Fragment of Fear – 1970 | 94 mins | Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Richard C Safarian’s disappointing adaptation of JohnBingham’s novel delivers very little of anything. The initial premise of this psychologicalthriller is promising, but the unsatisfying ending may disappoint. There’s apolished and convincing performance from Hemmings and suitably enigmatic supportcontributions from such distinguished players as Dame Flora Robson, Roland Culver,Arthur Lowe, Daniel Massey, Wilfred Hyde White and Mona Washbourne.

Successful writer Tim Brett (David Hemmings) isinvestigating the murder of his Aunt Lucy (Flora Robson) amongst the ruins of Pompeii.Aunt Lucy was a seemingly kind old lady who helped reform criminals, but whenthe Italian police fail to discover a motive, Brett vows to uncover the truth –but receives an ominous warning-off from a stranger he encounters on a train.

Back in London, Brett lodges a complaint with thepolice about the threatening phone calls, but the authorities think he’s a lapsedjunkie hallucinating and experiencing paranoiac fears. Suspicion falls on ‘SteppingStones, the organisation of first-time offenders that Aunt Lucy believed weredestined for great things in their subsequent careers. Unbeknown to Brett, AuntLucy would blackmail the ex-cons once they had become a success.