THE FAKE
UK, 1953, 70 minutes, Black-and-white.
Dennis O' Keefe, Colleen Gray, Hugh Williams, Guy Middleton, John Laurie, Gerald Case, Elliot Makeham, Dora Bryan, Billie Whitelaw, Leslie Phillips.
Directed by Godfrey Grayson.
The fake is one of those small-budget supporting features of the early 1950s in Britain, often with American leads, in this case Dennis O’Keefe? and Colleen Gray. And there is always a good strong supporting British cast, this time better than usual with Hugh Williams as an aristocratic art connoisseur, Guy Middleton as an insurance investigator, John Laurie (who had been appearing in films since 1930 – and with dad’s Army to come) is a frustrated painter. In the supporting cast is Dora Bryan doing her familiar barmaid turn and small early roles for Billie Whitelaw and Leslie Phillips.
The film has the atmosphere of London at the time, the streets and buildings – but, especially, with permission from the Tate Gallery not only to film the exteriors but to film within the museum itself.
A nicely complicated plot about stealing da Vinci paintings – and a suspected villain who turns out to be more callous than might have been anticipated.
Not a bad entertainment of its time.
1. Small-budget supporting thriller of the early 1950s? The American presence?
2. The London settings, the streets, the buildings, the Tate Gallery, exteriors, interiors, the extensive filming in the Gallery, authentic? Homes? Novels? The musical score?
3. The opening, Mitchell observing, Smith observing, the artwork at the wharf, the attempt to substitute a fake? The involvement of the Tate?
4. Mitchell, sent to the UK, to unravel the mystery about the missing da Vinci paintings, the reward? Previous war service, travel, tough? The encounters with Smith, their becoming friends, helping each other? Work in the Gallery, the opening, supervision of the guests, discovering Mary and her father, dealing with the manager of the Gallery, Randall? The tours, the security, the guides, book sales, the boiler room?
5. The introduction of Sir Richard, patron of the arts, friend of the Gallery? Financial support?
6. Mitchell, the attraction to Mary, her resistance, the discussions, the guidebook and no mention of da Vinci? The discussion with the curators, the experts on forgeries and authenticity? The explanation of the paints, the style of painting, the gradual progress of the painting, compared with the fake with everything done simultaneously?
7. Mitchell, interested in Mason, his abilities, his reputation, failed artist, the past exhibition? Going to the meal, Mason making way for Mitchell and Mary, the attraction?
8. Mitchell, his idea of commissioning a painting of Mary, her sitting, the result? Mitchell visiting, taking another painting, giving it to the experts, revealing Mason’s method for forgery? The news about the blue colour, lapis lazuli, the street painter and his buying it, taking Mitchell to the house? Working for Mason?
9. The former Army man, substituting paintings? The chase throughout the Gallery?
10. The discovery of Mason dead? Murder? The further investigations? Mitchell and his visiting to Sir Richard? Sir Richard and his chair, the stolen paintings, the confrontation with the Army man, poisoning him? The plan with Mary, getting her to his house?
11. Mitchell and Smith, in Mason’s studio, the discovery of the painting, fresh, the clue to unmask Sir Richard?
12. The confrontation at Sir Richard’s house, the struggle, the police? His being unmasked?
13. An entertaining small budget film – with some education about paintings, forgeries, da Vinci, Galleries?
