No Trace (1950 film)

No Trace is a 1950 British second feature^[1] crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Hugh Sinclair, Dinah Sheridan and John Laurie.^[2] It was written by Gilling, Robert S. Baker and Carl Nystrom. A crime writer murders a blackmailer, and is then asked to help solve the case by the police.^[3]

No Trace
Directed by	John Gilling
Written by	John Gilling Robert S. Baker Carl Nystrom
Produced by	Robert S. Baker Monty Berman
Starring	Hugh Sinclair Dinah Sheridan John Laurie
Cinematography	Monty Berman
Edited by	Gerald Landau
Music by	John Lanchbery
Production company	Tempean Films
Distributed by	Eros Films (UK)
Release date	8 September 1950 (1950-09-08) (UK)
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Crime novelist Robert Southley murders the man who has been blackmailing him. The police ask him to help with the investigation. When he writes a novel based on the murder, his secretary Linda discovers his guilt. Southley is about to murder Linda but the police rescue her in time.

Cast

• Hugh Sinclair as Robert Southley
• Dinah Sheridan as Linda
• John Laurie as Inspector MacDougall
• Barry Morse as Sergeant Harrison
• Dora Bryan as Maisie Phelps
• Michael Brennan as Mike Fenton
• Anthony Pendrell as Stevens
• Michael Ward as Clooney
• Ernest Butcher as Fern
• Madoline Thomas as Mrs Green
• Beatrice Varley as Mrs Finch
• Sidney Vivian as barman
• Hal Osmond as taxi driver
• Sam Kydd as mechanic

Production

The working title of the film was Murder by the Book.^[4] It was made at Twickenham Studios and on location in London and Buckinghamshire.^[5]

Critical reception

Monthly Film Bulletin said "Competent acting does not compensate for weakmesses in plot construction."^[6]

TV Guide wrote "Though a tightly controlled, well-paced thriller, there are few surprises; the characterizations are well played, and the direction shows a good feel for excitement".^{[7][permanent dead link]}

DVD Talk noted "Not a bad film as much as it is merely diverting."^[8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Unlikely, but competently-done thriller."^[9]

Chibnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film describe the film as a "proficient entertainment."^[1]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "This is a better than-average 'quota quickie' from John Gilling, in which crime writer Hugh Sinclair tries to cover his tracks (and delude snooping cop John Laurie) after he kills a blackmailer from his gangland past. As we know from the outset that he won't get away with it, the fun lies in watching him make the slips that give him away to secretary Dinah Sheridan and her admirer Barry Morse."^[10]