Compelled

Compelled
British theatrical poster
Directed by	Ramsey Herrington
Written by	Mark Grantham
Produced by	Edward J. Danziger Harry Lee Danziger
Starring	Ronald Howard Beth Rogan
Cinematography	James Wilson (as Jimmy Wilson)
Edited by	Desmond Saunders
Production company	Danziger Productions
Distributed by	United Artists Corporation (UK)
Release date	December 1960 (1960-12)(UK)
Running time	56 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Compelled is a 1960 British second feature ('B') ^[1] neo noir black and white crime film directed by Ramsey Herrington and starring Ronald Howard and Beth Rogan. ^{[2] [3] [4]} It was written by Mark Grantham and produced by the Danziger Brothers.

Plot

Ex-con Paul Adams is an engineer blackmailed into assisting with a jewel theft. Unknown to his wife, he becomes involved in the building of a tunnel from a bookshop to a jeweller's shop.

Cast

• Ronald Howard as Paul Adams
• Beth Rogan as Carol
• John Gabriel as Fenton
• Richard Shaw as Jug
• Jack Melford as Grimes
• Mark Singleton as Derek
• Colin Tapley as Inspector
• Stella Bonheur as Mrs Mills
• Wilfred Grantham as customer
• Garard Green as reporter
• John Stuart as book man
• Totti Truman Taylor as lady

Production

It was one of only two films directed by Herrington, the other being The Nudist Story (1960), also produced by the Danzigers.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Routine Danzigers crime contribution, lacking in both excitement and conviction." ^[5]

Chibnall and McFarlane in The British 'B' Film called the film: "notably under-nourished in motivation and characterisation." ^[1]

TV Guide wrote: "there's nothing special about this British programmer." ^[6]

Britmovie called the film an "unexceptional second-feature crime drama." ^[7]

References

1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 95. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
2. "Compelled". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
3. "BFI | Film & TV Database | COMPELLED (1960)". 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
4. "Compelled". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
5. "Compelled". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 28 (324): 23. 1 January 1961. ProQuest   1305823508 – via ProQuest.
6. "Compelled". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
7. "Compelled". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

External links

• Compelled at IMDb