writers_reign A new - to me at least - outfit called Network appears to be flooding the market with cheap (£3 a crack) dvds of (mostly) equally cheap British films from 60+ years ago and confronted with approximately 50 titles I snapped up eight and this is the first one I've watched. Before noting several flaws it may be as well to consider the market they were targeting. Until the 1960s cinema-goers wanted value for money and a typical bill would comprise two feature films, a cartoon, a newsreel, a 'magazine' (The March Of Time, Pathe Pictorial, Look At Life) plus trailers. Typically the main feature film - or 'A' picture ran 9 or 10 reels (90 - 100 minutes) and featured 'A' list Directors and Stars, whilst the second feature - or 'B' picture ran 6 to 8 reels (60 to 80 minutes) and featured as a rule journeyman talent before and behind the camera. Alternatively a studio like Universal specialized in 'programme' pictures, features of equal length and quality produced to be screened in tandem and often alternating in running order like actors swapping the roles of Iago and Othello. Assassin For Hire was a 'quota quickie' expanded from a TV drama of the previous year. With three main sets (four if you count a street) and a half dozen actors they probably brought it in for a stick of gum and about three and a half days. The plot has Sydney Tafler allegedly a dealer in rare stamps but really a hit-man and a control-freak where his kid brother is concerned. The kid is a gifted violinist and Tafler is determined to push him to the top. Questions we're not supposed to ask are things like where did Tafler acquire a gun and, more to the point, ammunition in 1951 Britain and why does he think nothing of shooting victims in the street without a silencer. If you can live with this, to say nothing of Tafler's 'Italian' accent he picked up dahn the market in Bethnal Green chances are you'll enjoy this one.

tlloydesq A lot of activity is squeezed into this tight 64 minutes. Howard is the cop who takes a chance to capture suspected killer Tafler. The story unfolds in a methodical manner with first little hints and then later more concrete evidence being presented. No real dramatic twists but the film does build in a way to maintain an interest. You are always one step ahead of the plot but the presentation adds an edge to the experience.I like the way that a small cast and short running time gives a watchable drama. The makers could easily have added an extra 20 minutes of padding and added a few yawns along the way.The short running time does resemble a TV drama so don't expect a blockbuster. However if you want to while away an hour this is a good choice.

malcolmgsw This film borrows from a lot of gangster films not least the Italian characters.Whilst Tafler is good at playing a hit man his Italian accent is just a wee bit shaky.He is paid to kill a man in a contract killing.This he duly does.The £500 he earns is going to be used to pay for the hire of a hall for his brother's violin concert.Having carried out the killing he is led to believe that he has just inadvertently killed his brother who was wearing a similar coat to that worn by the man that he shot dead.Ronald Howard plays a trick on Tafler to get him to confess to the killing to enable Tafler to expurgate his guilt.Of course it turns out that Tafler did not kill his brother and will now end up on the gallows.Quite an effective B feature.

GUENOT PHILIPPE Yes,I am glad to have caught this little British noir, written by Juilan Wintle - the author of AVENGERS TV series, among other films and TV shows - and telling the story of two brothers, one musician and the other one...I will let you find out; the title may tell something about the plot. Tense, taut, vivid little film, that keeps some surprise for you, is worth seeing for an audience in search for rare movies from the other side of the Channel. There are so many to purchase. The director essentially worked for TV, and his classic features are not very known.