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Breakaway
Original British quad poster
Directed by	Henry Cass
Written by	Norman Hudis
Based on	an original story by Manning O'Brine
Produced by	Robert S. Baker Monty Berman
Starring	Tom Conway Michael Balfour Honor Blackman Brian Worth
Cinematography	Monty Berman
Edited by	Anne Barker
Music by	Stanley Black Ivor Slaney
Production company	Cipa
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures (UK)
Release date	16 July 1956 (1956-07-16) (UK)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Breakaway is a 1955 British second feature ('B') thriller film directed by Henry Cass and starring Tom Conway, Michael Balfour and Honor Blackman. It was written by Norman Hudis based on a story by Manning O'Brine. A private eye is hot on the tail of a stolen secret formula and a kidnapped young woman. It is a sequel to Barbados Quest (1955).

Plot

In Berlin, Johnny Matlock obtains a secret formula from a dying scientist. On his return to London, Matlock and his girlfriend Diane are attacked by a gang who steal the formula and kidnap Diane. Private investigator Tom "Duke" Martin investigates.

Cast

• Tom Conway as Tom 'Duke' Martin
• Michael Balfour as Barney
• Honor Blackman as Paula Grant / Paula Jackson
• Brian Worth as Johnny Matlock
• Bruce Seton as Webb
• Freddie Mills as Pat
• Alexander Gauge as MacAllister
• John Horsley as Michael Matlock
• Paddy Webster as Diane Grant
• John Colicos as first kidnapper
• Larry Taylor as second kidnapper
• Arthur Lowe as Mitchell
• Frederick Schrecker as Professor Dohlmann

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A rather confused thriller, with some familiar London locations and a number of car chases. Tom Conway and Michael Balfour give reliable performances as the private detective and his moronic partner.

Kine Weekly wrote: "Stoutly carpentered story, breezy light relief, pleasing romantic touches, hearty climax and quota ticket."

Today's Cinema called the film "slickly manufactured crime entertainment."

TV Guide called it an "absurd whodunit".

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Tedious thriller with regulation car chases."

See also

• Barbados Quest (1955)

References

1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
2. "Breakaway". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
3. "Breakaway (1956)". Archived from the original on 20 February 2017.
4. "Breakaway". 16 July 1956 – via www.imdb.com.
5. "Breakaway". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 23 (264): 103. 1 January 1956 – via ProQuest.
6. "Breakaway". Kine Weekly. 471 (2552): 17. 12 July 1956 – via ProQuest.
7. Chibnall, Stephen; McFarlane, Brian (23 October 2009). The British 'B' Film. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781844575749 – via Google Books.
8. "Breakaway". TVGuide.com.
9. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 287. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

External links

• Breakaway at IMDb

• 1956 films
• 1955 films
• 1950s English-language films
• British detective films
• Films directed by Henry Cass
• Films with screenplays by Norman Hudis
• British sequel films
• British crime thriller films
• 1950s British films
• 1950s crime thriller films
• British black-and-white films
• English-language crime thriller films
• Films scored by Stanley Black
• Films scored by Ivor Slaney