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The Woman in Question

The Woman in Question

  • Status: Released
  • 03-10-1950
  • Runtime: 88 min
  • Score: 6.2
  • Vote count: 19

Agnes "Astra" Huston, a fortune teller at a run-down fair, is found strangled in her bedroom. As the police question five suspects, their interactions with her are shown in flashbacks from their point of view.

Jean Kent

Agnes / Madame Astra / Parrot (voice)

Dirk Bogarde

R.W. (Bob) Baker

John McCallum

Michael Murray

Susan Shaw

Catherine Taylor

Hermione Baddeley

Mrs. Finch

Charles Victor

Albert Pollard

Duncan Macrae

Supt. Lodge

Lana Morris

Lana Clark

Joe Linnane

Inspector Butler

Vida Hope

Shirley Jones

John Boxer

Detective Lucas

Albert Chevalier

W.T. Gunter

Julian D'Albie

Police Surgeon

Anthony Dawson

Inspector Wilson

Richard Dunn

Police Sergeant

Ian Fleming

Doctor

Nora Gordon

Neighbour

Helen Goss

Neighbour

Everley Gregg

Lipstick Customer

Duncan Lamont

Barney

Tom Macaulay

Flashy Man

John Martin

Police Photographer

Josephine Middleton

Mrs. Hengist

Richard Pearson

Detective

Robert Scroggins

Alfie Finch

Merle Tottenham

Neighbour

CinemaSerf

Rhetorical question but how is it possible to murder a fortune teller? Surely she should have anticipated the crime and had the constabulary ready and waiting? Well apparently not as "Madame Astra" (Jean Kent) is found slain. It falls to policeman "Lodge" (Duncan Macrae) to try and piece together just what might have happened to her. Now it was a fairly tight knit community and this woman wasn't universally liked. She didn't exactly get on with her sister, nor with her intended (Dirk Bogarde) of whom it has to be said is probably a bit of a rake. Meantime, she seems to have taken advantage of local shopkeeper "Pollard" (Charles Victor) as well as seafaring man "Michael" (John McCallum) and all under the nosey gaze of her housekeeper "Mrs. Finch" (Hermione Baddeley). Many of their alibis overlap and it's interesting for the copper to learn a few different permutations of the lead up to events and the one thing that is certain: she was a bit of a manipulatrix who was perfectly prepared to use her wiles to her own advantage. It's nice to see Macrae given a part a little more substantial than his usual professional Scotsman and I did quite enjoy the efforts from Baddeley and the multi-faceted Kent as the mystery gradually comes together. It's one of those whodunits where you feel half way through that the killer probably merited a medal rather than the noose, but that's always assuming they get caught!