Dangerous Afternoon (1961) User Reviews

Solid Script and Performances in a Surprising Crime Story

[boblipton · 6/10 · 30 August 2017]

Ruth Dunning was a desperate criminal who escaped from prison, breaking her back as she did so. Now she runs a boarding house for old ladies: former criminal associates of hers. One afternoon, in walks a woman whom she left in prison, who now proposes to blackmail her.

This short quota quickie directed by Charles Saunders is a bang-up affair, with many a funny bit, deliciously delayed by taking time to make the point clear. There are some nice swerves in the plot, and it is a fine way to spend an hour with older, cannier actresses. Long-time director of photography Geoffrey Faithful -- his credits ranged back to before the First World War, with Hepworth -- does a solid job.

Looks can be deceiving

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 23 October 2019]

Wheelchair-bound Letty Frost (Ruth Dunning) runs a boarding house for elderly women. But these aren't the sweet old things they at first appear. Each has a criminal past to hide (and some hide it better than others). It's a quiet house, until a woman with a score to settle from Miss Frost's past pays a visit. How much can Miss Frost take until she snaps and her genteel facade crumbles?

Overall, Dangerous Afternoon is a nice little British crime/drama. You can find far better, more exciting films, but it's a decent enough way to spend an hour. The acting is really strong. Though I can't say I'm overly familiar with any of them, Dunning and the rest of the old ladies obviously knew their way around a movie set. The way they play against type (as in the opening shoplifting scene) is often quite funny. The plot is interesting enough. It does take some time to get going and much of the story can be fairly predictable, but at about an hour, it doesn't overstay its welcome. At first, I didn't understand how the subplot featuring the niece fit in, but by the end, that plot thread becomes crucial to the whole story. However, I did not care for the final scene at all. But I suppose that in 1961, a murderer couldn't go unpunished.

Finally, I can't end this without mentioning the music playing over the opening credits. It was eerily reminiscent of the bombastic, overwrought, melodramatic music featured in the soap operas my grandmother watched when I was a child. It just about put me off the film before it even began.

5/10

Who says there are (were) no roles for women?

[khunkrumark · 7/10 · 18 January 2019]

With the heavy emphasis on strong female characters, this hour long oddity is an example of just how much has been buried and forgotten in British cinema... and that's a shame.

Although most of the drama is filmed in one claustrophobic room, there'are enough moments of eye candy outside, too, especially in the opening scene where dotty Mrs. Sprule (Nora Nicholson) goes thieving down the local chemists.

Typhoo Tea, Golden Shred, a massive sign reminding us top 'keep regular' with Ex-Lax and the YZ' chewing gum machine nailed to the wall, Lyons Maid, and even the Platignum writing sets in the book shop, too. It's all awesome nostalgia for us oldies!

But most of the 'action' is filmed in Primrose Lodge, a 'boarding establishment for ladies'! Elizabeth Begley shines as the wheel-chair bound home owner and is able to do an 'about face' of character with some scary facial agility.

For the men, there's the awesome, doll-faced Joanna Dunham, who plays Freda. to feast your eyes on.

Anyway, this 'B movie' on a budget is a briskly paced yarn about blackmail and murder. The first half is slow enough to introduce us to all the well-crafted characters and the second half zips along nicely as the plot gets underway. The ending is a bit of a let down in my opinion... maybe they ran out of 'reel'!

Not so bad UK B thriller

[searchanddestroy-1 · 9 February 2009]

I did not know this film, I don't know the director, and neither do I know the actors. But I was pleasantly surprised by this little B thriller from the early 60's. A story of blackmail, murder, investigation in a typically British atmosphere. Intrigant, rather talkative, no really action scenes in this movie with especially women in leads. The film you can watch at tea time, on rainy Sunday afternoons.

Charles Saunders seems to be the director of many of this kind. It would be interesting to see them. Many have never crossed the Channel. Such a shame. British movie industry deserves to be discovered again. And in the USA too.

Another trip down memory lane for me

[howardmorley · 6/10 · 23 January 2016]

I was 15 when this movie was released in 1961 being 70 now.I can remember Ruth Dunning playing Mrs Grove in "The Grove family" which ran from 1954-57.Gladys Henson was often paired as the wife of Jack Warner especially in "The Blue Lamp" (1950) which kick started the long running "Dixon of Dock Green" on BBC t.v. in the 1950s.She also appeared in "A Night to Remember" (1958)about "The Titanic" playing the nervous woman reluctant to enter one of the all too few lifeboats.Even in the 1950s I can remember Nora Nicholson playing rather daffy old women in t.v dramas on the BBC.The character of George was played by an actor who specialised in playing criminals - you only had to see his face and I can remember seeing him playing on t.v. the convict Magwich in Dickens "Great Expectations.How I miss those British B features at the cinema.My local cinema showed a cartoon,Pathe News, a 'B' feature followed by the main film.Good value for your 1/6 (one & sixpence)!My rating was 6/10.

Dangerous Afternoon

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 29 May 2023]

"Miss Frost" (Ruth Dunning), confined to wheelchair, runs a guest house for ladies who - like her - have a bit of a criminal past. They all rub along well enough, pilfering from each other and generally goading and provoking until their landlady learns that one of her erstwhile associates has been released from Her Majesty's pleasure and is likely to want to come visit! The outwardly vulnerable "Frost" is no pushover and lays a trap... It's quite a disarmingly effective little crime drama this. The supporting cast provide just enough of an amiable smokescreen to facilitate a decent performance from Dunning as the quite ruthless and calculating woman. The ending is a wee bit contrived but there is quite a confessional with the vicar at the denouement. The production is all pretty basic and it's maybe not got the most alluring of titles for a film, but at just over the hour, I found it quite watchable.

"The leopard can't change its spots"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 7/10 · 29 March 2018]

A boarding house for older ladies is run by a woman in a wheelchair. The ladies are charmingly dotty and the owner is nice and capable. There is more to this than meets the eye however. The ladies are in the twilight of their careers as thieves and the owner Letty Frost is an escaped prisoner, previously being a cat burglar until an accident but they live together peaceably now and all seems tranquil and comfortable. Then into this calm oasis arrives Miss Jean Berry just out of prison who is seeking revenge on Letty. What will happen next?

Based on a stage play by Gerald Anstruther this is a small gem of a film. Too small really as it is only 62 minutes long. Shame it wasn't longer. The contrast of what is on the surface and what is below comes across in the excellent dialogue. The film is helped by some fine acting from all the players, each one even in the short running time of the film giving depth to their characters. There is a subplot involving Letty's niece that is not that interesting though.

Though it is called 'Dangerous Afternoon' and there is a murder in the film it is not melodramatic. The tone is mainly civilised and amusing. It finishes perfectly at the poignant last scene. The whole film is funny and gently moving. A good 'Ealing' film without actually being one. Which is a compliment.

From the makers of Jungle Street Girls is Jungle House Women

[TheFearmakers · 6/10 · 10 January 2022]

Another nifty crime programmer from the team of director Charles Saunders and producer Guido Coen, the makers of JUNGLE STREET GIRLS only the girls here are women... really old ones in a boarding house and all are ex-crooks, run by a crippled Ruth Denning with crafty expressions like she knows and has seen everything...

Contrasting to her naive artistic niece (actually daughter) played by quirky cute-as-a-button Joanna Dunham with equally attractive businessman husband Howard Pays (who co-starred in JUNGLE STREET with cameo Brian Weske)...

But they do little but worry about what's off-screen at the boarding house; harboring the the primary plot-line too quickly set up through stagey (noticeably based on a play) exposition when Dunning's Miss Lefty Frost, which isn't her real name, is being blackmailed by a former partner-in-crime (Gwenda Wilson) who knows her real one...

Yet the scene-stealers are all the really old tenants, in particular Nora Nicholson, still an active pickpocket and shoplifter... yet there's hardly anything DANGEROUS while taking place in more than one AFTERNOON... but here's a potential platform for a progressed remake, especially with all the aged actresses out there now... and most of them, like the long gone gals here, very British.

A Pleasant, Well Spent Afternoon

[daoldiges · 7/10 · 12 November 2023]

Dangerous Afternoon doesn't really provide a tremendous amount of suspense, intrigue, or plot twists, and yet i found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Ruth Dunning plays the wheelbound lead and much of the credit for the success of the film really must go to her. She gives an interesting, intriguing, and thoroughly engaging performance. The remainder of the cast are also solid and deliver distinct and memorable characters. Not really much 'action' taking place here but nevertheless it all manages to pull the viewer in. Of course, everything is glazed with a distinctly British veneer which I'll admit to being a fan of. Check out Dangerous Afternoon and see what you think.

Make Mine Murder.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 11 March 2024]

A bunch of female ex-cons reside in Ruth Dunning's boarding house, for the most part living happily with the exception of the occasional bullying. The victim is usually the ancient Nora Nicholson, but don't feel sorry for her. This seemingly sweet old lady is a life long kleptomaniac, and Dunning gets calls from the shops Nicholson steals from. But that's the least of her worries, as an old acquaintance (Gwenda Wilson) shows up to blackmail her.

Reminding me of the British comedy "Make Mine Mink" (which later became a short lived Kander and Ebb musical "70 Girl, 70"), this mixture of comedy and crime is most amusing with Nicholson an absolute scene stealer, reminding me of Helen Hayes in "Airport". Dunning is quite good too, someone easy to feel sorry for as she's confined to a wheelchair. The ending gives the viewer their own imagination to conclude the film with, and in this viewer's opinion, Wilson got what she deserved.

Unusually plotted

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 13 April 2021]

DANGEROUS AFTERNOON is a very low budget yet intriguing slice of British drama, with a very unusual cast of characters: almost the entire film is set in an old people's home, a kind of halfway house for elderly women with criminal pasts! It's run by a matriarch figure who keeps control with a firm yet kind hand, yet a thriller plot develops when she's visited by a vengeful rival. A bit too cheap to be decent, but it's unusual enough to be worth a look.

A well acted and unusual crime story

[AFCHatfield · 8/10 · 16 October 2010]

This is definitely one of my favourite British B-movies of the 1960's. A subtle crime film and definitely not in the Edgar Wallace/Butcher's mould-i.e. nobody gets hit over the head. Made by the Theatrecraft production company, it was shown in 1961 on the Odeon Cinema circuit to accompany "A Taste of Honey." The film barely steps out of the studio but at the beginning of the film the action takes place in an actual parade of shops which is fascinating to see. There is a hardware shop, a jewellers, a grocery store (Lyons Maid advert on the door), a chemist and a sweet shop (Platignum pens advert on the door) with a YZ chewing gum machine attached to the wall (I remember these because with every fourth turn of the handle you got a free packet). It would be interesting to find out where this was filmed and to see how much it has changed 49 years on. There is a reference to Bushey in the film but I doubt that this was where the outdoor locations were actually filmed as the film studios were in Twickenham.

Most of the action takes place in an old people's home for gentle lady folk who are not all that they seem. The relationship between the old ladies is very well portrayed as you can just imagine the bickering going on in real life. Early on in the film there are some good scenes set in the kitchen which are slightly reminiscent of those in "Small Hotel" and a great line about it being "ten years since poor old Dan took a 9 o'clock walk" (i.e. he was hanged). There are some top class performances from Nora Nicolson who has some marvellous comic moments and Ruth Dunning as the owner of the establishment is totally believable in her role. Nice to see the strikingly beautiful Joanna Dunham in her first featured role.

I won't spoil the film by giving away any of the plot. It is a hard film to find and has not been shown on television to my knowledge since 2002. There are some inconsistencies in the film but this is to be expected bearing in mind that it probably cost only about £20k to make and was probably wrapped up in about 3 weeks as studio time cost money. I would recommend this film as an addition to anyone's collection of 59 minute British B-movies. An unusual story which is beautifully acted and directed.

Great Little Shocker

[lucyrfisher · 24 May 2017]

I loved this movie, now available on Youtube in a good copy. It is set mostly in a boarding house for "retired" female criminals. Most of them are charming elderly ladies with a little weakness for perfume bottles left carelessly on a counter... Even the staff are old lags - the cook, housekeeper and maid. Every member of the house is vividly characterised. The maid is necessary because, pre-mug and pre-tea bag, the constant cups of tea everyone requires necessitate endless trays with tinkling accoutrements.

We sometimes foray out to Fleet Street (plot), and Scotland Yard (crimes old and new). The owner of the establishment is a beautiful, stylish middle-aged woman who glides around in a wheelchair and has some lovely old pieces of jewellery.

She has a forceful character and a niece, who's engaged to a newspaperman. There is a hilarious scene in the niece's flat which we find full of beatniks who divide their time between lounging moodily (probably thinking about Sartre) and jiving around the living room. They are thrown out when the boyfriend arrives.

"Sorry about the washing up!" says one as he leaves. "Don't worry!" says the boyfriend, "We'll send it on!"

But then the peace of the chintzy living room is disturbed by the arrival of the hard- faced "Miss Berry".

Immensely enjoyable 'B'-pic carried by good characterization and a strong leading performance.

[jamesraeburn2003 · 8/10 · 15 April 2023]

An ex-con called Letty Frost (played by Ruth Dunning) runs a boarding house for elderly ladies who are retired criminals themselves - albeit mostly petty sneak thieves. Her new life is threatened by the arrival of one of her former accomplices, Jean Berry (played by Gwenda Wilson), who had attempted to escape from prison with her. It transpires that Letty had got away, although a fall as she went over the wall left her confined to a wheelchair while Jean was promptly recaptured. Jean attempts to blackmail Letty into signing over half of her business to her threatening to tell her beloved niece Freda (played by Joanna Dunham) and her journalist fiancé Jack (played by Howard Pays) about her criminal past if she refuses. However, Letty is too smart for her and she ends up being murdered. Letty gets another of her old friends from London's underworld, George 'Butch' Birling (played by Jerold Wills), to dispose of her body. But, events take an unexpected turn that threatens to expose Letty's past...

Immensely enjoyable British 'B'-pic crime drama, which features a strong performance from veteran actress Ruth Dunning who brings out the ambiguity of her character. She appears to have put her criminal past behind her and comes across as a kindly middle-aged lady who has taken to providing a home and care for the ex-petty criminals at her boarding house. Her attempts to keep them on the straight and narrow (mostly unsuccessful) allow for some charm and light comedy as the seemingly sweet old ladies are forever pilfering from the local shops. And poor old Letty is always returning them to the shopkeepers who are aware of it, but make allowances due to the fact that they are elderly people. Letty tells them off in a firm, but soft manner before letting them off with a slapped wrist giving the impression that she is slightly amused by it all. Letty also dotes on her 21-year-old niece Freda whose parents were supposedly killed in a tragic accident in which a ship they were traveling on had sunk. She ensured that she was cared for whilst inside doing a seven-year stint for a jewel robbery. Yet, there is much mystery surrounding her criminal past. It is suggested throughout, though never fully explained, that she was a hardened criminal capable of being extremely ruthless. It is hinted that she had murdered her boyfriend who it was believed had died in a London gang fight many years before. But, Letty had gone to ground for a few years afterwards. Then, later, after Jack has married Freda, he reveals that he had checked the passenger list of those who had been aboard the sunken ship, but that Freda's parents weren't on it. What was the truth behind that? The suspense aspect is also good as the Yard, led by Trevor Reid's Inspector Craven, begin to piece together the truth behind Jean's murder. In conclusion, although the climax is rather predictable and not atypical of so many British 'B's' of the period, the film is rescued by the intrigue and mystery surrounding Ruth Dunning's character, which means we are left wondering what she was really about once the end credits have rolled since it leaves so many questions unanswered. This stands as one of director Charles Saunders' better efforts while Geoffrey Faithfull's lighting is atmospheric and enhances the attractive setting of the boarding house for ex-petty criminals. The handful of locations, including the parade of shops next to Strawberry Hill train station are well used.