Three Cases of Murder

Introduction

It's not often I get to see old films and the opportunity to appraise some re-releases of classic British cinema via the current Odeon Entertainment releases was too good an opportunity to pass up. The first one I got to look at was Three Cases Of Murder, a sort of early Twilight Zone, whereby the film is broken into 3 short self-contained episodes detailing 3 very different murders, each one introduced by Eamon Andrews - yes, that one...

The Picture

The first case in this short anthology is a rather strange tale about the inhabitants of a rather intriguing and dark painting displayed in a museum. Mr X (Alan Badel) is the artist of the painting who never quite finished this painting and now banished to inhabit it with two companions. Mr X is able to leave the painting and wander the museum, however, where he sits looking at his painting and trying to spot what improvements can be made to the unfinished piece. Sadly its not just one way traffic though, as he is able to transport not so willing subjects back into the painting where a grisly fate awaits them, as museum guide Jarvis (Hugh Pryce) discovers for himself.

You Killed Elizabeth

The story of two life long friends who go into partnership in advertising. One is rather shy around women, the other more outgoing but prone to blackouts when mixing his drinks. Things are going rather successfully for the two friends until they both fall in love with the same woman, driving a wedge between them. Then one eveing the woman is found dead, murdered and suspicion falls upon the man prone to blackouts, rather inconveniently having a blackout after a row with his shy friend. Is the case really that straight forward though?

Lord Mountdrago

British Foreign Secretary Lord Mountdrago (Orson Welles) humiliates Welsh Labour MP Owen (Alan Badel) during a debate in the House of Commons, apparently ruining his career. Owen swears vengeance and soon Mountdrago finds himself having a series of humiliating nightmares in which Owen is a constant presence. Mountdrago is driven to distraction and unable to find a solution via his doctor, comes up with a plan to rid himself of Owen once and for all...

Picture

The picture has been remastered by BBC Studios but isn't perfect. Still traces of both scratches and artefacts, but this film is over 50 years old now and very watchable.

Extras

Best of British Trailers - other titles within the series

Booklet - a nicely detailed booklet that focuses on Orson Welles

Return To Glennascaul - a short film thought lost for over forty years, this is another film featuring Orson Welles as himself, offering a lift to an Irishman during a foggy night who recounts a ghostly Irish tale. This Academy Award-nominated film comes with an optional introduction from director Peter Bogdanovich.

Overall

Quite a nice release this one, clearly built around Orson Welles with the artwork prominently using a still from the third story 'Lord Mountdrago'. That's also the best story as well with some rather superb acting from Mr Welles and a rather decent performance from Alan Badel, who actually appears in all three episodes. The initial story 'The Picture' as with the 'Lord Mountdrago' contains elements of the supernatural and reminded me of The Twilight Zone, whilst the middle story is a rather more conventional murder and a little dull in comparison. The inclusion of 'Return To Glennascaul' is a nice bonus, the linking factor being Welles again.

Quite a nice release for anyone interested in 50's cinema.