Intriguing premise here. Marlowe (Robert Shaw) a lone sociopath kidnaps the son of a wealthy businessman and locks him in a well-prepared room in a rambling old house. Then, he boldly visits the victim's father to demand the ransom, explaining that he will make his escape abroad with the money and then telephone with details of the boy's whereabouts. He continues to press his demands even in the presence of the Police. The reason? He has left a bomb, concealed in a golliwig, with the boy, and it will explode at 10.00 a.m the following morning!
The situation sets the other characters at odds with each other. The father Anthony Chester (Alec Clunes) is quite willing to pay the ransom and trust that Marlowe will keep his word. He is supported by oily Assistant Police Commissioner Bewley (Alan Wheatley) a social climber and personal friend. Tough Inspector Parnell (John Gregson) disagrees; seeking to relentlessly question Marlowe about his attitudes and childhood, seeking to get under his skin and find his weakness. Parnell seems to be getting somewhere when Chester interrupts and grabs Marlowe, knocking him down and cracking his head on the fireplace. He has a fractured skull and is in a coma, and there are only 11 hours left before the bomb goes off.
This taut little thriller benefits from a first rate cast. Robert Shaw often portrayed mentally disturbed characters ranging from the psychotic Red Grant in From Russia With Love to the subdued ECT-affected Aston in The Caretaker. Here he has bravado but is still concious of his deprived background and childhood neglect at the hands of his self-centred parents. He reveals this to Parnell.
Gregson's portrayal of Parnell will immediately call to the minds of some viewers his familiar role of Commander Gideon in the tv series Gideon's Way. However, Parnell has a much harder edge and little of Gideon's geniality. Parnell's sidekick Sergeant Gray is played by the ubiquitous Kenneth Cope, who usually did thugs and bad guys during the sixties, prior to Randall And Hopkirk. Veteran actor Alan Wheatley was often cast as a villain, and his Assistant Commissioner Bewley is very similar to the sly, self-seeking role of the Sheriff of Nottingham he played in the Robin Hood tv series in the nineteen fifties. Classical actor Alec Clunes is probably better known now only as the father of Martin Clunes. Also featured are first Dr Who William Hartnell and Rene Houston as Marlowe's fun-loving but selfish parents.
Meanwhile, back at the plot, Marlowe dies without revealing anything so, a bit of logical deduction is employed. The kidnap house is located and a Wolesley Police car goes hareing off down the A3. But, time runs out. Does little Johnny survive? The solution will make you smile. Highly recommended.
Review of Tomorrow at Ten
