Delayed Action is a 1954 British second feature (‘B’)[1] film noir mystery film directed by John Harlow and starring Robert Ayres, June Thorburn and Alan Wheatley.[2] It was written by Geoffrey Orme, produced by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman for Kenilworth Film Productions and released by General Film Distributors.[1]
Plot
Two criminals do a deal with a suicidal man, who will confess to crimes they have committed before killing himself. However he subsequently has a change of heart.[3]
Cast
- Robert Ayres as Ned Ellison
- June Thorburn as Anne Curlew
- Alan Wheatley as Mark Cruden
- Bruce Seton as Sellars
- Michael Balfour as Honey
- Michael Kelly as Lobb
- John Horsley as Worsley
- Olive Kirby as Angela Bentley
- Ballard Berkeley as Insp. Crane
- Ian Fleming as Dr. Jepson
- Myrtle Reed as Jackie
- Dennis Chinnery as bank cashier
- Charles Lamb as bank clerk
- Arthur Hewlett as Battersby (uncredited)
- Frederick Leister as Sir Francis Henry (uncredited)
Production
It was shot at Twickenham Studios in London with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Arnold.
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: “The confused and ragged script leaves many points of this improbable story unexplained. Both production and acting are unconvincing, and for a thriller the film is remarkably lacking in thrills.”[4]
Kine Weekly wrote: “Cock-and-bull cameo crime melodrama. … Wildly incredible and all loose ends, it fails to make sense, let alone carry conviction. Third-rate quota second.”[5]
TV Guide wrote, “Robbers pay suicidal writer Ayres to confess to their crime and kill himself should their scheme fail. An interesting premise in an otherwise dull movie.”[6]
Radio Times noted, “The prolific B-team of Monty Berman and Robert S Baker were the brains behind this moody little thriller. There’s a hint here of the ingenuity that would lead to their TV success with such series as The Saint and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).”[7]
References
- ^ a b Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British ‘B’ Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
- ^ “BFI | Film & TV Database | DELAYED ACTION (1954)”. Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ “Delayed Action: Information from”. Answers.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ “Delayed Action”. The Monthly Film Bulletin. 21 (240): 131. 1 January 1954. ProQuest 1305817945.
- ^ “Delayed Action”. Kine Weekly. 448 (2457): 23. 29 July 1954. ProQuest 2732605982.
- ^ “Delayed Action Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for Delayed Action | TVGuide.com”. Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ “Delayed Action | Film review and movie reviews”. Radio Times. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.