Third Party Risk is a 1954 British crime drama film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Lloyd Bridges, Simone Silva and Finlay Currie. It is based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Nicholas Bentley. It was produced by Hammer Films as a second feature at the company's Bray Studios in Berkshire with sets designed by the art director James Elder Wills. It was released in the United States by Lippert Pictures under the alternative title Deadly Game.
Plot
While holidaying in Spain, Philip Graham (Bridges) by chance runs into an old wartime RAF colleague Tony Roscoe (Peter Dyneley), now a society photographer. The pair spend some time reminiscing, before Tony is urgently called back to England on business. Tony is required to fly home, so Philip offers to drive Tony's car back from Spain at the end of his holiday. Tony asks him to also pick up an envelope he has left in the hotel safe.
After Tony's departure, Phil is attacked in a case of mistaken identity while driving Tony's car. When he reports the attack, a local police inspector (Roger Delgado) and a mysterious hotel guest Darius (Currie) both tell him that since his discharge from the RAF, Tony has become embroiled in suspicious and probably criminal activities and has been under surveillance.
Back in England, Phil goes to return the car, only to find Tony dead on the floor of his darkroom. Phil becomes the prime suspect and, realising that the key to the case must be the contents of the envelope he has in his possession, sets about investigating on his own account. He quickly becomes drawn into a world of extortion and industrial espionage, focussed on a stolen medical formula which many people seem to want to get their hands on. Along the way he romances the enigmatic Mitzi (Silva) and also falls into the sphere of influence of sultry temptress Marina (Maureen Swanson). Developments lead him back to Spain, where he finally manages to crack the mystery.
Cast
Lloyd Bridges as Philip Graham
Simone Silva as Mitzi Molnaur
Finlay Currie as Mr. Darius
Maureen Swanson as Marina
Ferdy Mayne as Maxwell Carey
Peter Dyneley as Tony Roscoe
George Woodbridge as Inspector Goldfinch
Russell Waters as The Scientist
Roger Delgado as Detective Gonzales
Seymour Green as Rope-Soles
Leslie Wright as Sergeant Ramirez
Mary Parker as Nancy
Jane Asher as Girl
Patrick Westwood as Porter
Armand Guinle as Hotel Manager
References
Bibliography
Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian. The British 'B' Film. Palgrave MacMillan, 2009.