The Painted Smile

The Painted Smile
Original British quad poster
Directed by	Lance Comfort
Written by	Pip and Jane Baker
Based on	an original idea by Brock Williams
Produced by	Tom Blakeley
Starring	Liz Fraser Kenneth Griffith
Cinematography	Basil Emmott
Edited by	John Trumper
Music by	Martin Slavin
Production companies	Blakeley's Films (M/C) Ltd. Colorama Features Mancunian Film
Distributed by	Planet Film Distributors (UK)
Release date	May 1962 (UK)
Running time	56 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Painted Smile is a 1962 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Liz Fraser, Kenneth Griffith, 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

• Liz Fraser - Jo Lake
• Kenneth Griffith - Kleinie
• Peter Reynolds - Mark
• Tony Wickert - Tom
• Craig Douglas - Nightclub Singer
• Nanette Newman - Mary
• Ray Smith - Glynn
• David Hemmings - Roy
• Harold Berens - Mikhala
• Grazina Frame - Lucy
• Richard McNeff - Police Inspector
• Gerald Sim - Plain Clothes Policeman
• Rosemary Chalmers - Gloria
• Mia Karam - Dawn
• Terence Maidment - Henchman
• Bill Stevens - Henchman
• Lionel Ngakane - Barman
• Ann Wrigg - 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."

External links

• The Painted Smile at IMDb
• The Painted Smile at the TCM Movie Database