Tonight's Movie: Time is My Enemy (1954) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

My latest Brit Noir viewing is TIME IS MY ENEMY (1954), from from the Kino Lorber Brit Noir Collection IV.

TIME IS MY ENEMY is quick 64 minutes which rather reminded me of another lean, mean British crime film, the 69-minute WALK A TIGHTROPE (1963).

The movie also calls to mind aspects of NO MAN OF HER OWN (1950), as far as a man from a woman's past showing up to blackmail her, culminating in a "murky" shooting.

TIME IS MY ENEMY was written by Alan McKinnon based on the play SECOND CHANCE by Ella Adkins. It's the story of Barbara Everton (Renee Asherson), who is happily married to John (Patrick Barr), a publisher, and leading a comfortable life. Barbara and John have a young son away at boarding school.

Out of the blue Barbara's first husband, Martin Radley (Dennis Price), thought to have been killed during the London Blitz, shows up on her doorstep.

Martin is a crook looking for money, and Barbara panics at the thought that she's unknowingly a bigamist with an illegitimate child, so she gives Martin an expensive brooch.

Of course, that's never enough, and Martin later comes back for more money... Meanwhile family friend Charles Wayne (Duncan Lamont), a police detective who carries a torch for Barbara, becomes increasingly suspicious as he notices odd goings-on.

This was a moderately entertaining film, made on what appears to be a fairly low budget. I tend to find blackmail stories a bit annoying, as things would inevitably be easier on the blackmail target if they just let everyone know the truth immediately, but then we wouldn't have a movie!

The performances are all adequate, with Price an utter sleaze, but nothing really stands out. It's not a poor film, just rather average, though I did enjoy seeing it as I continue to explore the world of British noir and crime films, and the quick running time works in its favor.

The movie was directed by Don Chaffey and filmed by Geoffrey Faithfull.

The Blu-ray print is a 4K restoration. Again, nothing about the cinematography or film's looks especially stands out, but it's a real pleasure seeing a film like this in such a crisp print, which good sound.

Disc extras include a commentary track by Laurence Lerman along with a gallery of trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber. Although I haven't yet heard this specific commentary, the commentary tracks are a valuable plus as I learn more about British cinema. As the saying goes, "It's film school in a box!"

Previous reviews from Kino Lorber's Brit Noir Volumes I, II, III, and IV include CAGE OF GOLD (1950), THE LONG ARM (1956), THE FRIGHTENED CITY (1961), PAYROLL (1961), and THE TECKMAN MYSTERY (1954).

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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