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Paul Temple Returns
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Wikipedia article
'Paul Temple Returns' is a 1952 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley, Patricia Dainton and Peter Gawthorne. Known in the U.S. as 'Bombay Waterfront', it was the fourth and last in the series of Paul Temple films distributed by Butcher's Film Service: the others are 'Send for Paul Temple' (1946) (with Anthony Hulme as Paul Temple), 'Calling Paul Temple' (1948, the first with John Bentley in the title role), and 'Paul Temple's Triumph' (1950).[http://www.saturday-night-theatre.co.uk/Radio_Detectives/gregorym101_films.html Paul Temple on Film] Aside from Bentley, the other actors were different from those in the earlier film series. It was released in the United States under the alternative title 'Bombay Waterfront'.
The film was shot at Walton Studios with sets designed by the art director George Paterson. Some location shooting also took place in London. The film was distributed by Butcher's Film Service which specialised in releasing lower-budget productions.
Plot
A series of seemingly unconnected murders takes place in London, with the murderer leaving a calling card signed "The Marquess". Aspiring novelist and amateur detective Paul Temple and his wife Steve are called in to investigate. An ancient papyrus scroll recently excavated in Egypt by the menacing archaeologist Sir Felix Raybourne (played by Christopher Lee) appears to hold the key to the murders. It details an antidote for all narcotic drugs, which if put to use could put an end to lucrative criminal drug cartels in London. The screenplay was adapted from the radio serial 'Paul Temple Intervenes', broadcast in November 1942.[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/f971aec6a6ed488a955934c720f27685 'Radio Times' Issue 1000, 4 December 1942, p 17]
Cast
Critical reception
'TV Guide' called the film a "standard murder mystery," and 'Britmovie' agreed, adding, "b-movie director Maclean Rogers keeps the story moving at a brisk pace and makes good use of exterior locations." As with the previous films in this series, the location footage (this time London, particularly at night), is highly evocative of the period. Renown Pictures has issued all four on DVD.[https://www.renownfilms.co.uk/product-category/crime/ Renown Films]
References
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