House in Marsh Road, The (1960)

David Linton (Tony Wright) is supposed to be writing a novel – but all he ever produces is the occasional book review when he’s running out of money for booze. He and his wife, Jean (Patricia Dainton) live in a succession of boarding houses, leaving a trail of unpaid landlords and landladies behind them.

Jean now has to suffer the ultimate humiliation of getting a job.

Their luck suddenly changes with the death of Jean’s distant Auntie Grace who bequeaths £1,000 and a house in the country called ‘Four Winds’. The house comes complete with a superstitious Irish housekeeper, Mrs O’Brien (Anita Sharp-Bolster) who is convinced that the house has an unwanted resident – a poltergeist she has named “Patrick” after her late husband.

Doors in the house are prone to slam mysteriously, and one armchair keeps scuttling across the floor.

David’s is keen to sell the house – Morris Lumley (Sam Kydd) has offered the astronomical fee of £6000 for it – and squandering the cash on living the high life in London. When Jean refuses he finds alternative entertainment and comfort in the form of local strumpet Mrs Stockley (Sandra Dorne), ostensibly employed as his typist.

Meanwhile, Jean is comforted by local estate agent Richard Foster (Derek Aylward).

Gradually, Valerie Stockley convinces David to murder poor Jean for her inheritance . . . but “Patrick” might have something to say about that.

After a number of failed attempts on her life – each thwarted by “Patrick” – Jean goes to London, which gives David the opportunity to have Valerie spend the night with him. As they are lying together in bed, “Patrick” locks them in the bedroom and sets Four Winds on fire.

When Jean returns later that night, having been driven home by Richard Foster, she learns that David and Valerie have perished in the fire, trapped behind the bedroom’s barred windows.

Produced at Merton Park Studios, The House in Marsh Road is a cheap, quickly-made, second feature. But Patricia Dainton and Tony Wright snipe at each other entertainingly, Sandra Dorne’s pouty performance is irresistibly camp, and there are some surprisingly effective shocks – a mirror smashing when Mrs Stockley looks into it, a grate suddenly slamming into place to save Jean’s life as David tries to push her down a lift shaft.

Released in the US as Invisible Creature.

David Linton
Tony Wright
Jean Linton
Patricia Dainton
Valerie Stockley
Sandra Dorne
Richard Foster
Derek Aylward
Morris Lumley
Sam Kydd
PJ Webster
Llewellyn Rees
Mrs O’Brien
Anita Sharp-Bolster
Daniels
Roddy Hughes
Landlord
Harry Hutchinson
Mrs Morris
Olive Sloane
Police Inspector
Geoffrey Denton

Director
Montgomery Tully