Athanatos Whoever is responsible for the story that told by this film simply didn't know of a reasonable way to pull it together, and so just let it fall apart.After an unexplained separation of six years, an American flies to the UK to meet the woman whom he loves, an actress of some fame. As he and the other passengers walk from the plane to a terminal building, a man whom he stops by chance is felled by a sniper's bullet. The sniper walked with the assistance of a crutch. It is discovered that the woman whom the American has come to see had been both sexually involved and engaged in smuggling with the man identified as the victim of the sniper; apparently she was motivated to do these things because of her longing for the American. Further, her lover had subsequently blackmailed her, and now his presumptive widow, a singer, was blackmailing her. On the way, we discover that someone with an administrative rôle at the singer's theater uses a crutch. When the actress attempts to pay the singer, the actress and the audience learn that the presumptive dead man is still alive, and being assisted by his wife. The fellow with the crutch makes an appearance and is greatly injured by the blackmailer. The police, who have been going about the business of trying to solve the murder and trying to run the actress to ground show-up. A search for the blackmailer is begun; he has for no very good reason disguised himself as the fellow with the crutch, and when the police begin looking for a man with a crutch, it does not occur to him to chuck the thing aside; instead, he retreats to a balcony. When he is spotted, the America dashes after him, instead of allowing the surrounding police to do their job. A struggle ensues, with the American finding himself to be pushed off the balcony.Were the film to break at this point, the audience would be left with many questions. Answering even just some of them in a satisfactory manner would be quite a challenge.Well, the American awakes, because it was all a dream. That was the best answer that the writers had for us. (Formally, the ending has the disembarked American and the actress happily running each towards the other, perhaps to assure us that he hasn't dreamt exactly the future he were about to enter.) If, up to that point of awakening, the story had been, in some interesting way, dream-like, then that ending might be sensible or at least forgivable. But the story had been a haphazard construction of implausibilities, and the ending was simply a cheat.

seymourblack-1 A great deal seems to happen in a relatively short time in this entertaining murder mystery and it's this pace that plays such a significant part in making "The Limping Man" so enjoyable to watch. Apart from murder, its story also involves blackmail, smuggling and a serious case of mistaken identity, as well as a series of surprising plot developments that all add to the intrigue that deepens consistently as the murder investigation progresses.American ex-serviceman Frank Prior (Lloyd Bridges) returns to London to meet up with the girlfriend that he left behind six years earlier. As he and the other passengers disembark from their plane and walk towards the airport terminal, he turns and asks the man behind him for a light, but when his fellow passenger obliges, he's immediately shot dead by a bullet from a sniper's rifle. Frank's disappointed when his girlfriend Pauline French (Moira Lister) isn't at the airport to meet him and then, because of the circumstances of the murder, has to be interviewed by a couple of Scotland Yard detectives. During his conversation with Inspector Braddock (Alan Wheatley) and Detective Cameron (Leslie Phillips), Frank learns that the dead man's papers indicated that he was Kendall Brown.When Frank eventually meets up with Pauline, she's thrilled to see him and explains why she wasn't at the airport when he arrived. He sees from her many trophies that she's an accomplished marks-woman and also learns that she likes fast cars and boats. A photograph that the police found on Kendall Brown's body leads them to his apartment and a lady in the picture turns out to be Pauline. Another photograph that they find in Brown's apartment leads them to his ex-wife, Helene Castle (Helene Cordet) who works as a singing assistant in a magic show. It transpires that Brown was a criminal and a womaniser and that Pauline had been one of his conquests.Pauline becomes the main murder suspect but Frank discovers that she's also got other troubles because she'd previously been involved in Brown's smuggling activities and is also being blackmailed because of some incriminating letters that she'd written. Clearly, when he decided that he wanted to reunite with his wartime sweetheart, Frank could never have imagined that it would lead him into such a web of intrigue.There's a lot to enjoy in "The Limping Man" as it's very competently directed by blacklisted director Cy Enfield (who wasn't able to be credited for his work), the acting performances are consistently good and there are interesting cameo appearances by a very young-looking Lionel Blair and the well-known illusionist, Robert Harbin. It's just a shame that it all ends with a conclusion that's so sudden, incongruous and utterly disappointing. If it hadn't been for this, the movie would definitely have merited a higher rating.

Paularoc I saw this movie at the Internet Archive and was pleased with the quality of the copy. I have always liked Lloyd Bridges and remember his television show, Sea Hunt, quite fondly. I sure am glad I first watched the movie and then read the reviews here. I might have given the movie a skip had I read the reviews first and that would have been a shame. The movie has a lot going for it – it has a solid cast, is fast paced with good location shots and atmosphere, has the odd flash of humor (great scene where a couple of kids are caught watching TV. when they should be asleep as noted by another reviewer) and is suspenseful. Since I was not familiar – or did not recognize – a few of the actors mentioned by others, I'll probably give this movie a second watching just to see them. Although I'm glad I saw this movie and may well see it again, the ending was a huge let down. What were the producers of this movie thinking? Worse ending ever.

JohnHowardReid More money has been spent than usual on this well above average British "B" thriller. For one thing it employs a top rate cast all the way down the line. Even the tiniest bits impress. (Watch for Rachel Roberts and a cameo by lovely Jean Marsh in her movie debut). The background and actual locations compel interest too, as does the atmospherically moody black-and-white photography. Cyril Endfield's direction is always competent and even occasionally inventive. Action appears well staged and the pace is reasonably brisk. Just one problem—and it's a major flaw: a cop-out conclusion. Turn the DVD off as soon as the villain has Lloyd Brdges at his mercy and is just about to push him over the railings of the theatre's balcony.