The Strange Case of Dr. Manning (Republic Pictures) (1958)

STRANGE CASE OF DR. MANNING (2A) TENSION MOUNTS as Inspector Bruce Seton, left, and Private Investigator Ron Randell team to solve the “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” Republic’s mystery thriller currently on the screen Ol atheina. aise: Theatre. The film, which.wall be at <thece acess for one week, is a John Bash Production. PRIVATE-EYE Ron _ Randell closes the “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” Republic drama NOW:-at_ these... ee Thriller is a John Bash Production. SMASH WHODUNIT COMING FRIDAY “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” one of the season’s top Tracing the _ fear-filled attempts of a frantic wife to secure the release from _ kidnappers of her doctor husband, the John Bash Production is packed with tension. Ron Randell is an American private-eye who collaborates with a Scotland Yard inspector, Bruce Seton, to solve the baffling case. Greta Gynt is excellent as the frightened wife. This is definitely a ‘don’ttell-the-ending” film, and _ it should be seen from the start. “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” a Republic Presentation, was directed by Arthur Crabtree for Producer Alfred Strauss. Paul Tabori and Bill Luckwell wrote the screenplay, which was based on a story by Leo Townsend. ‘STRANGE CASE OF DR. MANNING (2B WOMAN IN TERROR is lovely Greta Gynt as she follows kid napper’s instructions in Republic’s “Strange Case of Dr. Man ning,’ mystery drama which starts..................4. Bt UN Gis tee ees Ron Randell co-stars in the John Bash Production. “STRANGE CASE OF DR. MANNING” SUSPENSE-PACKED MYSTERY (Review) An excellent suspense story opened yesterday at cee ae ae Theatre, “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” a John Bash Production starring Ron Randell and Greta Gynt. The best traditions of Scotland Yard efficiency sare abetted this time by an American private-eye as the law relentlessly closes in on a _ violent kidnapper. Tension Builds Opening on the abduction of Dr. Manning, the film builds in tension and excitement as Randell as the private-eye and Bruce Seton as the Scotland Yard inspector attempt to solve the kidnapping mystery. Even though the _ doctor’s wife, played sensitively by Greta Gynt, follows the kidnapper’s instructions to the letter, two murders are committed before a surprise clue turns the police on the right track. Fine Supporters Excellent supporting performances are credited to Charles Farrell, Peter Noble, Virginia Keiley and Garard Green, The Republic Presentation was produced by Alfred Strauss for Executive Producer Bash and directed by Arthur Crabtree. Paul Tabori and Bill Luckwell wrote the screenplay, which was based on a story by Leo Townsend. == STORY LOVELY ACTRESS LOVES OUTDOORS Lovely Greta Gynt, who costars with Ron Randell in John Bash’s_ suspense-filled production, “Strange Case otf Dr. Manning,” coming soon to the i SE Theatre, was born in Oslo, Norway, and is a real ice maiden. She spends every possible vacation day ice skating or skiing. Those vacations have been few and far between for Greta, though, since she started her theatrical career as a teen-ager in a London stage _ production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Numerous stage and film appearances followed, and today she is one of television’s brightest stars. “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,” a Republic Presentation, was directed by Arthur Crabtree for Producer’ Alfred Strauss. Paul Tabori and Bill Luckwell wrote the screenplay, which was based on a_ story by Leo Townsend. RON RANDELL A TRIPLE-THREAT IN THE THEATRE Handsome Ron Randell is a triple-threat man in the theatrical world. He is equally at ease on stage, in television and in motion pictures, his latest of which is John Bash’s Production, “Strange Case of DreManine:’now at. ther... Theatre. Television-wise, is scoring a tremendous hit in his own series, “O.S.S.” Born in Sydney, Australia, Ron began his dramatic career on radio at the age of 14, and shortly thereafter made his stage debut with an Australian stock company. After making “Pacific Adventure” for an Australian film company, Ron went to London, where he appeared on stage in_ several West End productions. A brief appearance in a British film won him a Hollywood contract. Top Film Credits Ron has appeared in films with some of _— screenland’s most glamorous stars, including Evelyn Keyes, Rita Hayworth and Ginger Rogers. His film credits include: “It Had to be You,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “I am a Camera.” “Strange Case of Dr. Manning,’ in which Ron plays a private-eye and co-stars with Greta Gynt, is a Republic Presentation, produced by Alfred Strauss and directed by Arthur Crabtree. Paul Tabori and Bill Luckwell wrote the screenplay, which was based on a story by Leo Townsend. S he leaves home on an early morning emergency call, Dr. Manning (David Lander) is forced into a strange car. The incident is witnessed by a shady lady, Vera Clark (Virginia Keiley), who thinks the doctor is a drunk. When Dr. Manning fails to return home, his wife, Annette (Greta Gynt), calls in Gil Stev ens (Garard Green), family friend and lawyer. When a ransom note arrives, Stevens hires a private-eye, Nick Logan (Ron Randell), who summons Scotland Yard Inspector Brown (Bruce Seton). Fred Barnes (Peter Fontaine), a reporter, tricks Stevens into admitting that Dr. Manning has been kidnapped and the story hits the headlines. The kidnapper notifies Annette to have the _ police withdraw, and they do. Then Vera Clark, recogniz ing the doctor’s picture in the paper, notifies Logan and Brown that she had seen him the morning he was abducted. They discover the room where Manning has been held and secure vital clues. After two pay-off attempts fail, Annette makes a_television appeal to the kidnapper. Hearing the plea, Logan and Brown rush to the studio, but they are too late. The kidnapper, hiding in the rear of Annette’s car, places a gun at her head and orders her to drive to the station and, with the money, take a train for Hereford. When she sees a white sheet wave three times, she is to throw the bag of money from the train window. In a panic, Annette wrecks the car and the kidnapper flees. Logan and Brown discover a label from a packet of tobacco indicating it came from Wally’s Tobacco Shop, but Wally is unable to help them. Annette follows the kidnapper’s orders and _ tosses. the money from the train, but Dr. Manning is found murdered. Annette agrees to keep this fact secret, but Vera is murdered after her picture is printed in the paper with a story that she is the only one who can recognize the kidnapper. At the tobacco shop, Wally discovers that a customer has handed him a bank note with the serial number of one of the ransom notes. Wally’s assiétant trails the man to his lodgings, where Logan and Brown find the money stowed away in the ceiling. They also find a pay envelope from the Robson Demolition Company. Through the number on the envelope, they discover the kidnapper to be a man named Karver (Charles Farrell), whose sister had been killed by Dr. Manning years before in an auto accident. As the police close in on Karver at a demolition site, he tries to escape but is killed in a fall as a floor gives way. The case is closed. Cast Nick Logan.....RON RANDELL Annette Manning........ Inspector Brown........ ae BRUCE SETON Karver.... CHARLES FPARRELL TV. Announcer........ era VIRGINIA KEILEY Gil Stevens...GARARD GREEN 1st Plain Clothes Man........ aes JOHN WATSON 2nd Plain Clothes Man........ Credits Executive Producer......John Bash Produced “bye t Alfred Strauss Directed by........Arthur Crabtree Screenplay by...... ...Paul Tabori and Bill Luckweil Based on a Story by....- ee Leo Townsend Additional Dialogue by...... it Tom Waldron Director of Photography..... vce James Harvey, B.S.C. Art DU eCl One 22. sae John Stoli Director of Music......... John Bath FalmeEdit0ne.....cccte John Ferris Production Supervisor..... eters Clive Midwinter SOUNU= ae oe Bernard Brown Shetes Stanley Goulder Optical Effects........ ...Consolidated Film Industries RCA Sound System A Republic Presentation A John Bash Production Running Time: 75 Minutes