Man in Hiding (1953) - Turner Classic Movies

Man in Hiding


1h 13m 1953

Brief Synopsis

A mystery made mysterious by the writers via misleading clues, lack of cohesion and glaring loopholes begins when Speight (Kieron Moore) escapes after being found guilty of murder, and his wife, Thelma (Lois Maxwell), believes he is after her because she is in love with another man and has changed her name. Lawyer Bishop and friend (Paul Henreid), playing a hunch, finds Speight at the scene of the crime and learns he is after the real murderer and not his wife. They shift through several men as suspects, all of whom seem to know his wife rather well.

Film Details

Also Known As
Hounded, Mantrap, There's No Escape
Genre
Thriller
Release Date
Oct 2, 1953
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Alexander Paal Films; Exclusive Films, Ltd.
Distribution Company
United Artists Corp.
Country
Great Britain and United States
Location
Bray, England, Great Britain; Windsor, England, Great Britain
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Queen in Danger by Elleston Trevor (London, 1952).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 13m
Color
Black and White
Film Length
7,095ft

Synopsis

English convicted killer and artist Mervyn Speight, who was found guilty by reason of insanity, escapes from prison. A friend of Mervyn enlists lawyer and amateur detective Hugo Bishop to locate the artist. Bishop's talent at detective work enables him to locate Mervyn at a London bomb site, the scene of the murder. The escaped convict reveals that he hopes to prove his innocence because he remembers seeing a man's face before being knocked unconscious and arrested. Meanwhile Mervyn's wife Thelma, a magazine writer, has been living as the wife of Victor Tasman. Thelma's editor, Maurice Jerrard, is the only person who knows that her real husband is incarcerated. Since Mervyn's escape, Thelma fears that he will come after her because of her affair. Bishop comes to believe that Mervyn is sane and innocent, and invites all the other potential suspects to a party. When Mervyn identifies Jerrard as the murderer, Jerrard escapes and, after being pursued by police through London, accidentally falls to his death near the crime scene. Now free, Mervyn travels to Europe so his ex-wife may pursue her romance.

Film Details

Also Known As
Hounded, Mantrap, There's No Escape
Genre
Thriller
Release Date
Oct 2, 1953
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Alexander Paal Films; Exclusive Films, Ltd.
Distribution Company
United Artists Corp.
Country
Great Britain and United States
Location
Bray, England, Great Britain; Windsor, England, Great Britain
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Queen in Danger by Elleston Trevor (London, 1952).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 13m
Color
Black and White
Film Length
7,095ft

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Working titles of this film were Hounded and There's No Escape. American-based producer Alexander Paal's Man in Hiding was shot in Great Britain and first released there under the title Mantrap. The above synopsis and credits are based on contemporary reviews and copyright records.