Time Is My Enemy

1954 British film by Don Chaffey

11 October 1954 (1954-10-11)

Running time

64 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

Time Is My Enemy is a 1954 British crime film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Dennis Price, Renée Asherson and Patrick Barr.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Plot

Small-time crook Radley returns after a long absence to discover his wife Barbara has remarried, believing him killed in the Blitz. Finding her happily married to wealthy publisher John Everton, Radley begins blackmailing Barbara for £500 to keep their previous marriage quiet. When Radley kills a jeweller in a robbery, he is blackmailed by his roommate, so in turn threatens to also blackmail John Everton for £500. When she arrives at Radley's flat to pay the final instalment, he provokes her into shooting him. After surrendering herself to the police, Barbara discovers that all is not as it seems, Radley is wanted for more than one murder; and the police begin to question whether Radley is really dead after all.

Cast

Dennis Price as Martin Radley
Renée Asherson as Barbara Everton
Patrick Barr as John Everton
Duncan Lamont as Inspector Charles Wayne
Susan Shaw as Evelyn Gower
Bonar Colleano as Harry Bond
Alfie Bass as Ernie Gordon
Agnes Lauchlan as Aunt Laura
Brenda Hogan as Diana
Barbara Grayley as Betty the maid
Mavis Villiers as Gladys
William Franklyn as Peter Thompson
Dandy Nichols as Mrs. Budd
Erik Chitty as ballistics expert
Howard Layton as surgeon
Neil Wilson as doctor
Alastair Hunter as bookmaker
Bruce Beeby as room-mate
Nigel Neilson as Hubert
Audrey Hessey as airport receptionist

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A confused thriller, handicapped mainly by an implausible (and complicated) story and artificial dialogue. Dennis Price, as the villain, suffers most from the shortcomings of the script; Duncan Lamont makes an agreeable Inspector."^[5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture appears a little humdrum at the start, but immediately the heroine becomes suspect interest quickens and there is no let-up before it reaches its neat dénouement. Renee Asherson contributes a warm, ingratiating study as Barbara, Dennis Price iy in his element as nasty piece of work Radley, Duncan Lamont thoroughly convinces as the keen yet understanding 'tec Charles, and guest artist Bonar Colleano registers in the "red herring" role of Radley's partner in crime, The domestic touches are at limes quite moving and subtly broaden the film's Sppiy without robbing its climax of surprise and punch. . Points of Appeal. – Tender and suspenseful tale, attractive and resourceful cast, provocative title, handy footage and quota ticket."^[6]

References

^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
^ "Time Is My Enemy". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
^ "Time Is My Enemy (1957) - Don Chaffey - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie".
^ "Time Is My Enemy (1954)". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016.
^ "Time Is My Enemy". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 21 (240): 149. 1 January 1954 – via ProQuest.
^ "Time Is My Enemy". Kine Weekly. 450 (2464): 24. 16 September 1954 – via ProQuest.