Sunday, August 09, 2020

Movie review - "Assassin for Hire" (1951) *** (warning: spoilers)

 Rex Rienits, Aussie, wrote the script, based on a radio play. It's why I saw this. The plot has elements of Golden Boy - Sidney Telfer is an Italian immigrant who sells stamps and shoots people on the side, but only so his violinist brother can have a career.

Ronald Howard, son of Leslie, is the rather ruthless pipe smoking cop who traps him by making him think he's shot his brother, which is full on. The film feels as though it could have done with another act - it hints at some other characters who I wouldn't have minded seeing, like a rival gunman, or the gangsters he works for.

But it is stripped backed, well structured, every scene has a point. Telfer is very good despite his atta-boy Italian accent.

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