Welsh actor, Kenneth Griffith sounds like he took Cockney lessons from Dick Van Dyke. Alfred Marks, remembered by myself, primarily as a balding and humorous man, seen sporting hair.....and a gun. Womanizing, pre-Bond Sean Connery, is breaking hearts, while everyone else is breaking bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Beyond this improbable trio, Mr. Big (Herbert Lom), in cahoots with Mr. Fixit (Marks), have a light bulb over the head moment, deciding to bring together the disparate extortionists, protectionists and racketeers under one umbrella, into a single conglomerate, a super syndicate, spreading a plague of fear, terror and empty wallets across the capital, whilst causing senior detective, John Gregson an infestation of grey hairs.
All the nuts and bolts appear to be in place, but despite one shooting incident, a demolition job by the heavy mob and a title track performed by the then fashionable Shadows, enhanced along the way with a smattering of futuristic guitar licks from Hank Marvin, the movie never quite gels, or seems particularly cohesive. The frequent discussions, disagreements and dissensions among the various factions blunt any significant build up of pace and tension.
Words like immersive, enthralling and riveting simply don't apply to 'Frightened City''s somewhat lacklustre narrative. It's the kinda movie you can happily pause to grab a quick coffee, or check the latest football scores. In short, it's O. K., but not K. O.!
Beyond this improbable trio, Mr. Big (Herbert Lom), in cahoots with Mr. Fixit (Marks), have a light bulb over the head moment, deciding to bring together the disparate extortionists, protectionists and racketeers under one umbrella, into a single conglomerate, a super syndicate, spreading a plague of fear, terror and empty wallets across the capital, whilst causing senior detective, John Gregson an infestation of grey hairs.
All the nuts and bolts appear to be in place, but despite one shooting incident, a demolition job by the heavy mob and a title track performed by the then fashionable Shadows, enhanced along the way with a smattering of futuristic guitar licks from Hank Marvin, the movie never quite gels, or seems particularly cohesive. The frequent discussions, disagreements and dissensions among the various factions blunt any significant build up of pace and tension.
Words like immersive, enthralling and riveting simply don't apply to 'Frightened City''s somewhat lacklustre narrative. It's the kinda movie you can happily pause to grab a quick coffee, or check the latest football scores. In short, it's O. K., but not K. O.!