The House of the Arrow – 1953 | 73 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

House of the Arrow is the third filmed version of A.E.W. Mason’s classic 1924 mystery novel. Director Michael Anderson handles the thrills pleasantly and the noir suspense is balanced out by Hanaud’s conceited humour with fine results. Austrian actor Oscar Homolka produces a fine portrayal of Mason’s super-smug detective of the French Surete, and the rest of the Anglo-French cast provide sterling support in this well turned-out thriller. The French-flavoured music is provided by accordionist Gerald Crossman.

Set in Dijon, France, after her death wealthy French widow Jeanne Marie Harlowe leaves all her property and possessions to her adopted daughter Ann Upcott (Josephine Griffin). The will is contested by other relatives who claim Mrs Harlowe was in fact murdered. The English solicitors representing Betty send Jim Frobisher (Robert Urquhart) from their London offices to Dijon to defend their client. After the post-mortem it’s confirmed that Mrs Harlow had been poisoned in her home. France’s greatest detective, the ingenious Inspector Hanaud (Oscar Homolka) investigates the murder and reveals the method of killing to be an arrow tipped in poison.