Tue 8 Dec 2009
RIVER BEAT. Eros Films (UK) / Lippert Pictures (US), 1954. John Bentley, Phyllis Kirk, Leonard White, Glyn Houston, Patrick Jordan, Robert Ayres. Director: Guy Green.
This is one of a small host of British movies made in the 1950s for which they imported a semi-star from the US, or a fading one, in order to boost its marketability in the States, and maybe boost audiences in the UK as well.
Not that Phyllis Kirk was a star that anyone in England had heard of at the time, I don’t imagine, but she had been in the US hit House of Wax (the one with Vincent Price in 3D) which I first saw when I was eleven, and I’ve been madly in love with her ever since.
A petite and decidedly pretty brunette, she had very little future in noir films (of which this is one, but only by the widest of definitions) since she was radiantly and too obviously innocent (in this case) of smuggling diamonds into England from the ocean-going liner which she’s the radio operator for.
No, even though she’s arrested twice for being involved, it’s a complete frame-up, and even Detective Inspector Dan Barker (John Bentley) knows it, even though the incidents do complicate the romance and growing attraction between them.
John Bentley, among other roles, played Paul Temple three times, and John Creasey’s “Toff” twice. He’s stalwart, handsome and strong, and he’s 100% right for the three roles: this one and the other two, which I can easily tell you, even though I’ve yet to see him in the other two.
Phyllis Kirk, who of course was the primary reason I watched this otherwise fairly ordinary crime film, later when on to play Nora Charles opposite Peter Lawford for two seasons of the TV version of The Thin Man, of which I am sure I watched every episode. And some more than once. (I have the series on collector edition DVDs, and no, it doesn’t hold up very well today. Perhaps it never did.)
The major problem with this movie, the one at hand, though, is that the crime involved, and how it’s committed, makes no sense at all. That is, it doesn’t once the movie ends and you back up and start running it through your mind again.
While you’re watching, though, it’s suspenseful enough for me to recommend it to you on that basis alone, although some might say, and truthfully so, that the early pace is slow.
As you can see, I’m somewhat split on this, but another huge plus is the well-guided black and white photography, with much of the movie filmed on location.
All in all, it made for a decent start for director Guy Green, whose debut this was. He later went on to helm such ventures as Diamond Head, A Patch of Blue, and Luther, among a few other films whose titles you will recognize much more readily than you will this one.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Bentley did a lot of detective roles in films and television. A Paul Temple film seems to have been his second film, and he played Chief Inspector Derek for 39 episodes of the 1958-1959 series African Patrol — I think several episodes of this were edited together as a film, but I’m not sure. He did a later series, Crossroads (1966-1976), where he played the owner of a motel that served as a dramatic set up for various dramas.
He also played Supt. Wills in “The Sinister Man” episode of Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater and Inspector Nural in the Errol Flynn film Istanbul (a remake of the Fred MacMurray Singapore).
Steve
I’ve only seen one of the Paul Temple films, but as you surmise he was well cast in the role. Though I haven’t seen them his two outings as the Toff both got decent notices. He was a reliable leading man well suited to heroic detective roles.
I shared the crush on Kirk, and while I agree the Thin Man episodes don’t really hold up as well as they might they are still fun, and quite a few familiar faces show up in small roles. Whatever else, she and Lawford were well cast as Nick and Nora.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Forgot to mention, Glyn Houston who plays Charlie Williamson here played Bunter in all but one of the Lord Peter Wimsey series with Ian Carmichael.
Guy Green was a noted cinematographer and this looks to be his first film as a director. Among others he did Portrait of Alison (Francis Durbridge’s Postmark For Danger), The Snorkel, and uncredited most of the direction for 55 Days at Peking. But his career as a cameraman and cinematographer is really notable including work with David Lean and on some of the better British films of his times.
December 6th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
I have not seen this movie yet. But I can tell you now that I will love it . I am an avid Phyllis Kirk fan and whatever she is ink love it. She was a beautiful and talented woman. I would like to purchase any filmography that I can get My hands on any help I can get will be appreciated.Whoever has the collectors thin man DVDs oh my God, can you share where you got them it is my all time favorite. I was 13 years old and never missed one minute of the show PLEASE where did you get it. Well thanks for the opportunity to post. Please reply