The Trunk (film)

This article is about the 1961 film. For the Twilight Zone episode, see The Trunk (The Twilight Zone). For other uses, see Trunk.

The Trunk is a 1961 British low budget black and white mystery film directed by Donovan Winter and starring Phil Carey, Julia Arnall and Dermot Walsh.^[1] It was written by Winter based on a story by Edward Abraham and Valerie Abraham.

The Trunk
Original 1961 poster
Directed by	Donovan Winter
Screenplay by	Donovan Winter
Story by	Edward Abraham Valerie Abraham
Produced by	Lawrence Huntington
Starring	Philip Carey Julia Arnall Dermot Walsh
Cinematography	Norman Warwick
Edited by	Reginald Beck
Music by	John Fox
Production company	Donwin Films
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	13 February 1961 (1961-02-13) (United Kingdom) 6 September 1961 (1961-09-06) (United States)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

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.

Cast

• Phil Carey as Stephen Dorning
• Julia Arnall as Lisa Maitland
• Dermot Walsh as Henry Maitland
• Vera Day as Diane
• Peter Swanwick as Nicholas Steiner
• John Atkinson as Matt
• Betty Le Beau as Maria
• Tony Quinn as porter
• Robert Sansom as bank manager
• Pippa Stanley as Mrs. Stanhope
• Richard Nellor as Sir Hubert
• Nicholas Tanner as policeman

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "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]