BLACK WIDOW is another short feature made by Hammer Films in the early 1950s. It looks and feels much like the rest of the fare they were putting out during the era, limited as they were by low budgets and slightly stodgy writing. This one was directed by Vernon Sewell, who went on to make much more fun films in the years to come, such as GHOST SHIP and RADIO CAB MURDER. The dullish Robert Ayres plays a guy who suffers a dramatic car accident and ends up amnesic - that old chestnut. He returns to his blonde bombshell wife, as played by Christine Norden of the short-lived career (Diana Dors would come along and steal her thunder in a couple of years time) but there's a small-time conspiracy in store. At a mere 52 minutes in length this rushes through the proceedings but doesn't allow time for any kind of atmosphere, suspense, or depth.

So says the doctor when he is asked whether to call in a psychiatrist.This film seems to be in two parts.The first where Ayres looses and tries to recover his memory.The second where he recovers his homicidal spouse.Christine was a real blonde bombshell.Yet she only appeared in a handball of films.Maybe the competition from Diana Does was too stiff.However she goes full out as the murderous wife.Having been disappointed by the reappearance of husband Ayres,she has to go to the trouble of bumping him off again.There is a lot of plot for so short a film so,as a result,there are a lot of holes in the plot and far too many coincidences and contrivance.However it is all quite entertaining.

This had the makings of being an excellent movie. However, it needed more meat on the bones. Christine Norden and Robert Ayers give terrific performances in this noirish thriller. Unfortunately, at just over 52 minutes there just isn't enough time to allow the story to fully develop. Therefore, it ends up playing more like a TV drama than a full length film. The abrupt ending is less than satisfying. In spite of the time drawback, I'd still recommend this.

BLACK WIDOW 1951Robert Ayres is driving down a country lane when he comes across someone laying in the middle of the road. Thinking it is someone who has been hit by a car he stops to see if he can help. What he gets for his efforts is a vicious belt to the head from a lead cosh. He is then relieved of his wallet and his car.Several minutes later having somewhat recovered, he staggers to a nearby farmhouse and collapses. He is found and a doctor is called. Meanwhile the car thief has made it about 30 miles before he takes a corner a tad fast and goes for an unwanted flight off a cliff. Needless to say that the car explodes taking care of the thief. Back at the farmhouse Ayres has regained consciousness.One slight problem though. He has no idea who he is or how he got to the farmhouse. The local doctor says to get some rest and the police say there are no reported missing persons. The farm owner and his daughter agree to house Ayres while he recovers. Several weeks go by and Ayres still has no memory of who he his. A search of his overcoat turns up a theatre ticket from a town 60 miles away.Ayres grabs a train and heads for the town. Once there he recognizes a large house. He enters and finds a coffin covered with flowers in the front room. A blonde, Christine Norden, enters and upon seeing Ayres screams and then faints. Ayres memory all drops back into place! Norden is his wife and this is his house. It seems Norden thought Ayres had been killed in the car crash that killed the car thief.All is now well. Or is it? It seems Norden has been stepping out with another man and has plans of her own for the estate. She asks if anyone had seen him come home. "No", answers Ayres. "Go have a sleep while I make some calls. We'll have a welcome home party tonight" she says. While Ayres is upstairs, Norden makes a call to her lover to arrange Ayres upcoming demise. Of course her plan comes unraveled and Norden and her lover get their just deserts.This is a brisk moving 60 min thriller from the U.K. Directed by Vernon Sewell who did several very good little noir like, STRONGROOM, MAN IN THE BACK SEAT and UNEASY TERMS. Christine Norden did quite a few blonde bimbo roles before Diana Dors showed up on the scene.