Double Confession – 1950 | 80 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Muddled noir adapted from John Garden’s 1949 novel “All On a Summer’s Day”. Ken Annakin’s direction is suitably atmospheric and grimy, but the central story is lacking in depth and loses its suspenseful coherence when padded out by distracting subplots involving Joan Hopkins’ single mother and holidaymakers Kathleen Harrison and Leslie Dwyer. Peter Lorre is recruited to enhance the films overseas appeal, and he brings a suggestion of real menace and homoeroticism toh 0is role as henchman

Jim Medway (Derek Farr) arrives in the seaside town of Seagate late one evening and heads straight to his estranged wife’s remote coastal cottage where he witnesses her murder. Medway discovers his wife taken had taken a lover in the shape of his former friend, crook turned businessman Charlie Durham (William Hartnell), and now Jim intends to blackmail the rich entrepreneur or frame him for murder.

When not tormenting Durham, Medway spends his time on the coast getting acquainted with single mother Ann Corday, who has arrived on a daytrip to decide whether or not to give her daughter up for adoption. Durham’s devoted homicidal cohort, Paynter (Peter Lorre), decides to protect his boss by arranging various unsuccessful attempts for Medway to meet with an accident. Meanwhile, Inspector Tenby is gradually gathering clues that will clear up the mystery.