DEADLY NIGHTSHADE is one of those tight little thrillers that Britain used to produce after the Second World War and before the craze of super spies when James Bond took over with color and international adventures.
This 1953 film was produced by Baker & Berman, and directed by John Gilling, who did a number of films for them. While there are several familiar actors and actresses to us, some are not known because of the passage of time. This film contains both.
Emrys Jones was becoming a big name at the time. He did a bunch of mystery films and plays and was in the London production of DIAL M FOR MURDER. He tried to get a breakthrough screen role in a major film, but did not make it. What is interesting is that he preformed in a play called DOUBLE IMAGE, which seems to have some plot connection with DEADLY NIGHTSHADE.
At one point Zena Marshall was described as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe and a threat to Dorothy Lamour. Born in Kenya of French and Irish/English ancestry, Marshall turns up as Ann Farrington, who is married to an escaped convict, played by Jones. Marshall is best known for her role as Miss Taro in DR. NO. ("What's going on behind my back?"). Marshall did not need much makeup for her role in the first Bond film except around the eyes. She will always be remembered for her appearance in that film.
John Horsley played the Inspector Clements. His acting career is repleted with playing inspectors and sergeants, and he was in two of the The Duke films with Tom Conway. And Anglo film fans will recognize some of the baddies, including Marne Maitland and George Pastell.
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