JohnHowardReid Producers: Julian Wintle, Leslie Parkyn. Langton Productions. Copyright Merton Park Studios Ltd and Independent Artists Ltd. U.S. release through Schoenfeld Films. New York opening: 21 February 1967 (sic). U.K. release through Anglo Amalgamated: 17 September 1961. Australian release through British Empire Films: 26 June 1962. 5,356 feet. 60 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Framed for a jewel theft, Audrey Bedford leaves prison determined to find those responsible. She receives a job offer from a mysterious Mr Malpas. NOTES: Number three in the fifty-picture Merton Park Edgar Wallace series.COMMENT: An excellent entry in the series. Added to the fact that production values reach a much higher level than usual, the plot itself presents enough interesting twists to keep even hardened mystery fans on the edges of their seats. Sandra Dorne makes a delightfully voluptuous villainess, and Ronald Howard shines as a very personable policeman. Support roles are equally strong. Direction, acting, photography, script and music scoring often combine to produce an appropriately eerie atmosphere, coupled with a big assist from some fine art direction. If Sidney Hayers had allowed himself to be a bit more imaginative, The Malpas Mystery would rate as a really first-class thriller.

GUENOT PHILIPPE I am not so surprised that this Edgard Wallace Mystery episode is so tremendous. Look who is the director...Sydney Hayers, the film maker from UK who directed so many films and TV series all over the years. One of best B directors from Britain. I'll put him on the same scale as Don Sharp, Robert Fuest, Don Chaffey and some others of this kind. They all provided good pieces of work.I think this TV episode - or movie - is one of the best of the entire series. A terrific plot - already explained in the topic line - and above all a very impressive way of filming. Far away from other items from the same period which were flat and boring.I recommend it.