Television Detectives Vol 1 – The Man who Walks by Night A Dinner Date with Death/The Scarlet Letters [DVD]

Description

The Man who Walks by Night A Dinner Date with Death claimed to be the first ever UK film made for British Television. Introduced by Roy Plomley (creator of the BBC Radio series Desert Island Discs) complete with large hat, darkly shading his face he was the Man who Walks by Night, always in the shadows, his face never fully seen.

Starring: Sir Campbell Cotts, Robert Ayres, Patricia Jessel & James Cairncross.

Written by Kenton Dorward and directed by Eric Fawcett.

Shooting started at Marylebone Studios in July 1949, billed as a short thriller or crime film, and aired for the first on 28th Sept 1950 it was repeated on 1st Feb 1951 & 19th March 1952 it has been unseen since then.

26 further episodes were written but never made. Once thought to be lost forever, Kaleidoscope has located the sole known remaining print and presented here for the first time since 1952, with restoration work taken out on minor damage.

Inspector Morley, Late of Scotland Yard The Case of the Scarlet Letters

John Morley (Patrick Barr), late of Scotland Yard, is approached by Lady Sylvia Gray (Katherine Black) who is being blackmailed by a crook for compromising letters (this society woman has committed an indiscretion). Morley soon discovers that the extortionist is Terence Reilly (Tod Slaughter), homicidal King of the Underworld, and his arch enemy.

Made in 1952, no British channel bought this series, though it did air in the USA. Two B-movies were created: King of the Underworld and Murder at Scotland Yard. Murder at the Grange was also released for cinematic screening in 1954 and was shown on BBC 2. All the films exist but until this sole print was discovered by Kaleidoscope, all original episodes were believed lost.

Written by John Gilling and directed by Victor M Gover.

£10 including P&P