Review: Chase a Crooked Shadow

Set on the coast of Spain, diamond heiress Anne Baxter receives a visitor to her villa in the form of Richard Todd. Todd claims to be Baxter’s brother, but Baxter claims not to recognise Todd, and swears that her brother died in a car accident. Todd claims it was the passenger who died, and he was merely injured and suffered a brief spell of amnesia. She calls the police on him, but Todd is able to convince local cop Vargas (Herbert Lom) that his story is on the level and that his sister is just being ridiculous. He’s even got the same tattoo on his arm that the brother had. Soon he has replaced Baxter’s servants, and is pretty intent on hanging around, driving Baxter to near-breakdown. What on Earth is going on here? Faith Brook plays one of Todd’s companions, Alexander Knox is a well-regarded relative who backs up Todd’s story, to Baxter’s astonishment and confusion.

 

Here’s a nifty little crime-thriller from 1958, with terrific performances and an irresistible mystery plot. It’s got kind of a mixture of “Mirage” and “Kind Lady” but even that description probably doesn’t quite do the film justice. It’s a cracker. It’s not every mystery that is able to keep you invested from start to finish, but this one definitely does. Anne Baxter is excellent in the multi-faceted lead characterisation, Richard Todd is very effective as her adversary. Herbert Lom proves yet again to be able to play any number of different nationalities on screen, rock-solid as a Spanish police detective who doesn’t know who or what to believe at any given moment. The shadowy B&W cinematography by Erwin Hillier (“The Valley of Gwangi”, “Operation Crossbow”, “The Quiller Memorandum”) is excellent, as is the music score by Matyas Seiber (“Animal Farm”, “A Town Like Alice”), assisted on flamenco guitar by Julian Bream. Although the projection work leaves a lot to be desired even for 1958, there’s a particularly hair-raising driving scene to look out for, too.

 

Well-acted, well-scripted mystery-thriller from eclectic director Michael Anderson (“Around the World in 80 Days”, “Operation Crossbow”, “The Quiller Memorandum”) keeps you hooked throughout. You may have seen elements of it elsewhere, but it forges enough of an identity of its own. Definitely worth seeking out, Anne Baxter and Richard Todd are especially terrific. This sort of thing is pretty much right up my alley. Cleverly scripted by David Osborn (“Murder, She Said”) and Charles Sinclair (“The Green Slime”, “Track of the Moon Beast”).

 

Rating: B-

 

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