{{short description|1956 film by Henry Cass}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = The High Terrace | image = High Terrace56.jpg | caption = | director = Henry Cass | producer = {{ubl|Robert S. Baker|Monty Berman}} | writer = {{ubl|Norman Hudis|Alfred Shaughnessy|Brock Williams}} | based_on = an original story by A. T. Weisman | narrator = | starring = {{ubl|Dale Robertson|Lois Maxwell|Derek Bond\Eric Pohlmann|Lionel Jeffries}} | music = Stanley Black | cinematography = Eric Cross | editing = Henry Richardson | studio = Cipa | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1956|10|1|UK general release|df=yes}} | runtime = 69 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = | gross = }}
'''''The High Terrace''''', also known as '''''High Terrace''''', is a 1956 black and white British second feature ('B')<ref name="Chibnall">{{Cite book |last1=Chibnall |first1=Steve |title=''The British 'B' Film'' |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=177}}</ref> mystery film directed by Henry Cass and starring Dale Robertson, Lois Maxwell, Derek Bond, Eric Pohlmann and Lionel Jeffries.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The High Terrace |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150035122 |access-date=29 September 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ac4c8f5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927185824/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ac4c8f5|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2016|title=The High Terrace (1956)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78018/high-terrace#film-details|title=High Terrace (1956) - Original Print Info - TCM.com|website=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=2016-09-02|archive-date=2016-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914140356/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78018/High-Terrace/original-print-info.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was written by Norman Hudis, Alfred Shaughnessy and Brock Williams from an original story by A. T. Weisman.
==Plot== Beautiful fledgling actress Stephanie Blake is starring in playwright Otto Kellner's latest theatrical hit. Unbeknownst to her, the writer is in love with her, and is jealous of any competition. Stephanie is ambitious for a part in a new play by American Bill Lang, but Kellner refuses to release her from her contract. When Kellner is found stabbed with a pair of Stephanie's scissors, Bill Lang fears she is being framed and so aids her in moving the body. But when the police discover the corpse, everyone becomes a suspect.
==Cast== {{cast listing| *Dale Robertson as Bill Lang *Lois Maxwell as Stephanie Blake *Derek Bond as John Mansfield *Eric Pohlmann as Otto Kellner *Mary Laura Wood as Molly Kellner *Lionel Jeffries as Monkton *Jameson Clark as Detective Inspector MacKay *Carl Bernard as Jock Dunmow *Garard Green as Raymond White *Olwen Brookes as Mother Superior *Benita Lydal as Violet Gage *Jack Cunningham as priest *Jonathan Field as theater critic *Gretchen Franklin as Mrs. Webb *Alan Robinson as Robert Baines *Marianne Stone as Mansfield's landlady *Frederick Treves as Constable West }}
==Critical reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "A carefully made, rather slowly developed murder mystery with some above average playing in the supporting parts. Lois Maxwell is convincing in the slightly unsympathetic role of the ambitious Stephanie."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1956 |title=The High Terrace |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305821795 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=23 |issue=264 |pages=130 |id={{ProQuest|1305821795}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "Lois Maxwell displays considerable finesse as Stephanie, Dale Robertson, the western favourite, gets along comfortably without his horse as Bill, and Eric Pohlmann, although dismissed in the second reel, makes quite an impression as Kellner. Dialogue smooth, staging effective, and twist climax aptly timed."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=6 September 1956 |title=High Terrace |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2826280225 |journal=Kine Weekly |volume=473 |issue=2560 |pages=16 |id={{ProQuest|2826280225}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Whodunnit is slow-moving, but keeps you guessing."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=321}}</ref>
Leslie Halliwell said: "Rather solemn, enclosed little mystery which invokes no compulsion to go on watching."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Halliwell |first=Leslie |title=Halliwell's Film Guide |publisher=Paladin |year=1989 |isbn=0586088946 |edition=7th |location=London |pages=467}}</ref>
Leonard Maltin gave the film two out of four stars, calling it a "minor drama."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78018/high-terrace|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914122442/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78018/High-Terrace/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2016|title=High Terrace (1956) - Overview - TCM.com|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>
==References== <references/>
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0049315|title=High Terrace}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160927185824/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ac4c8f5 ''The High Terrace'' at the British Film Institute]
Category:1956 films Category:British mystery films Category:Films directed by Henry Cass Category:Films with screenplays by Norman Hudis Category:1956 English-language films Category:1956 British films Category:1950s mystery films Category:British black-and-white films Category:Films scored by Stanley Black Category:English-language mystery films