Despite some scenes of obvious padding, this entry rates slightly higher than the usual British "B" thanks to the presence of an "A"- feature cast and an "A"-feature director (both, alas, on the way down!). In fact, Gordon Jones gives one of his most powerful performances as the gang leader. (Actually, this is a bit of a back- handed compliment, as Jones is responsible for some very weak portrayals – e.g. Once Upon a Honeymoon). Eddie Byrne is also convincingly menacing, and Lisa Gastoni always looks convincingly menaced! Leslie Dwyer has a small but telling role as a contact man.
But the main reason I'm drawing attention to this movie (I notice nobody else has bothered) is that it's actually a re-make of "The Asphalt Jungle" – although in true "B" tradition, many of the characters and sub-plots have been omitted, whilst a perfunctory romance has been added.
As might be expected, characterization is somewhat sketchy – although a half-hearted attempt has been made and this is what raises the script above the standard "B" level. Indeed Lance Comfort's astute direction (what's Lance doing in this league?) provides some imaginative and compelling touches in the action scenes. Admittedly, most of the time, his direction is pretty ordinary – but even that is unusually slick by the low, low standards of the British "B", Nevertheless, production values too are extraordinarily high by British "B" standards, and just about all of the technical credits – photography, art direction, music scoring, film editing – would not disgrace an "A" picture.
But the main reason I'm drawing attention to this movie (I notice nobody else has bothered) is that it's actually a re-make of "The Asphalt Jungle" – although in true "B" tradition, many of the characters and sub-plots have been omitted, whilst a perfunctory romance has been added.
As might be expected, characterization is somewhat sketchy – although a half-hearted attempt has been made and this is what raises the script above the standard "B" level. Indeed Lance Comfort's astute direction (what's Lance doing in this league?) provides some imaginative and compelling touches in the action scenes. Admittedly, most of the time, his direction is pretty ordinary – but even that is unusually slick by the low, low standards of the British "B", Nevertheless, production values too are extraordinarily high by British "B" standards, and just about all of the technical credits – photography, art direction, music scoring, film editing – would not disgrace an "A" picture.
