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Behind the Headlines (1956 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Behind the Headlines' is a 1956 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Paul Carpenter, Adrienne Corri, Hazel Court and Alfie Bass.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090114173657/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/10759 "Film details: 'Behind the Headlines' (1956)."] 'British Film Institute', 2016. Retrieved: 24 August 2016. The plot revolves around a male and female journalist joining forces to hunt down a murderer.
It was made at Southall Studios. The film was based on the novel 'Behind the Headlines' by Robert Chapman.Goble [https://books.google.com/books?id=Yyqc0Qa6b60C 1999, p. 81.]
Plot
American Paul Banner used to be a reporter working in London. Recently leaving his paper, he has gone freelance, so that he can focus more on chasing down facts and selling his stories once he gets them. He has no regrets in leaving his job as there will be no more deadlines or misguided editors to divert his attention. He starts up a news service, Banners News Agency, whose motto is "ferret out the facts and sell them to the highest bidder."
When showgirl Nina Duke is murdered, the press are all harrying the police for statements and facts but Banner hangs back and does a little work of his own to uncover the story. Nina, it transpires, was previously in jail for blackmail, so it is possible that this was why she was killed. Banner initially falls for the affections of rival reporter Pam Barnes, but his true affections lie with his secretary, Maxine.
A race to find the killer has Banner trying to get the story that the police cannot.
Cast
* Paul Carpenter as Paul Banner
* Adrienne Corri as Pam Barnes
* Hazel Court as Maxine
* Alfie Bass as Sammy
* Ewen Solon as Superintendent Faro
* Trevor Reid as Bunting
* Melissa Stribling as Mary Carrick
* Olive Gregg as Mrs. Bunting
* Harry Fowler as Alfie
* Magda Miller as Nina Duke
* Arthur Rigby as Hollings
* Leonard Williams as Jock Macrae
* Gaylord Cavallaro as Jeff Holly
* Tom Gill as Creloch
* Colin Rix as Bernard
* Anita Wuest as Model
* Sandra Colville as Waitress
* Marian Collins as Nurse
* Constance Wake as Receptionist
Production
Director Charles Saunders made 'One Jump Ahead' (1955), which had many similarities to 'Behind the Headlines'.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048995/ "Behind the Headlines (1956)."] 'IMDb'. Retrieved: 1 July 2013. The story of a news reporter investigating a murder, was again played by Paul Carpenter from a story by Robert Chapman. Saunders specialised in the B movie at the Kenilworth Films Production house which turned out 11 mainly crime thrillers between 1948 and 1956.Chibnall and McFarland 2009, p. 68.
Critical reception
In its review of 'Behind the Headlines', 'TV Guide' concluded, "Weak script and stiff direction offer little suspense in this routine yarn";[http://www.tvguide.com/movies/behind-the-headlines/review/105140/ "Overview: 'Behind The Headlines'."] 'TV Guide, 2016. Retrieved: @4 August 2016. whereas the 'Radio Times' wrote, "... this is elevated above the morass of British crime B-movies by a sure sense of newsroom atmosphere that owes more to Hollywood than Pinewood... there's a convincing seediness about the backstage milieu thanks to Geoffrey Faithfull's unfussy photography. It may lack suspense and newsman Paul Carpenter is short on charisma, but there's admirable support from the likes of Adrienne Corri, Hazel Court and Alfie Bass."[http://www.radiotimes.com/film/g599y/behind-the-headlines "Behind the Headlines.'] 'RadioTimes'. Retrieved: @4 August 2016.
References
Notes
Bibliography
* Chibnall, Steve and Brian McFarlane. 'The British 'B' Film'. London: Palgrave MacMillan, 2009. .
* Goble, Alan. 'The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film'. London: Walter de Gruyter, 1999. .
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