Director: MAURICE ELVEY. Screenplay: Gerald Anstruther, David Evans. Based on the West End stage play by Gerald Anstruther. Photography: Moray Grant, Stephen Dade. Producer: Ernest Gartside.
An Elvey-Gartside Production, released in the U.K. through Eros: January 1954 (on the lower half of a double bill). The film was actually made in 1950 and trade-shown in January 1951. Australian release through British Empire Films: 23 May 1952. 85 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Crime czar fakes his death by substituting his victim's body for his own.
VIEWER'S GUIDE: I can see no reason why children should be prevented from watching this movie, despite the British censor's "A" certificate. In fact forcing mischievous kids to watch films like this would be a great punishment for misbehavior. Of course you would have to keep waking them up every time they doze off.
COMMENT: Here's a good lesson: If you want to be a plagiarist, go about it openly. Broadcast it to the world. So you thought Graham Greene created a neat bit of suspense in The Third Man, acknowledge the fact by calling your cut-price variation The Third Visitor. Of course we don't need all that mystery and intrigue element. Let the audience in on the substitution right from the jump.
Alas, The Third Visitor is not worth the effort. The characters are as dreary and dull in the writing, as the indifferent players make them in the acting; and the direction is so steadfastly pedestrian that all in all, this movie is nothing more nor less than an utter waste of time.
An Elvey-Gartside Production, released in the U.K. through Eros: January 1954 (on the lower half of a double bill). The film was actually made in 1950 and trade-shown in January 1951. Australian release through British Empire Films: 23 May 1952. 85 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Crime czar fakes his death by substituting his victim's body for his own.
VIEWER'S GUIDE: I can see no reason why children should be prevented from watching this movie, despite the British censor's "A" certificate. In fact forcing mischievous kids to watch films like this would be a great punishment for misbehavior. Of course you would have to keep waking them up every time they doze off.
COMMENT: Here's a good lesson: If you want to be a plagiarist, go about it openly. Broadcast it to the world. So you thought Graham Greene created a neat bit of suspense in The Third Man, acknowledge the fact by calling your cut-price variation The Third Visitor. Of course we don't need all that mystery and intrigue element. Let the audience in on the substitution right from the jump.
Alas, The Third Visitor is not worth the effort. The characters are as dreary and dull in the writing, as the indifferent players make them in the acting; and the direction is so steadfastly pedestrian that all in all, this movie is nothing more nor less than an utter waste of time.