Review: Mantrap
Kieron Moore escapes from a mental asylum after being convicted of murder. He apparently suffered amnesia thus avoided prison. Now his wife (Lois Maxwell) is scared stiff that he’ll come looking for her, as she’s moved on to another man (Bill Travers) in the intervening years. A friend of the escaped man believes him to be innocent and turns to Paul Henreid for help. A lawyer by trade and former intelligence man, Henreid begins to suspect Moore is actually looking for the real killer to clear his name. Kay Kendall (in fine form as ever) plays Henreid’s helpful secretary and fiancĂ©, whilst Hammer veteran Barbara Shelley makes her screen debut in a small part. A good cast can’t do much to liven up this stiff, thoroughly routine 1953 Hammer film from director Terence Fisher ( “The Curse of Frankenstein” , “The Horror of Dracula” ), who co-writes with Paul Tabori ( “Spaceways” , “Alias John Preston” ). Based on a novel by Elleston Trevor, the plot isn’t anywhere near compelling enou