| The Trunk | |
| Director: | Donovan Winter |
| Producer: | Lawrence Huntington |
| Screenplay: | Donovan Winter |
| Story: | Edward Abraham Valerie Abraham |
| Starring: | Philip Carey Julia Arnall Dermot Walsh |
| Music: | John Fox |
| Cinematography: | Norman Warwick |
| Editing: | Reginald Beck |
| Studio: | Donwin Films |
| Distributor: | Columbia Pictures |
| Runtime: | 72 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Trunk is a low budget, black and white 1961 British mystery film directed by Donovan Winter and starring Phil Carey, Julia Arnall and Dermot Walsh.[1]
Trouble ensues when Lisa marries Henry, a British lawyer. Lisa's jealous ex-boyfriend Stephen decides to take revenge by convincing her that she has killed Diane, her husband's ex-girlfriend. Lisa gives Stephen the money he wants to keep quiet and dispose of the corpse. Unfortunately, the dead woman's other ex-lover, Nicholas, sees the two together. After getting his money from Lisa, Stephen puts Diane's body in a trunk and drives to an isolated area. There he discovers that the woman is not feigning death; she has been killed by the jealous Nicholas, in a manner that will incriminate Stephen.
Monthly Film Bulletin said "Frame-ups, red herrings, theatrical atmosphere and a twist ending, all equally unbelievable, add up to a utility piece of melodramatic nonsense, nowhere really clever enough to arouse much enthusiasm."[2]
TV Guide wrote, "the movie is badly produced and too seamy for its own good."[3]
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "now that the British are importing American actors to commit homicide in their low-budget movies, they seem to have lost their flair." Crowther called it a "foolish melodrama" that is "several kilometers removed from Agatha Christie."[4]
Sky Movies called it a "creepy little thriller" that is "hugely enjoyable. The director doesn't miss a trick at tightening up the suspense."[5]