Noose For A Lady

This engaging whodunit from 1953 marked the directorial debut of German-born writer, producer and director Wolf Rilla, whose masterwork remains the sci-fi adaptation Village Of The Damned. In Noose For A Lady, an amateur detective desperately tries to prove his cousin’s innocence, before her death sentence is carried out.

When Simon Gale (Vincent Price) returns from Uganda, he is in for a nasty surprise. His cousin Margaret (Pamela Alan) has been convicted of poisoning her husband, and has been sentenced to death – with no hope of reprieve. For one, Margaret’s stepdaughter Jill Hallam (Rona Anderson) is convinced that Margaret is innocent, and so is Simon. Together with Jill he sets out to find the real murderer but with Margaret’s execution only seven days away, this might be more difficult than anticipated.

Simon and Jill question everyone who had connections to the dead man, and although they work together with friends and family, the culprit might be closer than assumed. From Vanessa Lane (Melissa Stribling) and Mrs. Langdon-Humpries (Alison Leggatt) to Robert Upcott (Charles Lloyd-Pack) and Dr. Evershed (Ronald Howard), as far as Simon is concerned, each might be responsible for the killing. As the day of Margaret’s execution draws nearer, a turn of events - namely the poisoning of a vital informant – makes Simon believe he has solved the mystery… leading up to the film’s nerve-racking climax.

Dennis Price and Rona Anderson display a believable chemistry in their quest for finding the murderer. Pamela Alan delivers a haunting portrayal of a woman days away from her execution – the scene in which she keeps banging her hand against the wall in her cell, whilst her mind seems to be elsewhere, speaks volumes and chillingly demonstrates her increasing anguish.

Based on the novel ‘Whispering Woman’ by Gerald Verner, Noose For A Lady is as much taut murder mystery as it is an ensemble piece and occasionally references other murders in which poison was used. And yes, it is also a portrait of a bygone era depicting quaint country pubs and a very different pace of life.

Part of the British film Collection, this DVD release is presented here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements, and contains the following EXTRAS:

• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Image Gallery
• Promotional Materials PDF
• Instant Play Facility