Rent Chase a Crooked Shadow (1957)

Suspense Thriller. - Chase a Crooked Shadow review by Steve

Stylish suspense thriller filmed on the Costa Brava with an ultra-designed plot which delivers one of those big twisty payoffs which were everywhere in the mid fifties. This one is as improbable as it is satisfying. But, why is a stranger claiming to be the brother of a rich heiress after she has already identified his dead body in a car crash...?

And what happened to the diamonds? Richard Todd lacks charm as the imposter. Anne Baxter is actually pretty good as the vulnerable woman, and extremely chic, but the cute script probably justified bigger stars. As usual, Herbert Lom is good value in support, this time as a skeptical, ambiguous Spanish cop.

Michael Anderson directs the big suspense moments with panache. And the film is beautiful to look at, with Baxter's voguish costumes, the classic sports cars and the gorgeous noir photography of the luxury seaside villa. And also to listen to, with a soundtrack of plaintive Spanish guitar (by Julian Bream). This is a very elegant production.

There's a stand out episode when the rogue brother drives like a maniac around the coast road to unnerve his mark. It's one of those vulnerable woman-in-peril thrillers, like a glossy update of Gaslight. But then the big finale upturns the whole programme. Probably, the twist only really works once, but there's still all that period atmosphere to enjoy.