Battersby), Richard Bennett (Captain Phillips), Stuart Saunders (Sergeant McCall), Peter Sinclair (court sergeant), Tony Doonan (Thompson), Michael Collins (White), Peter Vaughan (Purvey), J. Trevor Davis (Colonel Callum), John Brooking (Colonel Faversham), John Barron (M. O. Aubrey), Larry Noble (Sergeant Penning), Mark Singleton (Captain Fuller), Graham Stewart (Lieutenant Mace).
Director: ERNEST MORRIS. Original screenplay: Brian Clemens. Photography: Jimmy Wilson. Film editor: Spencer Reeve. Music: Bill Le Sage. Art director: Norman Arnold. Make-up: Aldo Manganaro. Hairdresser: Elsie Adler. Wardrobe: Rene Coke. Assistant director: Geoffrey Helman. Production manager: Jack Draper. Production supervisor: Brian Taylor. Sound supervisor: W. A. Howell. Sound recording: George Adams. Producers: Edward J. Danziger, Harry Lee Danziger. A production of the Danzigers.
Not copyrighted or theatrically released in the U.S.A. Copyright 1961 by The Danzigers. Released in the U.K. by Warner-Pathé: 17 May 1964 (sic). 6,240 feet. 69 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Major Keller faces court martial for willfully causing the death of his Commanding Officer, Colonel Winch, and, with certain reservations, pleads not guilty on the grounds of justification. The prosecution establishes that Winch was a fine officer with a distinguished career, that Keller had disobeyed his orders and had taken authority unto himself, and that he was in love with Winch's wife Laura. Called as a witness, Laura admits her love for Keller, and declares that her husband was cracking up from battle fatigue.
VIEWERS GUIDE: Adults.
COMMENT: Sad to find Susan Stephen reduced to acting in one of the Danziger's quota quickies. The rest of the cast are more in keeping with their surroundings, especially the number one star, Laurence Payne, who goes through the entire film with one expression only — a perpetual frown.
Ernest Morris is actually one of the better directors in this dreary league, but he can do little to overcome Brian Clemens' very stage- bound script here, although, assisted by a budget that is far more expansive than usual, he does have a game try.
The lovely Susan Stephen is often photographed from some most unflattering angles, but otherwise photography is okay, and other production credits also get by.
Director: ERNEST MORRIS. Original screenplay: Brian Clemens. Photography: Jimmy Wilson. Film editor: Spencer Reeve. Music: Bill Le Sage. Art director: Norman Arnold. Make-up: Aldo Manganaro. Hairdresser: Elsie Adler. Wardrobe: Rene Coke. Assistant director: Geoffrey Helman. Production manager: Jack Draper. Production supervisor: Brian Taylor. Sound supervisor: W. A. Howell. Sound recording: George Adams. Producers: Edward J. Danziger, Harry Lee Danziger. A production of the Danzigers.
Not copyrighted or theatrically released in the U.S.A. Copyright 1961 by The Danzigers. Released in the U.K. by Warner-Pathé: 17 May 1964 (sic). 6,240 feet. 69 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Major Keller faces court martial for willfully causing the death of his Commanding Officer, Colonel Winch, and, with certain reservations, pleads not guilty on the grounds of justification. The prosecution establishes that Winch was a fine officer with a distinguished career, that Keller had disobeyed his orders and had taken authority unto himself, and that he was in love with Winch's wife Laura. Called as a witness, Laura admits her love for Keller, and declares that her husband was cracking up from battle fatigue.
VIEWERS GUIDE: Adults.
COMMENT: Sad to find Susan Stephen reduced to acting in one of the Danziger's quota quickies. The rest of the cast are more in keeping with their surroundings, especially the number one star, Laurence Payne, who goes through the entire film with one expression only — a perpetual frown.
Ernest Morris is actually one of the better directors in this dreary league, but he can do little to overcome Brian Clemens' very stage- bound script here, although, assisted by a budget that is far more expansive than usual, he does have a game try.
The lovely Susan Stephen is often photographed from some most unflattering angles, but otherwise photography is okay, and other production credits also get by.
Excellant Danziger B feature
malcolmgsw8 January 2021
This is really topclass B feature from the Danzigers.Although obviously made on a small budget it tells the tale extremely well.It does have to overcome some of the usual contrivances of this sort of court room drama but it devises a plausible reason for the events.
A good example to disprove those who believe that the British 'B' film industry could not make good films.
jamesraeburn20034 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Major Keller (Laurence Payne), a highly decorated and respected army officer, is facing a court martial for murdering his commanding officer Colonel Winch (Ralph Michael). The prosecution looks like walking it because they have a number of witnesses to testify that Keller was coveting Winch's wife Laura (Susan Stephen) and, in addition, his psychiatric report indicated he is a man motivated by ambition who killed him in order to secure a promotion. Keller, however, maintains that he did bring out his commanding officer's death but did so in the line of duty as he considered him to be unfit for office as he had been drinking excessively and showing signs of severe battle fatigue and cracking up mentally - possibly as a result of what he saw during the Sicily invasion. Keller claims that while his regiment was in France, Winch's condition was such that he lead his men into a situation where they were heavily outnumbered by the Germans and at least one third of them died. But, worse followed when Winch put the security of the entire army at risk leaving Keller with no other option but to shoot him. The trouble is, Keller has no one who can corroborate his story and his word alone might not be enough to save him...
A surprisingly excellent second feature courtroom drama from the Danziger Brothers who churned out dozens of cheap and cheerful quota quickies throughout the fifties and sixties. Many of them are described as 'bottom of the barrel' and being 'slipshoddiness in film production.' There are, however, some notable exceptions: this one, The Depraved, Night Train For Inverness and The Tell Tell Heart (an adaptation of a story by Edgar Allen Poe also starring Laurence Payne). Director Ernest Morris was a real b-pic veteran if ever there was one; directing twenty- two of the things in eight years and here he skilfully blends courtroom drama with flashbacks; achieved in part by first rate editing by Spencer Reeve. Suspense is maintained throughout and the denouement is really quite surprising. Clearly made on a shoestring - were the battle scenes in Normandy comprised of stock footage? - it is a good example to disprove anyone who believes that this section of the British film industry could not produce good films and the story is by Brian (The Avengers) Clemens.
A surprisingly excellent second feature courtroom drama from the Danziger Brothers who churned out dozens of cheap and cheerful quota quickies throughout the fifties and sixties. Many of them are described as 'bottom of the barrel' and being 'slipshoddiness in film production.' There are, however, some notable exceptions: this one, The Depraved, Night Train For Inverness and The Tell Tell Heart (an adaptation of a story by Edgar Allen Poe also starring Laurence Payne). Director Ernest Morris was a real b-pic veteran if ever there was one; directing twenty- two of the things in eight years and here he skilfully blends courtroom drama with flashbacks; achieved in part by first rate editing by Spencer Reeve. Suspense is maintained throughout and the denouement is really quite surprising. Clearly made on a shoestring - were the battle scenes in Normandy comprised of stock footage? - it is a good example to disprove anyone who believes that this section of the British film industry could not produce good films and the story is by Brian (The Avengers) Clemens.
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