Attempt to Kill

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Attempt to Kill is a 1961 British crime thriller made as a low-budget B movie. Directed by Royston Morley, it’s based on Edgar Wallace’s 1929 novel The Lone House Mystery and written by Richard Harris. The cast includes Derek Farr as the inspector, with Tony Wright, Richard Pearson, Freda Jackson and Patricia Mort.

The story centers on a businessman who fires one of his employees, and soon afterward someone tries to murder him, making the fired man the main suspect. Filming took place at Merton Park Studios in June 1960, and the film was released on 23 October 1961 with a runtime of 54 minutes. It’s part of the Edgar Wallace Mysteries series produced at Merton Park from 1960 to 1965.

Reviews noted Derek Farr’s capable performance and the Thames setting as strengths, but described the plot as not particularly original. Still, some critics called it a solid second feature.