The Girl in the Picture (1957)

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Four years ago, a robbery went wrong resulting in a policeman being murdered and the killers escaped. However, a photograph turns up on news reporter Jon Deering's (Houston) desk. It shows the getaway car and a woman looking into it. Believing this woman holds the key to the case, Deering sets off to find her... unfortunately, in his investigations, he tips off the robbers, who then start a search, though be it more deadly, for the girl in the picture... Pat Dryden (Crawford)I do like this as a premise for a story, however, I don't think all the possibilities were utilised well. This could have been a cat and mouse stalking game, what with the police, the reporter, and the bad guys tracking her down. However, the police don't get involved too much and the murderers are hanging on the reporter's coattails. This has the effect of making it less suspense-filled than it could have been?The story and the acting are enough to make this an enjoyable one watch flick, though I would warn about the soundtrack. It's your basic standard full orchestration, but when you get to the climax the director decides to use the music to jar your nerves... and turns the volume up. This mixed with the old-fashioned police bells and sirens is enough to drive you mad. As for the direction, it's okay, there's nothing innovative in the camera work and the pace stays pretty steady throughout. Changing these would have helped to create a better atmosphere and tenseness to draw the viewer in.The acting is pretty good and both Houston and Crawford do well in their roles. That said, there are moments when it gets a little melodramatic and the acting begins to feel a little hammy. Though these are few and have little effect on the film or story.The one thing I did like about the story was the lack of a love interest. In most films, this is a must, even when it's not required and sometimes it even feels awkward. But there's nothing between Dryden and Deering, they are merely an eyewitness and a reporter. It was a refreshing change not to have the fawning doting of screen romance.Though it's not the best thriller of its time it's still worth a checkout.

THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE is your usual quota picture, a British crime thriller about a crusading journalist who's hunting down a pretty girl seen in an old photograph. The twist is that in said photo she's seen waving to the driver of a car later linked to an unsolved murder, so by tracking her down he hopes to find the murderer himself.There are good and bad things about this movie. Donald Houston is a rather poor and uninteresting choice of lead, but Patrick Holt in support is much better as the wry detective. The lovely Junia Crawford had a brief B-movie career in the late 1950s before dying young. There are a handful of scene-setting moments that ably bring the 1950s to life, but Don Chaffey, who later directed JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, does a strictly pedestrian job and can't seem to work up much steam. The villain is a weak and non-threatening one too. Scriptwriter Paul Ryder's best work was in the Stanley Baker heist thriller, A PRIZE OF ARMS.

All eyes are on page 3 and some people don't like what they see!!! When the page in question is bought to the attention of Echo reporter John Deering (stocky Donald Houston) he realises that the car in the picture was one that is wanted in connection with a robbery and murder!! And what's more there is a girl in the photo waving them off!! She is the key, all roads lead to the girl!! Apart from the off beat beginning it soon turns into a pretty pedestrian, follow the dots crime drama even though a review at the time called it an "honest hour's entertainment"!!The girl is Pat Dryden, an attractive cover-girl who left the chemist shop where she was employed as a sales girl for the bright lights of modeling but who, when she is found, is more in the dark than anyone else in the movie!! Yes, she did know the driver, gormless Jack Bates, but she is convinced he couldn't be the killer (and from his few scenes he doesn't seem to know which end is up!!) - it must have been the other man in the car!! Most of the plot involves a race between Deering and debonair Inspector Bliss (Patrick Holt) to track the girl down clue by clue to find out what she really knows - which is nothing much!! And to get to her before the shadowy killer does!!Houston is pretty stolid as the reporter and Holt is pretty suave - the film would have benefited by having him more in the picture but Junia Crawford as the bubbly Pat is the real reason to watch. She really brightens up the proceedings and gives the movie a light hearted touch. It's a pity she only made a handful of films - the last in 1959.

A 4 year-old photograph published in the London Evening Echo provides a clue to an unsolved murder - intrepid reporter Deering (Donald Houston) and Inspector Bliss (Partick Holt) are soon hot on the trail of the 'Girl in the Picture'! Surprisingly good little mystery from the days when you got your money's worth at the pictures (supporting features, etc.!).Check out the bespectacled office boy, Wilfred - he's credited as David Greeves, but is better known as James Booth, probably world famous for his excellent portrayal of Henry Hook in 'Zulu'.Sadly, James Booth passed away in August 2005.