The Long Knife
1958 British film by Montgomery Tully
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Long Knife is a 1958 British second feature ('B')[1] crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Joan Rice, Sheldon Lawrence and Victor Brooks.[2][3][4] It was written by Ian Stuart Black based on the 1956 novel of the same title by Leslie Truss.
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| The Long Knife | |
|---|---|
Australian daybill poster | |
| Directed by | Montgomery Tully |
| Written by | Ian Stuart Black |
| Based on | novel by Leslie Truss |
| Produced by | Jack Greenwood |
| Starring | Joan Rice Sheldon Lawrence |
| Edited by | Geoffrey Muller |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 57 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
Young nurse Jill Holden gets involved with an extortion gang targeting Mrs Cheam, one of her patients. Jill is implicated in a murder, and is helped by Mrs. Cheam's American lawyer Ross Waters. When Mrs. Cheam is murdered Jill becomes a suspect but is able clear herself with Ross's help. The real murderer is revealed to be a woman disguised as a man.
Cast
- Joan Rice as Jill Holden
- Sheldon Lawrence as Ross Waters
- Dorothy Brewster as Angela
- Ellen Pollock as Mrs Cheam
- Victor Brooks as Superintendent Leigh
- Alan Keith as Doctor Ian Probus
- Arthur Gomez as Sergeant Bowles
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Well turned-out crime thriller which suffers from an unlikely nurse as a heroine and a denouement which connoisseurs of the detective story might well consider obsolete."[5]
Picture Show wrote: "Joan Rice and Sheldon Lawrence are convincing in the leading roles."[6]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Competent, lively thriller holds the interest, isn't too long."[7]