John Hallam is poisoned and wife Margaret tried and sentenced to death for the crime. There's only seven days left to the execution when her cousin Simon Gale (Dennis Price) a colonial official from Uganda turns up unexpectedly and assisted by Margaret's stepdaughter Jill (Rona Anderson) endeavours to prove her innocence. He learns that Hallam was a sadist and blackmailer, not for money, but to torment his victims and that several of his acquaintances have something to hide. They include Upcott (Charles Lloyd Pack) whose wife has disappeared in mysterious circumstances and a major (Colin Tapley) responsible for the unnecessary death of troops under his command during the war. Local poacher Jonas Rigg (Robert Brown) has an important clue to the killer, but is himself poisoned before he can talk. And Margaret's time is running out...
Based on Gerald Verner's book of the same name, which in turn was the novelisation of his radio serial, it's no great surprise to find this, like so many other British films of its type, has an abundance of dialogue. There are also very few exterior shots, but it is gripping, with a considerable amount of tension. It's an archetypal 'whodunit' with a host of characters whom act in a suspicious manner or have some dark secret. There's the time-honoured gathering of all the suspects in a locked room: "One of you is the murderer". It's done with considerable power and effect though. Dennis Price, in the period after he had ceased to be a major star and before becoming a much admired character actor is good in the lead, as is Rona Anderson, who will always have a special place in the hearts of fans of British B movies of the era. Veteran character actress Esma Cannon is spiteful spinster Miss Ginch and popular opera singer Ian Wallace pops up in a small role as the pub landlord. Hardly seen since its original release, it's certainly worth watching, so well done to those DVD companies who are giving these modest but enjoyable films a new lease of life.
