Marilyn (1953) – Nostalgia Central

Filmed at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (UK), this British crime drama – ostensibly a cheapie anglicised steal from The Postman Always Rings Twice – was directed (and scripted) by Wolf Rilla.

Marilyn Saunders (Sandra Dorne) is the sexy but dissatisfied young wife of middle-aged George Saunders (Leslie Dwyer), who owns a garage and roadside café on a B-road in the home counties.

George catches Marilyn with the new mechanic, a drifter in a leather jacket named Tom Price (Maxwell Reed), and is accidentally killed by them. A cover-up ensues.

The inquest files a verdict of accidental death, and Tom believes Marilyn and he will now be together.

However, free from her husband and having inherited his business (which she plans to turn into an upmarket American-style cocktail bar), she promptly ditches the young mechanic.

An almost unrecognisable young Ferdy Mayne appears as a sleazy Brylcreemed hustler who woos Marilyn with promises of the high life and a trip to South America, but scarpers when she gets too serious.

Tom and Marilyn are finally arrested when the live-in maid and waitress Rosie (Vida Hope) – who is in love with Marilyn – realises that she will not always be there for her and tells the police all she knows.

The film was released in some markets under the title Roadhouse Girl.

Marilyn Saunders
Sandra Dorne
Tom Price
Maxwell Reed
George Saunders
Leslie Dwyer
Rosie
Vida Hope
Nicky Everton
Ferdy Mayne
Coroner
Hugh Pryse
Customer in Roadhouse
Kenneth Connor
Jury Foreman
Ben Williams

Director
Wolf Rilla