This British screen adaptation of Peter Cheyney’s The Urgent Hangman (the first of his Slim Callaghan novels, published in 1938) featured the screen debut of his down-at-heel sleuth. Slim Callaghan was played by Derrick De Marney (who also produced the film).
The action switches from lush high spots to back alleys and the air clangs with the sound of gold-digging dames in silver lamé.
Sultry nightclub singer Mayola (Adrienne Corri) slithers her way around the tables. A body turns up. So does Jenny Appleby (Belinda Lee).
Slim hits the Scotch, chain smokes, turns blackmailer, falls for a blonde and baits Inspector Gringall (Trevor Reid) of the thunderously ponderous Scotland Yard.
Plot? What plot? Just shut up and look at the dames.
This enjoyable British B-movie was made at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
August Meraulton
Robert Adair Effie Perkins
Delphi Lawrence Slim Callaghan
Derrick De Marney Cynthia Meraulton
Harriette Johns Darky
Larry Burns Jengel
Michael Partridge Tweest
Howard Douglas Inspector Gringall
Trevor Reid Sergeant Fields
Frank Sieman PC Masters
John Ainsworth William Meraulton
Peter Neil Secretary of William Meraulton
Brenda Gay Bellamy Meraulton
Roger Williams Jenny Appleby
Belinda Lee Mayola
Adrienne Corri Jeremy Meraulton
John Longden Paul Meraulton
Frank Henderson
Sultry nightclub singer Mayola (Adrienne Corri) slithers her way around the tables. A body turns up. So does Jenny Appleby (Belinda Lee).
