The Secret Place (film)
| The Secret Place | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Clive Donner |
| Written by | Linette Perry |
| Produced by | John Bryan associate Anthony Perry |
| Starring | Belinda Lee Ronald Lewis |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Edited by | Peter Bezencenet |
| Music by | Clifton Parker |
Production company | John Bryan Productions |
| Distributed by | Rank |
Release date | 27 May 1957 |
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Secret Place is a 1957 British crime film that was the directorial debut of Clive Donner.[1] It stars Belinda Lee, Ronald Lewis, and David McCallum in a supporting role.[2]
Plot
Crime heist melodrama set in the bombed out East End of London. A diamond robbery is masterminded by small-time crooks, and an adolescent boy finds himself unwittingly caught up in events, after discovering they've hidden the loot in his home.[2][3]
In East London, young Freddie Hatwood has a crush on kiosk attendant Molly Wilson, who is engaged to Gerry Garter. Gerry is a member of a criminal gang who have a hideout at car dealership; Molly's brother Mike works there.
Gerry, Mike and their friend Steve are planning a diamond robbery. They need a policeman's uniform. Molly asks Freddie to borrow the uniform of his policeman father.
The robber goes ahead. Gerry hides the diamonds inside Molly's record player. Not knowing this, Molly gives the player to Freddie as a thank you gift. Freddie discovers the diamonds and the gang go after him.
Cast
- Belinda Lee as Molly Wilson
- Ronald Lewis as Gerry Carter
- Michael Brooke as Freddie Haywood
- Michael Gwynn as Steve Warring
- Geoffrey Keen as Mr. Haywood
- David McCallum as Mike Wilson
- Maureen Pryor as Mrs. Haywood
- George Selway as Paddy
- George A. Cooper as Harry
Production
Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in November 1956.[4] It was Donner's first feature as director.[5]
Reception
The British Film Institute praised the "remarkable debut screenplay by Linette Perry, which manages to intertwine the generic conventions of the heist thriller with a simple, but poetic, moral drama. In Perry's world the secret places stretch beyond the physical - the record player, gang hideouts and derelict buildings - into the hearts of the young protagonists. Faced with opportunity and misguided by love, the characters are all confronted with their own buried selfishness."[6]
References
- ^ "The Secret Place 1957 | Home of British Films". Britmovie. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ a b "The Secret Place (1957) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ "The Secret Place | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Round the British Studios Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London67.1754 (Nov 10, 1956): 1
- ^ By, E. A. (1964, Jul 19). LOCAL NEWS: BANKHEAD'S BACK, OTHER ITEMS. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/115852896
- ^ The Secret Place at BFI Screenonline
External links
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