by Jon Partridge
Olive Films continues their crusade to bring the classics to the small screen, this time dipping into the vaults with Appointment With Crime, a British film noir that showcases the gritty career of William Hartnell before he secured his legacy in the very different guise as the first incarnation of our favorite Time Lord in Doctor Who.
APPOINTMENT WITH CRIME Synopsis
Leo Martin (William Hartnell, TV’s Doctor Who), a “smash & grab” thief working for crime boss Gus Loman (Raymond Lovell, 49th Parallel), is caught by the police during a robbery gone wrong that leaves his wrists broken. Abandoned by Loman at the scene of the crime, Martin vows revenge against the boss who left him to shoulder the blame in the stylish British noir Appointment with Crime. Directed and written by John Harlow (Dangerous Cargo), Appointment with Crime co-stars Herbert Lom (A Shot in the Dark) as the reptilian crime lord Gregory Lang and Joyce Howard (Shadow of the Past) as Carol Dane, a woman drawn to the dangerous Leo Martin.
Noir is a genre typically dominated by American productions, but the British had a good crack at it too. Appointment with Crime is good example of what was made back in the ’40s and ’50s, an intriguing film both in terms of narrative and how it was shot. Villains dominate the cast and are pitted against each other in a scheming tale of revenge. There are some dialogue-heavy scenes which, while slowing the plot, are in a way enjoyable due to their verbose nature and British eccentricity. One of the keys to a good film noir is atmosphere, and Appointment with Crime has it in spades.
Hartnell, so wonderfully portrayed by David Bradley (Game of Thrones, the Harry Potter series) in An Adventure in Time and Space, is the star here. His Leo is a crook, a nasty sort but one portrayed in a sympathetic light. He is aided in the more nefarious work by Raymond Lovell and Herbet Lom bringing their respective characters to life. The film is a rogues gallery of characters, scheming to survive as well as plot revenge. It’s a refreshing change from having a doogooder mired in the grime driving the plot.
THE PACKAGEIn the course of reviewing the film, I looked for trailers/footage to post here, and the quality on display was shoddy at best. This context made the job Olive has done here all the more impressive. The release is a handsome one indeed, good clarity but maintaining the grain and texture you’d associate with a film this age. A few scratches and flaws appear at times, but these are to be expected and do not detract, but add to the film’s character. No special features are included.
THE BOTTOM LINEAppointment with Crime achieves two things. First, it is a classic example of British film noir, a genre typically associated with American cinema. Secondly, it highlights the talents of William Hartnell beyond the TARDIS. A satisfying film for noir aficionados with a British twist that sets it apart from its American peers.
Appointment With Crime is released June 21st, 2016 and is available from Olive Films.
