4K Ultra HD Analysis – Mantrap (1953)

      Mantrap, 1953.

      Directed by Terence Fisher.

      Featuring Paul Henreid, Lois Maxwell, Kieron Moore, Hugh Sinclair, Lloyd Lamble, Kay Kendall, Bill Travers, and Barbara Shelley.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A man wrongfully accused of murder joins forces with a private detective to uncover the true perpetrator of the crime for which he was convicted.

      Mervyn Speight (Kieron Moore) escapes from prison after being sentenced for a murder he insists he did not commit. His wife Thelma (Lois Maxwell) fears that he might reach out to her, prompting her to adopt her new partner Victor Tasman's (Bill Travers) surname. However, lawyer and private investigator Hugo Bishop (Paul Henreid) takes on the case, convinced that Speight is innocent and determined to find the evidence to prove it.

      Adapted from Elleston Trevor's novel Queen in Danger and helmed by Hammer regular Terence Fisher, Mantrap attempts to emulate American noir thrillers, featuring damsels in distress seeking help from hard-boiled detectives in dimly lit settings like smoky jazz clubs or shadowy offices. It succeeds in parts, with Lois Maxwell, later known as Miss Moneypenny, portraying Thelma Tasman in a striking manner, grappling with trauma from her husband's alleged actions. Paul Henreid delivers a strong performance as Hugo Bishop, confidently aware of Speight's innocence and determined to substantiate it, provided certain individuals appear at specific times and act accordingly.

      Predictably, the plot unfolds as Bishop anticipates; however, given that we suspect Speight's innocence, Mantrap feels less like a mystery about who did it and more like an exploration of the motivations behind the crime. The script’s inconsistency introduces multiple characters tangential to Bishop's theories, creating confusion about their identities and connections to Thelma, as many men in London seem to be linked to her. Additionally, the dialogue includes some poorly crafted lines (“When I knew her, she was dead,” remarks one character), along with unnecessary scenes that lead nowhere, alongside several weak red herrings. This results in a film filled with chatter but lacking in significant plot progression, especially as Bishop appears to know more than he reveals to maintain an element of surprise.

      The last few minutes provide the most engaging content, with Bishop confirming his theory in a clever nod to earlier events. However, by this time, viewers have endured over an hour with little action, which is disappointing because there are redeeming aspects present. Paul Henreid shows great chemistry with his female counterparts, particularly with Kay Kendall as his fiancé and secretary Vera, and his early Columbo-like demeanor is enjoyable. When Terence Fisher embraces the noir aesthetics, the film visually shines, yet he does not fully commit to this style, hinting at a lack of confidence to match more established American productions. Fisher would eventually find his footing in Gothic horror with Hammer later in the decade, but here, he seems like a director trying to fulfill a task despite also contributing to the writing.

      Hammer has included extensive additional material, such as featurettes about filming locations, the Queen in Danger novel, behind-the-scenes footage, audio commentary, and a collector's booklet with actor profiles. In this instance, the extras are often more compelling than the film itself, including attractive new artwork on the packaging.

      Regardless of Mantrap's strengths and weaknesses, collectors will want to expand their growing collection of Hammer 4K box sets; however, casual viewers may not find much worth the investment here. While Mantrap is not a bad film, it is an uneventful one that fails to capitalize on its potential. If you appreciated Paul Henreid in Stolen Face, you may find him even more charming here, and witnessing Lois Maxwell’s single appearance with Hammer before her Bond fame is a treat for cinephiles. Nevertheless, apart from being Barbara Shelley's debut in a Hammer film, there isn't much else to recommend Mantrap.

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

      Chris Ward