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Blind Date (1959 film)

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Wikipedia article




'Blind Date' (U.S. title: 'Chance Meeting') is a 1959 British murder mystery film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Hardy Krger, Stanley Baker, and Micheline Presle. The plot is about a police inspector who investigates a woman's death, with her lover being the prime suspect. Ben Barzman and Millard Lampell were nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay.

The film was one of star Stanley Baker's favourites.

As there is no blind date in the storyline the title is somewhat misleading. The plot revolves around a rendezvous rather than a blind date. The title perhaps alludes to the hero being blind to the truth of his lover's background.

Plot



Jan Van Rooyer, a young Dutch artist, working in a London private art gallery, cheerfully arrives at the large mews flat owned by Jacqueline Cousteau. The door is open and he goes in and has a drink and puts on a loud jazz record. Around 20 minutes later uniformed police arrive and start questioning him. Inspector Morgan arrives soon after.

They have had a phone call from the flat and on the investigation, Jacqueline is found dead in the bedroom - so Jan has much explaining to do. He explains the relationship in a series of vignettes. They had met in the gallery and she had asked for private lessons in his studio. She tells him she is married and when she starts to model for him they also become lovers despite their age difference and very different social background.

The investigation finds little evidence of his innocence but the investigation proves that Jacqueline had more than one lover.

During the police search, Jan had pocketed an envelope of cash in the flat with his name on it. The inspector finds it and the 500 inside is concluded to be a "pay off".

However, Jacqueline rematerialises! The dead woman in the flat is a nightclub singer and not her. Jacqueline is married to a high ranking public figure: Lord Fenton. Inspector Morgan leaves the two alone together. She continues to deny knowing him. The police reveal the dead woman is her husband's mistress. The mistress was called "Jacqueline Cousteau". The wife has assumed her identity then killed her. Jan was part of her plot all along.

Cast



*Hardy Krger as Jan Van Rooyer

*Stanley Baker as Inspector Morgan

*Micheline Presle as "Jacqueline Cousteau" (Lady Fenton)

*John Van Eyssen as Inspector Westover

*Gordon Jackson as uniformed Police Sergeant

*Robert Flemyng as Sir Brian Lewis

*Jack MacGowran as Postman

*Redmond Phillips as Police Doctor

*George Roubicek as Police Constable

*Lee Montague as Sergeant Farrow

Production



The budget consisted of 40,000 put up by the German producer and 98,000 provided by SBA.

Reception



Sydney Box sold the film to Paramount in the US for twice what it cost, putting it in profit.

'The New York Times' found the film "absorbing", noting that "Joseph Losey proves himself a strikingly adept technician with an alert and caustic personal style."

References




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