Hugh McDermott
Johnny Breakes
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Crime
An ex-convict, who was framed, struggles to clear his name.
Top Billed Cast
| Release Date | 1954-01-21 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 1h 12m |
| Directors | Maclean Rogers, Geoffrey Faithfull, John Pellatt |
| Producer | Edwin J. Fancey |
| Writer | Michael Cronin |
OK, I give up! What exactly is this about? Hugh McDermott ("Johnny") looks every inch the contract filler (not killer) in this thriller that is way too short on thrills and way too long on dialogue. The synopsis says that "Johnny" is an ex con who is out to exact revenge on his crooked business partner who defrauded him. OK, well I think I got that bit; but when he travels to a rather beautiful Sussex house with a windmill attached and we start finding dead bodies; I begin to envy them their certainty. One is his former partner but who is the other? Douglas Herald makes a few appearances as a blind pianist, but why is anyone's guess and Ronald Adam ("Insp. Beverage") could have been Sherlock Holmes for all the sense he could make of this befuddling 70 minutes. It isn't unwatchable; and is oddly compelling in the hope that once it's concluded we can maybe work backwards into the plot for some hidden thread or nuance; but no such luck. One thing is for sure - somebody did it!
— CinemaSerf