Blood Orange (1953) - An Evaluation of the 4K Ultra HD Version

      Blood Orange, 1953.

      Directed by Terence Fisher.

      Featuring Tom Conway, Mila Parély, Naomi Chance, Michael Ripper, Eric Pohlmann, Richard Wattis, and Roger Delgado.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A private investigator looking into a jewel theft becomes entangled in a double homicide.

      In Blood Orange (also known as 3 Steps To Murder), private investigator Tom Conway (Tom Conway) is hired by Mr. Mercedes (Eric Pohlmann), whose jewels have been pilfered from a safe following a robbery at the prestigious London fashion house Pascal. Mercedes dispatches Conway to look into the matter, but Detective Inspector MacLeod (Richard Wattis), the crime scene officer, is reluctant to have private detectives probing around.

      The situation takes a darker turn when a model and a wealthy patron of the house are discovered dead, adorned in a dress named ‘Blood Orange’, designed by Helen Pascal (Mila Parély), the owner of Pascal. Suspecting a link between the theft and the murders, Conway pursues his investigation, unraveling a intricate network of events involving several suspects.

      An early crime thriller from Hammer, Blood Orange is a well-directed British B-movie that adheres to many of the classic ‘whodunit’ conventions, yet stumbles somewhat by incorporating excessive red herrings, which hampers the plot's flow. Director Terence Fisher approaches the material with his characteristic relaxed charm and sense of drama when necessary, but the screenplay becomes too convoluted, attempting to mislead Conway – along with the audience – a few too many times without any significant development between the disclosure of clues, rendering the ultimate revelation of the perpetrator a bit anticlimactic when it finally arrives.

      However, the journey is less tedious than it could have been, thanks to Fisher’s direction and some charming performances. Tom Conway embodies the seasoned detective perfectly – having previously portrayed Sherlock Holmes and Simon Templar in various radio adaptations, he had already honed his vocal mannerisms – and the chemistry he shares with the female leads provides an underlying tension that, while not fully realized, is palpable. Regular Hammer actor Michael Ripper also appears as a dubious character, and his antics driving around in an old clunker in pursuit of Conway are consistently entertaining.

      Presented in a 4K UHD/Blu-ray dual-format edition, Hammer has assembled another collection that collectors and fans will eagerly appreciate. While the film itself is rather average, the disc includes two versions – the UK Theatrical and the US Theatrical (released under the title 3 Steps to Murder) – along with separate audio commentaries: the UK cut featuring critic Kim Newman and author Barry Forshaw, and the US cut featuring film historian Lucy Bolton and film critic Phuong Le. Additionally, there’s Dressed to Kill, a dialogue between author David Pirie and writer Wayne Kinsey about Hammer’s principal Michael Carreras and his role in the company during the early 1950s, which offers intriguing insights into the company’s operations at that time.

      Featurettes regarding the fashion depicted in the film, discussions on Hammer’s series of low-budget B-movies from that era, and an interview with actress/filmmaker Alice Lowe discussing Blood Orange and its depiction of women in cinema during that period are also included. Both discs are housed in the typical stylish packaging that Hammer has utilized for their previous releases, accompanied by a booklet filled with articles and essays about the film, maintaining their commitment to delivering a quality product with each release.

      In summary, Blood Orange is a film that requires such an elaborate presentation and substantial supplementary content because, as a standalone feature, it falls short of being the engaging and clever crime thriller it aspires to be. The direction is solid, and the performances are equally captivating, but its flaws stem from the script and the fact that, for a thriller, it lacks adequate excitement. It is still worth watching, as it is part of British film history, yet it is likely that viewers will find the extras more enjoyable than the main feature.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward

      About Amie Cranswick: Amie Cranswick has been involved with Flickering Myth’s editorial and management team for over a decade. She has a background in publishing and copyediting and has served as Editor-in-Chief of FlickeringMyth.com since 2023.