I gather this was Joseph Losey's first hit in Britain. It ushered in a strong period for him. It's not that a great film, although there's good things in it. Hardy Kruger (as a Dutchman) is arrested for the murder of a woman (Michele Presle) he was seeing - Stanley Baker is the cops.
Losey and his two screenwriters were blacklisted so there is a pleasing lefty American dig at the class system - Baker has a posh boss who puts pressure on Baker to arrest Kruger, because the deceased is connected with a Lord (who we never spend much time with - a mistake I feel).
In flashbacks to Kruger's relationship with Presley he's possessive and moody and controlling so could easily be a killer. This is in the film's favour to a degree although you sense at heart it's misogynist and you'd be right.
The ending feels like it was inspired by Vertigo - I could be wrong though the dates kind of work out... she's not really dead, she's alive, she killed the mistress as a plot with the husband.
It's not an expensive film - mostly Baker interrogating Kruger, and flashbacks are Kruger and Presle in a studio. (These are quite racy scenes and I think helped the film do well at the box office.) Kruger's outsider status helps. I think the film would've been better though with an English actress instead of Presle - more clearly establishment.
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