Echo of Barbara [1961] [DVD]

A man in debt to a hoodlum persuades a model to pose as his father's estranged daughter in the hope of learning the location of the proceeds of a robbery.

Ronald Hines plays duplicitous and selfish Mike Roscoe whose father Sam (the wonderful Mervyn Johns, as always) has recently been released from a long prison sentence for robbery but won't say where he hid the money. Mike pays stripper Paula to impersonate 'Barbara', Sam's long lost daughter, in hope of obtaining the money. Other hoodlums, led by sinister and bullying Caledonia (well played by Paul Stassino) are also after the money, and they kidnap Barbara. But is everyone who they seem? Whose motives can be believed? A genuinely tense and gritty thriller with some rough violence for the time. Maureen Connell, as Laura pretending to be Barbara gives an excellent gritty performance but it's difficult to fault anyone. No spoilers at all, but clever and moving finale adds a great touch. At just under 1 hour, this B movie thriller is well worth a watch.~ imdb