| The Key Man | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Montgomery Tully |
| Written by | J. MacLaren Ross |
| Produced by | Alec C. Snowden |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Phil Grindrod |
| Production company | Insignia Films |
| Distributed by | Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 63 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Key Man (U.S. title: Life at Stake) is a 1957 British black and white second feature directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Lee Patterson, Paula Byrne and Colin Gordon. The screenplay was by Julian MacLaren-Ross adapted from his original story. The film was released in the USA by United Artists.
Plot
Lionel Hulme is a radio reporter who is trying to trace both the man who committed a robbery 12 years ago as well as the proceeds of the robbery.
Cast
- Lee Patterson as Lionel Hulme
- Paula Byrne as Pauline Hulme
- Colin Gordon as Larry Parr
- Hy Hazell as Gaby aka Eva Smithers
- Philip Leaver as Smithers
- Maudie Edwards as Mrs. Glass
- Harold Kasket as Mr Dimitriadi, the barber
- George Margo as Jeff
- Henri Vidon as Haddow (as Henry Vidon)
- Ian Wilson as process Server
- Dennis Castle as police inspector
Production
The film was shot during a three week period in 1957 in response to an initiative by Anglo-Amalgamated to increase the number of British made B movies available. MacLaren-Ross had been persuaded by producer Alec C. Snowden to write a script in late 1956 and after some doubts about the project delivered a screenplay to Snowden in January 1957.
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin described the film as "...indistinguishable from numerous others of its type; the plot and development are very slight; and the characters negative" with an overall rating of poor.
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Brisk but very ordinary thriller."
Radio adaptation
The story was adapted as a radio play and broadcast on the BBC Home Service in August 1960.
References
- Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- "The Key Man". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- "J. MacLaren Ross". Film Forever. BFI. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
- Craddock, Jim (2005). Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever. p. 446. ISBN 978-0787674700.
- Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British B Film. BFI. p. 100. ISBN 978-1844573196.
- MacLaren-Ross, Julian (2008). Willetts, Paul (ed.). Selected Letters. p. 282. ISBN 978-0948238383.
- Willetts, Paul. "Spellbound in Soho".
- "Key Man". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 24, no. 283. BFI. August 1957. p. 103.
- Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 332. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
- "Saturday-Night Theatre 'THE KEY MAN'". Radio Times. Vol. 48, no. 1916. 29 July 1960. p. 46.
External links
- The Key Man at IMDb