Delayed Action

Delayed Action is a 1954 British film noir mystery film directed by John Harlow and starring Robert Ayres, June Thorburn and Alan Wheatley. It was produced as a second feature for release by General Film Distributors. It was shot at Twickenham Studios in London with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Arnold.

Plot
Two criminals do a deal with a suicidal man, who will confess to crimes they have committed before killing himself. However he subsequently has a change of heart.

Cast

 * Robert Ayres as Ned Ellison
 * June Thorburn as Anne Curlew
 * Alan Wheatley as Mark Cruden
 * Bruce Seton as Sellars
 * Michael Balfour as Honey
 * Michael Kelly as Lobb
 * John Horsley as Worsley
 * Olive Kirby as Angela Bentley
 * Ballard Berkeley as Insp. Crane
 * Ian Fleming as Dr. Jepson
 * Myrtle Reed as Jackie
 * Dennis Chinnery as Bank cashier
 * Charles Lamb as Bank clerk
 * Arthur Hewlett as Battersby (uncredited)
 * Frederick Leister as Sir Francis Henry (uncredited)

Critical reception

 * TV Guide wrote, "robbers pay suicidal writer Ayres to confess to their crime and kill himself should their scheme fail. An interesting premise in an otherwise dull movie."
 * Radio Times noted, "the prolific B-team of Monty Berman and Robert S Baker were the brains behind this moody little thriller. There's a hint here of the ingenuity that would lead to their TV success with such series as The Saint and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)."