Delayed Action

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Delayed Action
Delayed Action film Theatrical release poster (1954-2).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by John Harlow
Written by Geoffrey Orme
Produced by Robert S. Baker
Monty Berman
Starring Robert Ayres
June Thorburn
Alan Wheatley
Bruce Seton
Cinematography Gerald Gibbs
Edited by Bill Lewthwaite
Music by John Lanchbery
Production
company
Kenilworth Film Productions
Distributed by General Film Distributors
Release date
  • 6 September 1954 (1954-09-06)
Running time
58 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

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]

Contents

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

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

  1. 1 2 Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 87. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Delayed Action: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Delayed Action". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 21 (240): 131. 1 January 1954. ProQuest   1305817945.
  5. ↑ "Delayed Action". Kine Weekly . 448 (2457): 23. 29 July 1954. ProQuest   2732605982.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "Delayed Action | Film review and movie reviews". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
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