''The Painted Smile'' is a 1962 British

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Lance Comfort Lance Comfort (11 August 1908 – 25 August 1966) was an English film director. In a career spanning over 25 years, he became one of the most prolific film directors in Britain, though he never gained critical attention and remained on the ...

and starring

Liz Fraser Elizabeth Joan Winch (14 August 1930 – 6 September 2018), known professionally as Liz Fraser, was a British film actress, best known for being cast in provocative comedy roles. Early life Fraser was born in Southwark, London. Her year of bi ...

Kenneth Griffith Kenneth Griffith (born Kenneth Reginald Griffiths, 12 October 1921 – 25 June 2006) was a Welsh actor and documentary filmmaker. His outspoken views made him a controversial figure, especially when presenting documentaries which have been ca ...

, Peter Reynolds and Tony Wickert. The film was known in the USA as ''Murder Can Be Deadly''.

Plot

Tom, a student, comes under suspicion of murder when he discovers a dead body in the flat of con artist Jo. After he touches the murder weapon, Jo convinces him it is in his interest to dispose of the body. The victim was Jo's partner in crime who has been murdered by a Soho gang boss. However, the suspicions of the police are aroused and Tom becomes the obvious suspect.

Cast

- Jo Lake *

- Kleinie * Peter Reynolds - Mark * Tony Wickert - Tom *

Craig Douglas Craig Douglas (born Terence Perkins, 13 August 1941) is an English pop singer, who was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His sole UK chart-topper, " Only Sixteen" (1959), sold more copies in the UK than Sam Cooke's original version. C ...

Nightclub Singer A nightclub act is a production, usually of nightclub music or comedy, designed for performance at a nightclub, a type of drinking establishment, by a nightclub performer such as a nightclub singer or nightclub dancer, whose performance may ...

Nanette Newman Nanette Newman (born 29 May 1934) is an English actress and author. She appeared in nine films directed by her husband Bryan Forbes, including ''Séance on a Wet Afternoon'' (1964), '' The Whisperers'' (1967), '' Deadfall'' (1968), '' The Stepf ...

- Mary * Ray Smith - Glynn * David Hemmings - Roy * Harold Berens - Mikhala *

Grazina Frame Grazina Frame (born Lydia Anna Grazina Obrycha; 6 November 1941, Borough of Fylde, Fylde, Lancashire, England) is an English stage and screen actress, singer and voice double Early life Grazina Frame was born as Lydia Anna Grazina Obrycha to Pol ...

- Lucy * Richard McNeff - Police Inspector *

Gerald Sim Gerald Grant Sim (4 June 1925 – 11 December 2014) was an English television and film actor who is perhaps best known for having played the Rector in '' To the Manor Born''. Career Sim was born in Liverpool, Lancashire and made over a hundred ...

- Plain Clothes Policeman * Rosemary Chalmers - Gloria * Mia Karam - Dawn * Terence Maidment - Henchman * Bill Stevens - Henchman * Lionel Ngakane - Barman *

Ann Wrigg Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

- Manageress

Critical reception

The '' Radio Times'' wrote, "this dreadfully dull British B-movie makes its brief running time seem like an eternity"; while ''Cinedelica'' called the film "engaging and without a dull moment. Good stuff."

References

External links

* * 1962 films 1960s thriller films British black-and-white films British thriller films Films directed by Lance Comfort Films set in London Films shot at Shepperton Studios Films with screenplays by Pip and Jane Baker 1960s English-language films 1960s British films {{1960s-thriller-film-stub