Brian Clemens had an adventurous life in which he tried journalism, working in a private detective agency and working his way up from a messenger boy at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. While there he wrote a screenplay for the B.B.C. - "Valid for a Single Journey Only" and by that, came to the attention of the Danzigers. The Danzigers operated a cheap as chips film company and stories about their penny pinching ways were legendary. Most actors felt that a role in a Danziger film was like the end of the line but with Clemens they had an exciting young writer.
This movie was a cut above the usual and John Ireland playing his usual edgy self was an interesting red herring: as John, a draughtsman in line for an Arts directorship who seems to have something on his mind. But the pivotal part proves to be Pam (Susan Stephen) and the "return of a stranger" is all to do with her past. In a particularly seedy sub-plot, Pam was a 14 year old orphan who engendered some unhealthy interest from an older man. She was raped, there was a media spot light trial and the man was sent to prison. Fifteen years later, Pam and John start to receive strange phone calls and neighbours inform her that a man has made inquiries of her.
The police pass it off as a "woman's imaginings" (well it was 1960)!! You never see the man's face and because the problems seem to suggest a sabotage threat to do with John's promotion, the viewer is left guessing - also the fact that the back of the man's head doesn't seem to match any other backs!! I agree the opening upbeat music may have been another Clemen's red herring to throw you off the scent!! And poor Susan Stephens sold herself short, retiring soon after this movie she said of her time at the Danzigers "that was about as low as you could go"!!
Recommended.
This movie was a cut above the usual and John Ireland playing his usual edgy self was an interesting red herring: as John, a draughtsman in line for an Arts directorship who seems to have something on his mind. But the pivotal part proves to be Pam (Susan Stephen) and the "return of a stranger" is all to do with her past. In a particularly seedy sub-plot, Pam was a 14 year old orphan who engendered some unhealthy interest from an older man. She was raped, there was a media spot light trial and the man was sent to prison. Fifteen years later, Pam and John start to receive strange phone calls and neighbours inform her that a man has made inquiries of her.
The police pass it off as a "woman's imaginings" (well it was 1960)!! You never see the man's face and because the problems seem to suggest a sabotage threat to do with John's promotion, the viewer is left guessing - also the fact that the back of the man's head doesn't seem to match any other backs!! I agree the opening upbeat music may have been another Clemen's red herring to throw you off the scent!! And poor Susan Stephens sold herself short, retiring soon after this movie she said of her time at the Danzigers "that was about as low as you could go"!!
Recommended.