A young woman with a key to a hidden fortune is pursued across Europe by her murderous father and a sinister new husband.
The desirable Marianne (Susan George) finds her life in peril after the death of her mother leaves her as the sole heir to a secret fortune. Her evil father, a corrupt Judge (Leo Genn), is determined to claim the inheritance for himself and pursues her to the beaches and discos of Portugal. There, she falls for the charms of a duplicitous character named Sebastian (Christopher Sandford). After marrying him and returning to England, Marianne discovers her new husband has his own treacherous plans. Caught in a web of deceit, her only hope for survival may be Sebastian’s best friend, Eli (Barry Evans), who attempts to save her from the encroaching menace.
This film is a prime example of the British exploitation thrillers crafted by cult director Pete Walker. Setting its psychosexual drama against the fading glamour of swinging London and sunny Portugal, the picture is a quintessential piece of early seventies UK kitsch. While Walker would go on to direct more explicitly gruesome features, this entry is comparatively restrained, focusing more on suspense and the pouty, imperiled performance of Susan George. Though often discussed by genre aficionados, the film remains a lesser-seen work that captures a specific moment in British B-movie history, balancing menace with a distinct period style.
Production Co: Pete Walker Film Productions / 99 minutes / 1971
Director: Pete Walker
Screenplay: Murray Smith
Main Cast: Susan George (Marianne), Barry Evans (Eli Frome), Christopher Sandford (Sebastian Smith), Leo Genn (The Judge), Judy Huxtable (Hildegarde), Paul Stassino (Portuguese Police Detective)
