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The Third Alibi
The Third Alibi
Directed by	Montgomery Tully
Screenplay by	Maurice J. Wilson; Montgomery Tully;
Based on	play A Moment of Blindness by Pip Baker; Jane Baker
Produced by	Maurice J. Wilson
Starring	Laurence Payne; Patricia Dainton; Jane Griffiths;
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey (as James Harvey)
Edited by	Jim Connock
Music by	Don Banks
Production; company	Eternal Films Limited
Distributed by	Grand National Pictures (UK)
Release date	September 1961 (UK);
Running time	68 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Third Alibi is a 1961 British 'B'^[1] thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Laurence Payne, Patricia Dainton, Jane Griffiths and Edward Underdown.^[2]^[3]^[4] The screenplay is by Maurice J. Wilson and Tully, based on the play A Moment of Blindness by Pip and Jane Baker.

Cleo Laine (billed as a guest star) is seen singing a musical number during a brief sequence set in a theatre; her piano accompanist is an uncredited (and unspeaking, though clearly visible) Dudley Moore, in his first film role.

Plot

Musicals composer Norman Martell is having an affair with his wife Helen's divorced half sister, Peggy. Peggy repeatedly asks him to obtain a divorce and marry her; he finally agrees when she becomes pregnant. His wife refuses his request, partly because she still loves Norman, but also out of sibling rivalry, saying that their parents had always made her give way to Peggy's demands, but she would not give in to her this time. She suggests that the child's father may be someone else. Martell cannot just leave his wife, as she manages his royalty income. Instead, he plots her murder with Peggy, intending to use the tape recorder he uses in his composing to establish an alibi. Helen, however, has decided to allow the divorce, and goes to tell her sister, but when she goes to Peggy's house, she overhears their plans, and uses them to devise a murder plan herself.

Cast

Laurence Payne as Norman Martell
Patricia Dainton as Helen Martell
Jane Griffiths as Peggy Hill
Edward Underdown as Doctor Murdoch
John Arnatt as Superintendent Ross
Humphrey Lestocq as producer
Lucy Griffiths as Miss Potter
Cleo Laine as singer
Arthur Hewlett as Marshall
Annette Kerr as cinema cashier
Dudley Moore as piano accompanist (uncredited)

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Despite one or two flaws in the story, this is a cleverly worked out little thriller whose theatrical development and powerful twist ending ensure continuity of excitement. Furthermore, its economy extends to the dialogue as well as the footage, and the acting meets all demands."^[5]

TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, calling it a "tight little thriller."^[6]

BFI Screenonline wrote, "The Third Alibi benefits distinctly from the assured economy of his [Tully's] direction. Compact, low-key, but exciting ... this later work is, characteristically, constructed with precision; and moves smoothly and swiftly towards an effective and ingenious denouement."^[7]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "This is the kind of shoddy crime thriller that gives even low-budget features a bad name. The action never for a second escapes its stage origins ... Blame playwrights Pip and Jane Baker for the elaborate murder games, but even they are betrayed by a cast incapable of holding its own in an amateur theatrical."^[8]