Three Cases of Murder – 1955 | 99 mins | Drama, Mystery | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Produced at Shepperton Studios by Ian Dalrymple‘s Wessex Films, Three Cases of Murder is a suspenseful anthology hosted by Eamonn Andrews and comprising of two supernatural tales and a straightforward whodunit. Distinguished cinematographer Georges Périnal gorgeously photographs the film.

The first segment, “In The Picture,” was directed by Wendy Toye and based on a short story by Roderick Wilkinson. Jarvis (Hugh Pryse) is a lugubrious art gallery guide beset by art treasures mysteriously disappearing and the repeated breaking of protective glass over a macabre landscape painting. Jarvis is fascinated by the foreboding house in the landscape painting and often sits for long periods to admire it. One day he bumps into a mysterious visitor (Alan Badel) gazing at the same canvas. The stranger turns out to be the Edwardian artist that painted the picture; he now resides in the picture and occasionally materialises to view his composition. When both he and Jarvis agree the picture needs a light in the house window to illustrate the building is occupied, the guide ends up following the stranger into the world of the painting with terrifying consequences – in the picture Jarvis is greeted by Snyder (Eddie Byrne); a demented taxidermist with a preference for human subjects.

In the second segment, “You Killed Elizabeth,” directed by David Eady and written by Sidney Carroll, two lifelong friends fall in love with the same woman. George (Emrys Jones) has always stood in the shadow of his charismatic friend Edgar (John Gregson). Whilst Edgar is away on business George falls in love with Elizabeth (Elizabeth Sellars), but when his friend returns, he too falls in love with the same girl and Elizabeth discards George in favour of Edgar. When she later turns up dead, George seizes the opportunity for revenge.

The final story, “Lord Mountdrago,” was directed by George More O’Ferrall (reputably Welles himself directed) and based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham. Lord Mountdrago (Orson Welles) is an aristocratic Cabinet Minister who uses his considerable oratory powers in Parliament to destroy the career of a charismatic Labour opponent, Owen (Alan Badel). Mountdrago then finds himself tormented by thoughts of retaliation from the vengeful Owen, who seems to have found a way to enter his dreams.