The Dark Man

The Dark Man (AKA Man Detained) is a 1951 British black and white, film-noir, thriller, crime, drama, film, from Rank Studios, written and directed by Jeffrey Dell, and starring Edward Underdown, Maxwell Reed and Natasha Parry. Plot At a farmhouse in a lonely wood, ruthless killer "The Dark Man" (Maxwell Reed) murders a petty criminal. He then shoots the taxi driver who drove him there, knowing he would be able to identify him. However, the murder is witnessed by a young actress, Molly (Natasha Parry), who is passing by. The Dark Man now has reason to silence her as well. When the police investigate the murder, Inspector Viner (Edward Underdown) is assigned to the case, and soon develops romantic feelings for Molly. Meanwhile, The Dark Man continues to stalk his prey, and is foiled in an attempt to strangle Molly at her home - but continues to pursue her. The climax comes with a desperate chase across a desolate landscape. Cast Edward Underdown as Detective Inspector Jack Viner Maxwell Reed as The Dark Man Natasha Parry as Molly Lester William Hartnell as Superintendent Of Police Barbara Murray as Carol Burns Cyril Smith as Samuel Denny Leonard White as Detective Evans Johnny Singer as The Adjutant Geoffrey Sumner as Major Sam Kydd as Sergeant Major Geoffrey Bond as Walsham Police Sergeant Gerald Andersen as Walsham Police Inspector Betty Cooper as Carol's Mother Robert Long as Charles Burns Grace Denbeigh-Russell as Hotel Proprietress Norman Claridge as Doctor John Hewer as Taxi Driver Critical reception The New York Times wrote: "this Julian Wintle production often stirs up a fair amount of suspense and absorption, chiefly because of the efficient direction of Jeffrey Dell, an excellent performance by Edward Underdown, as a detective, and a painless round-up of typical British "types" in minor roles. But the scenario is a meandering affair overbalanced with too many sneering close-ups of its culprits, and...anything but suggestive of the banner of the distributors, Fine Arts Films, Inc.". AllMovie noted: "the plot is nothing new, though the settings--a provincial repertory theatre, a military rifle range--are rather novel"; and Britmovie thought, "Edward Underdown is clearly too old to be the young policeman and love interest, but brooding Maxwell Reed is very effective as the shadowy ‘Dark Man’."