Tue 10 Feb 2009
From today’s emails:
Hi, I have a query….Hope you may be able to help me out… On which Edgar Wallace story / novel was the 1960 Vernon Sewell movie The Man in the Back Seat based? I would appreciate any responses. Thanks. Regards, Ashish Pandey.
Me again:
No online resource seems to say. Or to clarify, Edgar Wallace is always given as the author, but the name of the specific short story or novel the 1961 film’s based on is never stated. It was part of a series of 46 films entitled The Edgar Wallace Mysteries produced by Merton Park Productions.
From http://www.britmovie.co.uk/, here’s a list of the cast members along with the longest recap of the storyline that I’ve found anywhere, in case anyone recognizes it. The director was Vernon Sewell. And believe it or not, I’ve even found a photo from the film that I can show you, but — nothing more re Wallace.
Derren Nesbitt – Tony
Keith Faulkner – Frank
Carol White – Jean
Harry Locke – Joe Carter
Plot Synopsis
Taut B-movie adapted from an Edgar Wallace mystery with an intriguing premise that’s ingeniously executed by director Vernon Sewell. Sewell outdoes himself with this well-plotted and haunting story of two incompetent crooks and an unwanted passenger which obviously has its roots in the Banquo’s ghost segment of Macbeth.
Two youthful crooks, cold-hearted Tony (Darren Nesbitt) and his compliant best mate Frank (Keith Faulkner), try to rob bookie Joe Carter (Harry Locke) as he is leaving the dog track with his daily winnings. Unfortunately, the two discover that he’s chained the case to his wrist and consequently they are forced to take him along with them as they try to find a way to salvage the money. They drive through the London night looking for an opportunity to break the chain but wind up back at Frank’s house – much to the chagrin of his nagging wife Jean (Carol White). Having beaten the bookie unconscious, the pair douse him in alcohol and dump him near a hospital in the expectation of a passer-by discovering him, but the pair have to retrieve the lifeless bookie when they realise they’ve left fingerprints behind. They return to Jean’s with the body, where a neighbouring back-street doctor declares the bookie practically dead, Tony and Frank drive north to Birmingham to dispose of the body, but on the North Circular the pair encounter a eerie experience.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:43 am
According to Halliwell’s Film Guide and Denis Gifford’s Catalogue of British Films Man in the Back Seat is an original screenplay by Malcolm Hulse and Eric Paice. Neither source mentions an Edgar Wallace connection, although the racetrack connection certainly sounds like a Wallace story, as does the character Joe Carter. I can think of two short story titles by Wallace that could possibly be the source, “The Winning Ticket” or “The Kidnapped Man”, but it’s possible the only connection between Wallace and the film is the subject and the Edgar Wallace Mysteries series overall title. As you point out none of the usual sources list a specific story the film is based on. It’s not beyond a studio to issue the film under the broad Edgar Wallace Mysteries even though it isn’t actually based on a particular Wallace story.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:30 am
I’ve also seen this series referred to as the EDGAR WALLACE MYSTERY THEATRE with 47 episodes around one hour each. The BRITISH FILM NOIR GUIDE by Michael F. Keaney discusses this series at some length. He lists 47 titles, of which he discusses 26 that he considers to be film noirs or at least marginal noirs.
I have 8 episodes on dvd but reading the comments above made me check ebay and I see there is a seller who has all 47 episodes in two box sets for $162 including postage from England. Needless to say I quickly ordered the series but the quality may not be that good since they are recorded off the TV.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:20 am
David and Walker —
There is a precedent of sorts for one of the films in the Edgar Wallace series not to have been based on on a Wallace story.
One of the episodes is entitled “Urge to Kill,” but as a reviewer on IMDB says:
“The Edgar Wallace Mysteries were a 46 film series made by Merton Park Productions. They concluded in 1965, with ‘Dead Man’s Chest,’ and began here with ‘Urge to Kill’ five years earlier.
“Or did they?
“‘Urge To Kill’ lacks the revolving bust opening titles of the Edgar Wallace series. Also, it isn’t based on anything that Wallace wrote. Despite it being listed on IMDb as the first film of the series, it was probably only retitled as ‘Edgar Wallace Mysteries: Urge To Kill’ for the USA and wasn’t part of the series at all.”
So besides a film that was not based on Wallace but may or may not be properly part of the series, there’s also some disagreement about the number of films there are, 46 or 47.
I have inquiries pending with a couple of sources in England. One has promised to look into these questions and says he’ll report back, perhaps as early as this weekend.
— Steve
February 11th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Just a note to say that I looked up the BRITISH FILM NOIR GUIDE by Michael F. Keaney, that Walker just mentioned. I hadn’t heard of it before. It’s from McFarland and came out only last March.
Here’s what’s said about it on Amazon:
Product Description
This work presents 369 British films produced between 1937 and 1964 that embody many of the same filmic qualities as those “black films” made in the United States during the classic film noir era. This reference work makes a case for the inclusion of the British films in the film noir canon, which is still considered by some to be an exclusively American inventory. In the book’s main section, the following information is presented for each film: a quote from the film; the title and release date; a rating based on the five-star system; the production company, director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and main performers; and a plot synopsis with author commentary. Appendices categorize films by rating, release date, director and cinematographer and also provide a noir and non-noir breakdown of the 47 films presented on the Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre, a 1960s British television series that was also shown in the United States.
… so I ordered it. And a set of the Edgar Wallace DVDs also, but not from Aamzon for these. Walker, you remain a couple of steps ahead of me, but no more than that. But I did pay less for the Wallace disks than you did. Picture quality is promised to be 7 out of 10. I’m not hoping for a whole lot, either.
— Steve
February 11th, 2009 at 11:14 am
There are films made in Britain, France, Italy and Japan, that can all claim to be closely related to American film noir.
Thanks for the information on the BRITISH FILM NOIR GUIDE! This is a new book to me.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I should have mentioned that the companion book to BRITISH FILM NOIR GUIDE is FILM NOIR GUIDE also by Keaney and covers over 700 film noirs from the USA. I use both books frequently and am presently buying as many dvds as I can get based on the listings in both books.
In this stressful economic period watching film noir movies seems very appropriate.
I didn’t see the seller that is cheaper than what I paid. Both sets are probably picture quality of 7 out of 10, which is just barely watchable. In fact some film buffs would say not watchable but the Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre is so rare, I’ll take a chance. The few I’ve seen have been very impressive as far as the acting and plots. And I love the opening, spooky credits with the Edgar Wallace figure just sitting there, not moving with smoke or fog floating around.
August 26th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Sir,
Are you happy with Edgar Wallace set from the 60’s. Know a lot of info about the set without knowing if anybody recommends it or not. Like you have been going through the Noir books as a guide and I’m sure I will get the set but would love your opinion.
THANKS!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I watched or attempted to watch all 47 episodes. Unfortunately about a dozen of the movies froze or stopped on my tv at about the half way point. So the quality of the dvds is questionable but I did enjoy what I managed to see.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Sir,
Thanks so much for your quick reply. very appreciated. When I first ordered “buyer beware DVD’s” I found out that I needed toget a portable DVD player and that resolved my issue from that point forward. Not a tech expert so every day is an adventure with this stuff.
I’m going to go ahead and order the Wallace set and “fingers crossed”.
Again thanks and will comeback with reply once I know.
By the way – did see the Wallace opening on You Tube and you were right – very cool!!
THANKS!!
Bob
June 11th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
hello
I would really appreciate help as to where to find an online copy of the short story Winning Ticket by Edgar Wallace??
I have searched on google and to no avail. Was Winning Ticket a story in a compilation? Such as Last Adventure by Wallace? If so, still no luck:( Very frustrated. thanks!
June 12th, 2011 at 12:24 am
I can’t find it online either, only snippets of one book (THE LAST ADVENTURE) and one magazine (THE STRAND) that it appears in. Nothing more!