Date with Disaster

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Date with Disaster
Date with Disaster.jpg
Directed by Charles Saunders
Written by Brock Williams
Produced by Guido Coen
Starring Tom Drake
William Hartnell
Shirley Eaton
Cinematography Brendan J. Stafford
Edited byTom Simpson
Music by Reg Owen
Anthony Spurgin
Production
company
Fortress Film Productions
Distributed by Eros Films
Astor Picture (US)
Release date
  • 18 July 1957 (1957-07-18)
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Date with Disaster is a 1957 British second feature ('B') [1] crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Tom Drake, William Hartnell and Shirley Eaton. [2] [3] It was written by Brock Williams. An innocent man becomes a suspect for a crime he did not commit.

Contents

Plot

Miles is a young honest car salesman, but his business partners Don and Ken are crooks. While Miles is away, Don and Ken collude with professional criminal Tracey to break into a factory and steal £20,000, using as their getaway vehicle a car they have ''sold'' to a fictitious buyer. Since Miles said he was away when the raid took place, the police suspect him as the perpetrator. Ken murders Don for his share of the loot, and kidnaps Miles's girlfriend Sue. Miles rescues Sue and clears his name.

Cast

Production

The film was made at Southall Studios in London. Location shooting took place around Southall and Chiswick. The film's sets were designed by the art director Herbert Smith.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Monthly Film Bulletin said "A stereotypical and unremarkable small-scale thriller, with performances and direction adequate for the matter in hand." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Taut, handy-sized crime melodrama. ... There is plenty of action and a spot of popular romance to offset the rough stuff and its shrewdly chosen players, headed by Tom Drake, the American star, easily meet all acting and physical demands. ... The picture quickly gets down to brass tacks and resolute acting and direction keep the interest held. Tom Drake registers as the stolid, no-nonsense Miles, Maurice Kaufmann and Richard Shaw convince as crooks Don and Ken, William Hartnell is responsible for a neat cameo as Tracy, and Shirley Eaton pleases as Sue. The interiors and exteriors are adequate, and the climax hectic." [5]

Picturegoer wrote: "Thankfully, the leading roles are handled with all seriousness and stoutly retread its worn, but by no means 'down to the canvas,' plot." [6]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "The photography is creditable and performances competent, apart from a tendency at times to overact. Pace ambles into a easy allegro and never quite reaches crescendo and there is a lack of development." [7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Follows a well-worn path." [8]

The Cinema described it as "a very useful co-feature ... capable direction and well-handled suspense." [9]

References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 129. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "Date with Disaster". British Film Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (2 September 2025). "Not Quite Movie Stars: Shirley Eaton". Filmink. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Date with Disaster". Monthly Film Bulletin . 24 (276): 114. 1 January 1957. ProQuest   1305820348.
  5. ↑ "Date with Disaster". Kine Weekly . 483 (2605): 18. 18 July 1957. ProQuest   2826281052.
  6. ↑ "Date with Disaster". Picturegoer . 34: 16. 4 November 1957. ProQuest   1771128260.
  7. ↑ "Date with Disaster". The Daily Film Renter (7424): 4. 16 July 1957. ProQuest   3130707477.
  8. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 299. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  9. ↑ "Date with Disaster". The Cinema : 14. 16 July 1957.
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