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The Dark Man (film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Dark Man' (AKA 'Man Detained') is a 1951 British black and white, film-noir, thriller, crime, drama, film, from Rank Studios, written and directed by Jeffrey Dell, and starring Edward Underdown, Maxwell Reed and Natasha Parry.
Plot
At a farmhouse in a lonely wood, ruthless killer "The Dark Man" (Maxwell Reed) murders a petty criminal. He then shoots the taxi driver who drove him there, knowing he would be able to identify him. However, the murder is witnessed by a young actress, Molly (Natasha Parry), who is passing by. The Dark Man now has reason to silence her as well. When the police investigate the murder, Inspector Viner (Edward Underdown) is assigned to the case, and soon develops romantic feelings for Molly. Meanwhile, The Dark Man continues to stalk his prey, and is foiled in an attempt to strangle Molly at her home - but continues to pursue her. The climax comes with a desperate chase across a desolate landscape.
Cast
*Edward Underdown - Detective Inspector Jack Viner
*Maxwell Reed - The Dark Man
*Natasha Parry - Molly Lester
*William Hartnell - Superintendent Of Police
*Barbara Murray - Carol Burns
*Cyril Smith - Samuel Denny
*Leonard White - Detective Evans
*Johnny Singer - The Adjutant
*Geoffrey Sumner - Major
*Sam Kydd - Sergeant Major
*Geoffrey Bond - Walsham Police Sergeant
*Gerald Andersen - Walsham Police Inspector
*Betty Cooper - Carol's Mother
*Robert Long - Charles Burns
*Grace Denbeigh-Russell - Hotel Proprietress
*Norman Claridge - Doctor
*John Hewer - Taxi Driver
Critical reception
'The New York Times' wrote: "this Julian Wintle production often stirs up a fair amount of suspense and absorption, chiefly because of the efficient direction of Jeffrey Dell, an excellent performance by Edward Underdown, as a detective, and a painless round-up of typical British "types" in minor roles. But the scenario is a meandering affair overbalanced with too many sneering close-ups of its culprits, and...anything but suggestive of the banner of the distributors, 'Fine Arts Films, Inc.'". 'AllMovie' noted: "the plot is nothing new, though the settings--a provincial repertory theatre, a military rifle range--are rather novel"; and 'Britmovie' thought, "Edward Underdown is clearly too old to be the young policeman and love interest, but brooding Maxwell Reed is very effective as the shadowy Dark Man."
References
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