The Safecracker
The Safecracker is a 1958 British crime film directed by Ray Milland and starring Ray Milland, Barry Jones and Victor Maddern.[2][3][4]
| The Safecracker | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Ray Milland |
| Produced by | David E. Rose John R. Sloan |
| Written by | Rhys Davies Bruce Thomas Paul Monash |
| Starring | Ray Milland Barry Jones Jeanette Sterke Victor Maddern |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
| Edited by | Ernest Walter |
Production company | Coronado Productions |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $471,000[1] |
| Box office | $855,000[1] |
Plot
Colley Dawson lives a quiet life at home with his mother, but his real life is lived as an expert safecracker at weekends, breaking into wealthy homes and stealing valuable art. When he's eventually arrested and convicted, Colley is approached in prison by Army Major Adbury. He's offered a deal by the Major in exchange for helping with the war effort. Colley will be given his freedom if he uses his safecracking expertise to perform a mission behind enemy lines. The dangerous mission is to break into a difficult safe in a Nazi chateau and steal a list of German spies operating in England. Colley agrees and soon finds himself being trained up as a commando and parachuted into Belgium for the caper of his life.
Cast
- Ray Milland as Colley Dawson
- Barry Jones as Bennett Carfield
- Jeanette Sterke as Irene
- Victor Maddern as Morris
- Ernest Clark as Major Adbury
- Cyril Raymond as Inspector Frankham
- Melissa Stribling as Angela
- Percy Herbert as Sergeant Harper
- Barbara Everest as Mrs. Dawson
- Anthony Nicholls as General Prior
- David Horne as Herbert Fenwright
- Colin Gordon as Dakers
- Clive Morton as Sir George Turvey
- John Welsh as Inspector Owing
- Colin Tapley as Colonel Charles Mercer
- Ian MacNaughton as Thomson
- Charles Lloyd-Pack as Lambert
- Ferdy Mayne as Greek Ship Owner
- Arnold Bell as Detective
- Basil Dignam as Air Vice Marshal
- Sam Kydd as McCullers
- Hilda Fenemore as Mrs. McCullers
- David Lodge as Parachute Instructor
- Richard Marner as German N.C.O
Production
The film was originally known as The Tale of Willie Gordon. Milland left for England in June 1957.[5]
In December 1957 Rose announced he and Milland would make a second film together but none eventuated.[6]
Reception
Critical
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther called it " a good, not great, suspense thriller," adding, "The film is full of those tense situations in which the hero slips into a room and opens a safe in terrifying silence. Mr. Milland is good in it. So is Barry Jones."[7]
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $280,000 in the US and Canada and $675,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $59,000.[1]
References
- The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- mamalv (1 October 1958). "The Safecracker (1958)". IMDb.
- "The Safecracker (1957)". BFI.
- SAFECRACKER, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 25, Iss. 288, (Jan 1, 1958): 48.
- 'Wine of Youth' Follows 'Written on Wind;' New Zanuck Films Readied Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 19 June 1957: 23.
- Pioneer Idea Luring Lana: Clown Kelly in 'Everglades;' Keel Will Star With Martin Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 14 Dec 1957: B3.
- https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B01E5D61F3AE53BBC4E53DFB5668383649EDE