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The Girl on the Pier
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Wikipedia article
'The Girl on the Pier' is a 1953 British crime film produced by John Temple-Smith, directed by Lance Comfort and starring Veronica Hurst, Ron Randell, Brian Roper, Campbell Singer and Anthony Valentine.
Plot
The story of rivalry between a Brighton dance band crooner who has done time for robbery and his partner in crime, a waxworks proprietor who is now being blackmailed for a share of the loot.
Inspector Chubb (Charles Victor) dictates a warrant for arrest for murder. He then takes a car to the railway station where he catches a train to Brighton with his wife and young son. Cathy, their teenage daughter chats up a young crime reporter, Ronnie Hall, at the bar.
On Brighton Pier ex-convict Nick Lane goes to challenge Joe Hammond regarding missing loot from a previous crime. He reveals that Hammond used to be called Harper. Nick clearly likes Joe's young wife, Rita. In Joe's Wax Museum: Chamber of Horrors adjacent young Charlie Chubb (a very young Anthony Valentine) hears part of the conversation. His mum (Marjorie Rhodes) finds him still hanging around the pier amusements.
At the dance on the pier Nick hooks up with Rita and gets inside information on Joe. Hammond spots them kissing under the pier. After Rita leaves they fight. Nick wins and also threatens to blackmail him.
Rita also seems to be having an affair with the handsome band singer on the pier. He also taunts Joe.
Joe demands that Rita does not see Nick again. While Rita sees Nick on the beach Joe empties the safe and also takes out a revolver. Charlie is asked to take the band singer a note. Charlie thinks he sees Joe kill Rita and tells his dad... but Rita is still alive.
The singer tells the young reporter that Hammond is Harper.
The reporter Cathy and Charlie go to the library and find newspaper cuttings connecting Nick to "Harper" in a robbery 4 years before. Charlie saw a rehearsal and the murder will happen that night. Charlie tails Hammond/Harper. The reporter tells his dad their theory.
Despite the warning in advance, Nick gets shot by Hammond (who has disguised himself as a clown in his waxworks) without police intervention. Rita arrives and faints. When the police arrive Hammond "hides in plain sight" as a waxwork but Charlie sees him move. A pursuit across and then under the pier ensues.
Hammond falls in the sea and drowns.
Cast
* Veronica Hurst as Rita Hammond
* Ron Randell as Nick Lane
* Charles Victor as Inspector Chubb
* Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs. Chubb
* Campbell Singer as Joe Hammond
* Eileen Moore as Cathy Chubb
* Brian Roper as Ronnie Hall
* Anthony Valentine as Charlie Chubb
Critical reception
'Allmovie' wrote that the film "doesn't pretend to be a classic; on its own terms, it's an agreeable 65 minutes out of your life."
References
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