The Dark Man (film)

The Dark Man (also known as Man Detained) is a 1951 British black and white film-noir thriller film written and directed by Jeffrey Dell and starring Edward Underdown, Maxwell Reed and Natasha Parry. It was produced by Julian WIntle for Rank Studios.

Plot
At a farmhouse in a lonely wood, ruthless killer "The Dark Man" murders a petty criminal. He then shoots the taxi driver who drove him there, knowing he would be able to identify him. However, the murder is witnessed by a young actress, Molly, who is passing by on her bicycle. Although she only saw him from a distance, The Dark Man will take no chances, and now has reason to silence her as well. When the police investigate the murder, Inspector Viner is assigned to the case, and soon develops romantic feelings for Molly. Meanwhile, The Dark Man continues to stalk his prey, and is foiled in an attempt to strangle Molly at her home, but continues to pursue her. The climax comes with a desperate chase across a desolate landscape.

Cast

 * Edward Underdown as Detective Inspector Jack Viner
 * Maxwell Reed as The Dark Man
 * Natasha Parry as Molly Lester
 * William Hartnell as Superintendent of Police
 * Barbara Murray as Carol Burns
 * Cyril Smith as Samuel Denny
 * Leonard White as Detective Evans
 * Johnny Singer as The Adjutant
 * Geoffrey Sumner as Major
 * Sam Kydd as Sergeant Major
 * Geoffrey Bond as Walsham Police Sergeant
 * Gerald Andersen as Walsham Police Inspector
 * Betty Cooper as Carol's Mother
 * Robert Long as Charles Burns
 * Grace Denbeigh-Russell as hotel proprietress
 * Norman Claridge as doctor
 * John Hewer as taxi driver

Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This attempt at a low-budget thriller, shot mainly on location, is undermined by the staggering improbabilities of the script. Molly's reactions to the threats of the Dark Man and her hesitancy in seeking help from the police, are unbelievably stupid: with equal stupidity she allows herself to be kidnapped by an old and obvious trick. The contrivances of the script are not helped, either, by stilted dialogue. The Dark Man has some excellent exterior camerawork, and both Natasha Parry and Edward Underdown show, in unrewarding parts, talent and personality."

The New York Times wrote: "this Julian Wintle production often stirs up a fair amount of suspense and absorption, chiefly because of the efficient direction of Jeffrey Dell, an excellent performance by Edward Underdown, as a detective, and a painless round-up of typical British "types" in minor roles. But the scenario is a meandering affair overbalanced with too many sneering close-ups of its culprits, and ... anything but suggestive of the banner of the distributors, Fine Arts Films, Inc.".

AllMovie noted: "the plot is nothing new, though the settings – a provincial repertory theatre, a military rifle range – are rather novel."

Britmovie said, "Edward Underdown is clearly too old to be the young policeman and love interest, but brooding Maxwell Reed is very effective as the shadowy ‘Dark Man’."