JohnHowardReid Made at Nettlefold Studios. Location scenes filmed in France. Producer: William Gell. A Monarch Production, released in the U.S.A. by RKO- State Rights Films: September 1959. No New York opening. U.K. release through Monarch: 3 June 1957. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 16 October 1958. 7,510 feet. 83 minutes. Cut by 20th Century-Fox to 74 minutes in Australia. U.S. release title: City After Midnight.SYNOPSIS: A jewel thief's ex-wife is accused of killing her fiancé's father. That's simple and easy to comprehend, isn't it?NOTES: A film version of a John Dickson Carr novel is such a rarity, it should not go unnoticed, even when the film is not quite up to scratch. In fact, the only other film adaptation of a Carr novel that I can recall is a French movie directed by Duvivier, called "The Burning Court" (1963), starring Nadja Tiller and Jean-Claude Brialy. Yes, I know about "The Man with a Cloak" (1951) — that's taken from a Carr short story — and "Dangerous Crossing" (1953) — originally a radio play. Which all adds up to four movies all told. Not exactly a roll-call tribute to one of the best thriller writers of the 20th century.COMMENT: Fair detective yarn. The mystery itself is unusually unexciting for a John Dickson Carr puzzle and though there is a bit of action, proceedings are not helped by sluggish and unimaginative direction and some of the dullest photography ever seen in an "A"- feature. Still, the principals, Dan O'Herlihy and Phyllis Kirk, are likable, and Petula Clark looks delightfully decorative in a non-singing role. Unfortunately, a lot of the dialogue is repetitious. The film could be improved by some judicious cutting, particularly of the scenes involving Guido Lorraine's theatrically exaggerated French detective.OTHER VIEWS: If unsubtle, the many false trails are cleverly devised and dramatically quite effective. The pace is too slow for suspense, but the photography is excellent and the backgrounds authentic. — Monthly Film Bulletin.A flat, not fully realized adaptation of Carr's novel. — Chris Steinbrunner & Otto Penzler in the "Encyclopedia of Mystery & Detection".

malcolmgsw This is a low budget B or maybe co feature from Monarch.They have brought together a reasonable cast upon which they presumably have spent most of the budget.they clearly weren't able to afford much for their American import,Phyllis Kirk.The plot is quite reasonable with a number of twists and turns till we get to the climax.There unfortunately we are rather let down by the writer and director.It is unfortunately just plain silly.Dan O herily does a reasonable job as the insurance investigator who is of course always one step ahead of the law.there is a very amusing scene in the middle of the film when Jack Watling is almost caught with his trousers down by his fiancée at the house of his mistress.he then orders his mistress out forgetting that it is her house they are in.Not a great film but beats anything they are going to show us on TV over Christmas.

GUENOT PHILIPPE I won't resume the story, it has already been done on the summary line. I will just say that's an acceptable mystery noir from UK. Not action sequences, a bit boring, very talkative, directed by Compton Bennet, who gave us some interesting and rare features. Maybe some others from him are available somewhere.This one, not charmless, takes place on the french Riviera, in the late fifties. That's not my best noir ever, this kind of topic I mean. But you can be pleased by watching it. A real rare gem.I just comment it because no one has done it before.Enjoy the score, very in this movie atmosphere...