4K Ultra HD Examination – Mantrap (1953)

      **Mantrap, 1953.**

      **Directed by:** Terence Fisher.

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

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      A man wrongfully convicted of murder teams up with a private investigator to find the true culprit behind the crime for which he was imprisoned.

      Mervyn Speight (Kieron Moore) escapes from prison after being sentenced for a crime he maintains he didn’t commit. His wife Thelma (Lois Maxwell) is anxious that he might try to reach out to her and has taken on the surname of her new partner, Victor Tasman (Bill Travers). Meanwhile, lawyer and private investigator Hugo Bishop (Paul Henreid) is determined to take on the case, convinced by his intuition that Speight is innocent.

      Based on Elleston Trevor's novel *Queen in Danger* and helmed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher, *Mantrap* strives to emulate the American noir thrillers featuring alluring women in danger seeking help from a detective typically clad in a fedora and trench coat in dimly lit offices or smoky jazz bars. It manages to capture some of that essence, particularly with Lois Maxwell as Thelma Tasman, who exudes glamour while grappling with the trauma she believes stems from her husband's alleged crimes. Paul Henreid delivers an impressive performance as Hugo Bishop, who knows from the beginning that Speight is innocent and believes he can prove it, provided specific individuals show up at the right moments and act accordingly.

      As expected, the events unfold as Bishop anticipates, but given our almost certain knowledge of Speight's innocence, *Mantrap* shifts from a classic whodunit to an exploration of the reasons behind the crime. The downside is that the script is rather chaotic, introducing numerous characters that may or may not relate to Bishop's theories, leading to confusion regarding their identities and connections to Thelma, with seemingly every man in London intertwined with her. Additionally, the dialogue is often poor (“When I knew her, she was dead,” remarks one character), with a lot of filler that contributes little substance, resulting in a film filled with characters but lacking progress. Bishop appears to understand the situation but withholds information to maintain an element of surprise.

      The final moments are the most captivating, with a clever callback that confirms Bishop's theory, yet by this point, viewers have already endured over an hour of minimal developments. This is unfortunate, as there are redeeming aspects in the film. Paul Henreid displays great chemistry with his female counterparts, particularly with Kay Kendall as his fiancée/secretary Vera, and his early-Columbo demeanor is enjoyable to watch. When Fisher opts for noir-style visuals, the film shines, though he doesn’t fully commit to this aesthetic, as if unsure about competing with larger US productions. Fisher would later refine his skills with the Gothic horror films Hammer would pioneer in the following decade, but here he feels more like a hired hand experimenting with something requested of him, despite his involvement in the writing.

      As expected, Hammer has gone all out with the supplementary content, including featurettes on filming locations, the *Queen in Danger* novel, behind-the-scenes footage, audio commentaries, and a collector’s booklet with profiles of the main actors. In this instance, the extra content proves to be more captivating than the film itself, right down to the appealing new artwork on the packaging.

      Regardless of its strengths or weaknesses, collectors will want to add *Mantrap* to their growing libraries of Hammer’s 4K box sets. However, casual viewers may find little justification for spending significant money on it. *Mantrap* isn’t a terrible film, but rather an uneventful one that had all the essential components to succeed yet fails to utilize most of them effectively. If you enjoyed Paul Henreid in *Stolen Face*, you’ll find him equally charming here—perhaps even more so. Additionally, witnessing a pre-Bond Lois Maxwell in her sole Hammer appearance is a treat for film aficionados. However, aside from introducing future Hammer scream queen Barbara Shelley, there’s little else to recommend *Mantrap*.

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

      **Chris Ward**