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The Third Alibi is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Laurence Payne, Patricia Dainton, Jane Griffiths and Edward Underdown.[1][2]

The Third Alibi
Directed by	Montgomery Tully
Screenplay by	Maurice J. Wilson Montgomery Tully
Based on	play A Moment of Blindness by Pip Baker Jane Baker
Produced by	Maurice J. Wilson
Starring	Laurence Payne Patricia Dainton Jane Griffiths
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey (as James Harvey)
Edited by	Jim Connock
Music by	Don Banks
Production company	Eternal Films Limited
Distributed by	Grand National Pictures (UK)
Release date	September 1961 (1961-09) (UK)
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Musicals composer Norman Martell (Laurence Payne) is having an affair with his wife Helen's (Patricia Dainton) divorced half sister, Peggy (Jane Griffiths). Peggy repeatedly asks him to obtain a divorce and marry her; he finally agrees when she becomes pregnant. His wife refuses his request out of sibling rivalry and suggests that the child's father may be someone else. Martell cannot just leave his wife, as she manages his royalty income. Instead, he plots her murder with Peggy, intending to use the tape recorder he uses in his composing to establish an alibi. But Helen overhears their plans, and uses them to devise a murder plan herself.

Cast

• Laurence Payne as Norman Martell
• Patricia Dainton as Helen Martell
• Jane Griffiths as Peggy Hill
• Edward Underdown as Doctor Murdoch
• John Arnatt as Superintendent Ross
• Humphrey Lestocq as Producer
• Lucy Griffiths as Miss Potter
• Cleo Laine as Singer
• Arthur Hewlett as Marshall
• Annette Kerr as Cinema cashier
• Dudley Moore as Piano accompanist (uncredited)

Critical reception

TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, calling it a "tight little thriller";[3] and BFI Screenonline wrote, "The Third Alibi benefits distinctly from the assured economy of his (Tully's) direction. Compact, low-key, but exciting...this later work is, characteristically, constructed with precision; and moves smoothly and swiftly towards an effective and ingenious denouement."[4]

References

External links

• The Third Alibi at IMDb
• The Third Alibi at the BFI's Screenonline

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