Friday, April 5, 2019

Smokescreen (1964)

Smokescreen is a fun little thriller set on the Sussex coast in the early 1960s. When businessman Mr Dexter's car crashes over the cliff in flames, insurance assessor Roper (Peter Vaughan) is sent to find out just what has happened and if the big insurance policy taken out just before the apparent death is valid...

Roper is naturally suspicious and with the insurance broker John Carson (Trevor Bayliss), plus the vaguely interested police (Glynn Edwards), quickly discovers that the death may have been faked and it was certainly no accident. Dexter could be alive but if so who is helping him? As he proceeds he considers that maybe Dexter has been murdered. Is the wife Janet Dexter (Yvonne Remain) involved to get a share of the insurance money? Or was it Dexter's business partner Turner (Gerald Flood)?

The budget is very low but the interest is pretty high with a well thought out story that keeps you guessing. The story is a bit Golden Age in feel, with the keen amateur detective taking charge. Roper is a bit of a strange character though, a bit slimy and always penny pinching though we do find out why and thankfully it isn't just because he is a bit mean!