The Drayton Case is a 1953 British short crime film directed and written by Ken Hughes and starring Hilda Barry and John Le Mesurier. It was produced by the Anglo-Amalgamated production company as part of their Scotland Yard film series. It is hosted by Edgar Lustgarten.
It is based on the case of Harry Dobkin with names and some other details changed.Britain's First TV/film Crime Series and the Industrialisation of its Film Industry: 1946-1964 p. 95
Plot During the early years of World War II, a bomb from a German aeroplane uncovers the corpse of a strangled woman. It turns out she was killed by her husband Charles Drayton.
Cast Edgar Lustgarten as host Vincent Platt as Drayton Hilda Barry as Elizabeth Drayton John Le Mesurier as Divisional Superintendent Henley Vincent Ball as Henley's assistant Bartlett Mullins as Mr. Taylor Edward Malin as Caretaker Geoffrey Bellman as Pathologist Eric Evans as Sergeant Thompson Humphrey Morton as Dental Technician Bruce Beeby as Policeman
Production Made at Merton Park Studios, it was originally released as support for cinema feature film screenings and later screened on television.
Reception The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Edgar Lustgarten tells the story in his popular intimate style, and the leading characters are effectively played by Victor Platt, Hilda Barry and John Le Mesurier. A well-produced taut documentary, it makes an excellent programme filler."
References
External links
The Drayton Case at BFI