This excellent thriller, which preceded Hitchcock's "the wrong man" it recalls sometimes , shares with it the prayer to God as a deus ex machina ,although "long dark hall" turns it into a clever plea against death penalty - it was not abolished yet -and the final trick of the clock (9:10 PM)and the newspaper works as a suspenseful idea as well as a manifesto .
Superb performances by the principals, Rex Harrison injecting ambiguity in his portrayal,thus making us believe he's perhaps somewhat guilty ,though it is a whodunit in reverse ,for we know the face of the killer from the start .Matching him all the way is Lilli Palmer's faithful wife ,who puts her trust in him,even when she learns the most sordid details , and,in spite of her family's disapproval,stands by him all along his trials.
Superb performances by the principals, Rex Harrison injecting ambiguity in his portrayal,thus making us believe he's perhaps somewhat guilty ,though it is a whodunit in reverse ,for we know the face of the killer from the start .Matching him all the way is Lilli Palmer's faithful wife ,who puts her trust in him,even when she learns the most sordid details , and,in spite of her family's disapproval,stands by him all along his trials.