Man in the Shadow (1957 British film)

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Man in the Shadow
Man in the Shadow British film poster.jpg
Australian theatrical release poster
Directed by Montgomery Tully
Written by Maisie Sharman
Produced by Alec C. Snowden
Richard Gordon
Starring Zachary Scott
Faith Domergue
Cinematography Phil Grindrod
Edited by Geoffrey Muller
Music by Trevor Duncan
Production
company
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated
Release date
  • September 1957 (1957-09)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Man in the Shadow (U.S. title Violent Stranger) is a 1957 British second feature ('B') [1] crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Zachary Scott and Faith Domergue. [2] [3] [4] It was written by Maisie Sharman.

Contents

The film was retitled for the US market because of the release of the American film of the same name in the same year. [5]

Plot

Antiques shop owner Alan Peters is convicted of the murder of his client Dick Lennox. In Italy, hospital worker Carlo Raffone overhears a delirious patient, John Sullivan, confess to a murder. Raffone steals effects from Sullivan including a statuette. He travels to England and visits Peters' wife Barbara, offering to sell her the evidence which would exonerate her husband. Meanwhile Sullivan recovers and also goes to England, and shoots Raffone in order to recover the statuette. However Sullivan later dies of a heart failure. The statuette, which turns out to be the murder weapon, is found in his suitcase and Peters is released from custody.

Cast

Critical reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "A workmanlike job, effectively varnished, it will intrigue and thrill the ninepennies. ... The picture feels its way a trifle gingerly at first, but once its plot assumes definite shape it steadily grips." [6]

Picturegoer wrote: "The film's not badly acted, but it is the choice of Italian exteriors, rather than the cast, that makes the hectic tale at all palatable." [7]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "The story takes a little time to settle down, but, once it has established its mood and got into its stride, it moves fast, sticks to the point and holds the attention." [8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Disappointing vehicle for visiting stars." [9]

References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 100. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ Man in the Shadow at the BFI Database
  3. ↑ "Man in the Shadow". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (12 January 2025). "Forgotten British Moguls: Nat Cohen – Part One (1905-56)". Filmink. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Tom Weaver, The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon, Bear Manor Media 2011 p 18
  6. ↑ "Man in the Shadow". Kine Weekly . 485 (615): 18. 26 September 1957. ProQuest   2826280444.
  7. ↑ "Man in the Shadow". Picturegoer . 34: 13. 1 December 1957. ProQuest   1771170889.
  8. ↑ "Man in the Shadow". The Daily Film Renter. 442 (7471): 7. 23 September 1957. ProQuest   2600886837.
  9. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 343. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
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