The Large Rope (1953)
After being framed for a murder he didn't commit, Tom Penney (Donald Houston) serves his time and returns to his rural English home to establish a quiet life. When another victim is found, however, Tom is blamed for the crime and flees rather than returnng to prison. Hoping to find the real killer -- or killers -- Tom investigates while keeping a low profile to elude his pursuers, and a vital clue leads him on the path to possible redemption.
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Sick Product of a Sick System
Just perfect...
Great Film overall
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Donald Houston is an ex con who goes back to the village to see the former girlfriend to get her to help him clear his name.Predictably she is murdered and of course everyone thinks he is the murderer.A final chase ensues during which the identity of the actual murderer is revealed .The actor concerned milks the situation for all its worth.The village is shamed as Don gets the girl.Katie Johnson is marvellous.
Tom Penney (Donald Houston) is returning to his small English village after spending three years in prison. However, he apparently did not actually commit any crime though the town is about as unfriendly as it can be. They all assume he's guilty and treat him like dirt. Only a couple people in town know the truth but they won't speak up about it.In the midst of all this antipathy, a dead woman is discovered. Immediately the town assumed Tom killed her and a lynch mob mentality erupts. As for Tom, he's scared out of his wits and runs. Can the truth be revealed? I must first point out that my wife wasn't as thrilled with this film as I was. When it was over, she complained that although the film was good, they really didn't explain what happened to send Tom to prison three years earlier. While it's true that this is vague, I liked the way the picture portrayed human nature at its worst. An interesting story.
This film is one of my favourite low budget British mysteries from the 1950's. Houston stars as a man framed for a crime. He serves his time in prison and upon release goes back to the small rural town he grew up in. There, he is considered a crook and treated like an outcast. When a murder occurs in the town, everyone is quick to point their finger at him. Even the police believe he is guilty and a man hunt is initiated.A small bit of fortune goes his way and he finds evidence that incriminates the real killer. Now it's a race against time as he tries to confront the real killer before he is captured by the police. This is a minor, low budget British mystery. But the performances are well above par, especially Mr. Houston, and I found this an enjoyable 70 minutes. STARS Donald Houston, Susan Shaw, Robert Brown, Peter Byrne, Richard Warner, Vanda Godsell.
I am clear: there is absolutely nothing original here. I have seen this a thousand of times before. See for yourself. A man returns home after being in jail for a murder he did not commit. Of course, he has many difficulties to face his former folks again. Everyone thinks he was the real murderer. And, now he is discharged, another crime is committed...And, guess what...Our lead has to prove his innocence and, why not, find the murderer of the first crime, committed some years later...Do you follow?Nothing more than a rural mystery crime yarn. In France, on France Region 3 channel, on Saturday evenings, we can watch this kind of topic since many years now.Boring and, above all, predictable at the most.Forget it.