Smart Alec

1951 0h 58m EN

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 3

ComedyCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A young artist plots "the perfect murder" in order to inherit his wealthy uncle's fortune.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Peter Reynolds
Alec Albion
Mercy Haystead
Judith Albion
Kynaston Reeves
Sir Randolph Towle
Edward Lexy
Inspector Ashley
Leslie Dwyer
Gossage
Frederick Morant
Edward Hale
Charles Hawtrey
Farr
David Keir
Mr. Gruppy

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Guillermin
Writers: Alec Coppel
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 58-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

75 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Guillermin, shot by Ray Elton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert Jordan Hill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Peter Reynolds and Mercy Haystead and Kynaston Reeves carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0138819 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Guillermin directs. Ray Elton behind the camera. Robert Jordan Hill cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 58-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
275 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by John Guillermin, shot by Ray Elton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Robert Jordan Hill shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Peter Reynolds and Mercy Haystead and Kynaston Reeves carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0138819 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.