THE STORY: Jan Van Rooyen (Hardy Kruger), a Dutch painter, stops to buy a bunch of violets on a London street as he hurries to keep a rendezvous with a woman. But Jacqueline Cousteau (Micheline Presle) is not waiting for him in the fashionable apartment to which he goes. Instead, shortly after his arrival he is confronted by Detective Inspector Morgan (Stanley Baker), who accuses him of murder. Jacqueline's body has been found in the vestibule of the house, and according to the police doctor she was killed after the time Van Rooyen, by his own admission, entered the apartment. Morgan, a tough, efficient policeman, listens sceptically to Van Rooyen's denials. Incredulously, the young man realizes that the circumstantial evidence against him is overwhelming.
COMMENT: Although it certainly sounds intriguing, the plot isn't much. It's mildly intriguing, but the solution is obvious once the central idea — borrowed from Vera Caspary's Laura — is introduced. Losey has tried to work up some interest. Most of the first half of the film is played in dark shadows and all the players work hard to give their characters credibility, but all they have really done is to make the little asides (Police Sergeant explaining to the suspect what he thinks is wrong with the police recruitment advertising, and all the business with the old school tie) more interesting than the main plot and thus to show up its inadequacy to sustain a film of this length.
COMMENT: Although it certainly sounds intriguing, the plot isn't much. It's mildly intriguing, but the solution is obvious once the central idea — borrowed from Vera Caspary's Laura — is introduced. Losey has tried to work up some interest. Most of the first half of the film is played in dark shadows and all the players work hard to give their characters credibility, but all they have really done is to make the little asides (Police Sergeant explaining to the suspect what he thinks is wrong with the police recruitment advertising, and all the business with the old school tie) more interesting than the main plot and thus to show up its inadequacy to sustain a film of this length.