The Murder Game is a 1965 British crime film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Ken Scott, Marla Landi, Trader Faulkner and Conrad Phillips. It was written by Harry Spalding based on a story by Irving Yergin. It was distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox.
It was the last film directed by Salkow.
Contents
Plot
While on his honeymoon, a husband discovers the plan of his bigamous wife with her first husband to murder him for his money and he plans counter measures to throw the blame on them.
Cast
Ken Scott as Steve Baldwin
Marla Landi as Marie Aldrich
Trader Faulkner as Chris Aldrich
Conrad Phillips as Peter Shanley
Gerald Sim as Larry Landstrom
Duncan Lamont as Inspector Telford
Peter Bathurst as Dr. Knight
Ballard Berkeley as Sir Colin Chalmers
Victor Brooks as Rev Francis Hood
Dyan Cannon
John Dunbar as Parkhill
Gretchen Franklin as landlady
Clement Freud as croupier
Jimmy Gardner as Arthur Gillett
Rosamund Greenwood as Mrs. Potter
Derek Partridge as Police Sergeant
John Richmond as prosecutor
Frank Thornton as radio announcer
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Competent thriller, directed without frills and with a happy disregard for coincidence. The acting is efficient, if undistinguished, and the plot moves along at a pace fast enough to encompass one or two moments of suspense. But the character motivation is sketchy, and the irony of the climax laboured."
Variety wrote: "The Murder Game is a slow-paced British melodrama that is generally too wordy and lacking in punch ... does have some good moments of suspense and a fine realistic round of fisticuffs, with black and white camera work by Gerry Massey-Collier showing to advantage. Faulkner is a talented actor, who comes across as well as he can under thie circumstances, Miss Landi, an attractive brunet [sic], is convincing as the scheming wife, but the storyline is lacking in an explanation of some of her past deeds that lead her to do in her new husband. Scott is capable enough, although he seems to be playing his part in a tongue-in-cheek manner. In general, however, the film is ineffective, lacking in pace and fumbling along."