Paul Temple Returns

Paul Temple Returns
Directed by	Maclean Rogers
Written by	Francis Durbridge
Based on	Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge
Produced by	Ernest G. Roy
Starring	John Bentley Patricia Dainton Peter Gawthorne
Cinematography	Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by	Jim Connock
Music by	Wilfred Burns
Production company	Nettlefold Films
Distributed by	Butcher's Film Service
Release date	24 November 1952 (1952-11-24)
Running time	71 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Paul Temple Returns is a 1952 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley, Patricia Dainton and Peter Gawthorne. Known in the U.S. as Bombay Waterfront, it was the fourth and last in the series of Paul Temple films distributed by Butcher's Film Service: the others are Send for Paul Temple (1946) (with Anthony Hulme as Paul Temple), Calling Paul Temple (1948, the first with John Bentley in the title role), and Paul Temple's Triumph (1950). Aside from Bentley, the other actors were different from those in the earlier film series. It was released in the United States under the alternative title Bombay Waterfront.

The film was shot at Walton Studios with sets designed by the art director George Paterson. Some location shooting also took place in London. The film was distributed by Butcher's Film Service which specialised in releasing lower-budget productions.

Plot

A series of seemingly unconnected murders takes place in London, with the murderer leaving a calling card signed "The Marquess". Aspiring novelist and amateur detective Paul Temple and his wife Steve are called in to investigate. An ancient papyrus scroll recently excavated in Egypt by the menacing archaeologist Sir Felix Raybourne (played by Christopher Lee) appears to hold the key to the murders. It details an antidote for all narcotic drugs, which if put to use could put an end to lucrative criminal drug cartels in London. The screenplay was adapted from the radio serial Paul Temple Intervenes, broadcast in November 1942.

Cast

• John Bentley as Paul Temple
• Patricia Dainton as Steve Temple
• Grey Blake as Storey
• Peter Gawthorne as Sir Graham Forbes
• Valentine Dyall as Superintendent Bradley
• Robert Urquhart as Slater
• Christopher Lee as Sir Felix Raybourne
• Dan Jackson as Sakki
• Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Inspector Ross
• Arthur Hill as Cranmer Guest
• Ben Williams as Reddy Carson

Critical reception

TV Guide called the film a "standard murder mystery," and Britmovie agreed, adding, "b-movie director Maclean Rogers keeps the story moving at a brisk pace and makes good use of exterior locations." As with the previous films in this series, the location footage (this time London, particularly at night), is highly evocative of the period. Renown Pictures has issued all four on DVD.

External links

• Paul Temple Returns at IMDb