Rogue's Yarn

Rogue's Yarn is a 1957 British second feature^[1] crime drama film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Nicole Maurey, Derek Bond and Elwyn Brook-Jones.^[2] It was written by Sewell and Ernle Bradford, and distributed by the independent Eros Films.^[3]

Rogue's Yarn
Directed by	Vernon Sewell
Written by	Vernon Sewell Ernle Bradford
Produced by	George Maynard
Starring	Nicole Maurey Derek Bond Elwyn Brook-Jones
Cinematography	Hal Morey
Edited by	Peter Rolfe Johnson
Music by	Robert Sharples
Production company	Cresswell Productions
Distributed by	Eros Films
Release date	August 1957 (1957-08)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Synopsis

John Marsden is conducting a passionate affair with Frenchwoman Michele Cartier, but their hopes that his wealthy invalid wife will soon die are thwarted by her recovery. Pressured by his lover, Marsden begins planning a perfect crime to murder his wife at the family home while he is supposed to be sailing on his yacht between Newhaven and Le Havre in Normandy. However, his hopes of getting clean away from the crime are threatened by the persistent investigations of Detective Inspector Walker.

Cast

• Nicole Maurey as Michele Cartier
• Derek Bond as John Marsden
• Elwyn Brook-Jones as Inspector Walker
• Hugh Latimer as Sergeant Adams
• John Serret as Inspector Lafarge
• John Salew as Sam Youles
• Nigel Fitzgerald as commissioner
• Joan Carol as nurse
• Madoline Thomas as cook
• Agatha Carroll as Hester Marsden
• Barbara Christie as maid
• Hugh Morton as doctor
• Colin Tapley as police inspector
• Sidney Vivian as corner shop proprietor
• André Maranne as French fisherman

Production

It was shot at Brighton Studios.^[1] The film's sets were designed by the art director Bernard Sarron.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A routine detective story of the "how-he-did-it" school, fairly interesting in plot but sometimes over-calculated in presentation. The two principals are dull, but John Serret is entertaining as a French police official, while Elwyn Brook-Jones avoids the hackneyed in his characterisation of a Scotland Yard man – though his disrespect for superior authorities seems somehow unlikely."^[4]

Picture Show wrote: "Derek Bond, as the murderer, Nicole Maurey, as his French girl-friend, and Elwyn Brook-Jones, as the detective, give good performances in this interesting and holding tale."^[5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Intriguing will-they-get-him yarn with some offbeat characterization in supporting roles."^[6]