Ex-drug addict turned author Tim Brett becomes involved in a labyrinthine nightmare when his wealthy aunt Lucy is murdered in Pompeii. Not satisfied with the police's seeming disinterest in the murder, Tim begins investigating the case himself, discovering that his aunt was not quite the benevolent philanthropist he thought she was. After several mysterious warnings to stop his investigation, Tim has to deal with bogus policemen, a false assault accusation, people not being whom or what they appear, and finally a severe beating by some thugs-who also inject him with drugs. All this makes him more determined than ever to find out what happened to Aunt Lucy. But will he? Intriguing mystery with Hemmings quite believable in the lead, and more than ably assisted by the great Wilfrid Hyde-White, Flora Robson, Adolfo Celi and Roland Culver. The lovely Gayle Hunnicutt, who plays Juliet Bristow, was Hemming's wife at the time the film was made. Johnny Harris's music is appropriately enigmatic, and Oswald Morris's cinematography is excellent.
-Scott Palmer |