This is an ultimately passable instalment in the long-running 1970s anthology series from ATV, although it took me several attempts to finish watching this, having started watching late a few times and fallen asleep.
Most notable for a star turn from character actor, Charles Gray, a perennial element in so many British films and television shows of the 1960s and 70s: everything from "The Devil Rides Out", to "The Rocky Horror Show" to the BBC Shakespeares, to "The Galton and Simpson Playhouse", indeed to a superb performance in a 1972 "Upstairs, Downstairs" episode, 'Married Love'. Here, Gray portrays a waspish author, seemingly channelling the spirits of actor Clifton Webb ("Laura" and "Sitting Pretty") and High Tory British journalists such as Christopher Booker and Auberon Waugh. Some of Clemens' dialogue is excellent, making Gray's Hilary Vance an eccentric to rival those in his earlier series, "The Avengers".
Another 60s/70s archetype, Judy Geeson, is well cast; an actress with beautifully sad eyes, given to playing rather hunted characters: for example, John Reginald Christie's victim in "10 Rillington Place". She is luminous as the bereaved Helen Marlow.
Overall, a bit slow to get going, but it becomes a fairly enterprising thriller. Admittedly, it never threatens "The Lady Vanishes" or "Caught on a Train" in terms of train-set narratives, but it is a solid enough entry in an anthology series that remains compulsively watchable.
Most notable for a star turn from character actor, Charles Gray, a perennial element in so many British films and television shows of the 1960s and 70s: everything from "The Devil Rides Out", to "The Rocky Horror Show" to the BBC Shakespeares, to "The Galton and Simpson Playhouse", indeed to a superb performance in a 1972 "Upstairs, Downstairs" episode, 'Married Love'. Here, Gray portrays a waspish author, seemingly channelling the spirits of actor Clifton Webb ("Laura" and "Sitting Pretty") and High Tory British journalists such as Christopher Booker and Auberon Waugh. Some of Clemens' dialogue is excellent, making Gray's Hilary Vance an eccentric to rival those in his earlier series, "The Avengers".
Another 60s/70s archetype, Judy Geeson, is well cast; an actress with beautifully sad eyes, given to playing rather hunted characters: for example, John Reginald Christie's victim in "10 Rillington Place". She is luminous as the bereaved Helen Marlow.
Overall, a bit slow to get going, but it becomes a fairly enterprising thriller. Admittedly, it never threatens "The Lady Vanishes" or "Caught on a Train" in terms of train-set narratives, but it is a solid enough entry in an anthology series that remains compulsively watchable.