A woman is killed in Soho in London’s West End, and Robert Pitt (an overacting André Morell), a prominent member of the Civil Service, is arrested for her murder.
He is duly tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. It is then that he declares emphatically, “They can’t hang me!”
It sounds like an idle, desperate boast, but a few days later, it becomes clear to the police that the enigmatic and mysterious Pitt may mean what he says because he is in possession of top-secret information and promises to reveal the identity of a foreign agent named Lyonidas (who is wanted by MI5) in return for his freedom.
His offer is turned down, but later he reveals that an attempt will be made to steal secret equipment from the Cherwell Atomic Research Station.
Inspector Brown (Terence Morgan) – an alert young Scotland Yard Special Branch security officer – and his colleague Newcombe (Anthony Oliver) immediately start investigating, but the theft is carried out nevertheless, and four scientists come under suspicion.
So does Pietr Revski (Guido Lorraine), a Pole and wartime RAF hero.
Revski tries to leave the country, but the police stop him and find the stolen equipment.
Brown and Newcombe then race to Cherwell and – by a trick – they expose one of the physicists as Lyonidas. He commits suicide, and Revski, who proves to be a dupe, is cleared.
Pitt – who presumably strangled the girl because she knew too much – goes to the gallows.
Released on 7 November 1955, this British Lion film is both wordy and involved – and the whole business is highly improbable – but a few lighthearted romantic touches and a spot of penultimate action, plus adequate technical presentation, just keep its end up.
Inspector Ralph Brown
Terence Morgan Jill Wilson
Yolande Donlan Robert Isaac Pitt
André Morell Antonia Pitt
Ursula Howells Inspector Newcombe
Anthony Oliver Pietr Revski
Guido Lorraine Harold
Reginald Beckwith Wing Commander Riddle
Basil Dignam Sir Robert Rosper
Raymond Rollett Professor Robinson-Heston
Fred Johnson Professor Karl Kopek
Arnold Marlé Prison Governor
Mark Dignam Assistant Commissioner
John Horsley Eric Colter
Barry Lowe
Director
Val Guest
Related Posts
Taste of Money, A (1960) This romantic crime melodrama concerns an elderly spinster who perpetrates the " perfect " safe robbery for not entirely selfish…
Whistle Blower, The (1987) Michael Caine gives a full-bodied performance as a middle-aged Briton seeking the truth about the mysterious death of his son…
This Is My Street (1964) Pretty Marge Graham (June Ritchie) has lived in Jubilee Terrace, South London, all her life and is trapped in the…
Big Knife, The (1955) An intelligent, haunting film full of wonderful performances, particularly from Jack Palance (never better) and Rod Steiger as, respectively, the…
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1975) This 75-minute made-for-television movie from Associated Television (ATV) aired on ITV on Wednesday 8 October 1975. The docudrama film told…
His offer is turned down, but later he reveals that an attempt will be made to steal secret equipment from the Cherwell Atomic Research Station.
Inspector Ralph Brown
Harold
