Golden Salamander (1950)

An archaeologist (Trevor Howard) travels to Tunisia in North Africa to recover some rare art relics. But when he accidentally stumbles onto a gun smuggling syndicate, he finds himself torn between looking the other way and doing the right thing. It takes a murder to help him make up his mind. Based on the novel by Victor Canning (his FAMILY PLOT was filmed by Hitchcock), this is a surprisingly dull thriller. It can't help but be rich in atmosphere considering the exotic location which is handsomely shot by Oswald Morris (LOLITA) but the director Ronald Neame (PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE) seems content to let the narrative meander while what it needs is some sharp editing. The unimaginative score by William Alwyn could also have been ditched. There is the novelty of seeing the lovely fresh faced Anouk Aimee (billed here simply as Anouk) as the romantic interest. With Herbert Lom, Jacques Sernas, Walter Rilla, Wilfrid Hyde White and Miles Malleson.