Stolen Assignment

Last updated

Stolen Assignment
Stolen Assignment film Theatrical release poster (1955).png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Terence Fisher
Written by Kenneth Hayles
Produced by Francis Searle
Starring John Bentley
Cinematography Walter J. Harvey (as Jimmy Harvey)
Edited byJohn Pomeroy
Production
company
Association of Cinema Technicians (A.C.T.)
Distributed by British Lion Film Corporation (UK)
Release date
  • August 1955 (1955-08)(UK)
Running time
62 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Stolen Assignment is a 1955 British comedy 'B' [1] film directed by Terence Fisher and starring John Bentley and Hy Hazell. [2] It was produced by Francis Searle for Act Films Ltd [3] and was a sequel to Fisher's Final Appointment (1954), featuring sleuthing journalists Mike Billings and Jenny Drew. [4]

Contents

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Comedy thriller with a fragile plot and a rather heavy-handed line in humour. To their credit, the players do what they can with the undemanding material to hand." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "poor", writing: "Comedy-thriller would have done better to stick to the thrills; pretty bad." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Final Appointment</i> 1954 British film by Terence Fisher

Final Appointment is a 1954 British second feature ('B') comedy thriller film directed by Terence Fisher, and starring John Bentley, Eleanor Summerfield and Hubert Gregg. It also features Arthur Lowe, later to become famous for his portrayal of Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army, in an early role.The film was produced by Francis Searle for ACTFilms. A sequel, Stolen Assignment, also featuring sleuthing journalists Mike Billings and Jenny Drew, was released the following year.

<i>The Lady Craved Excitement</i> 1950 British film by Francis Searle

The Lady Craved Excitement is a 1950 British comedy film directed by Francis Searle and written by John Gilling. It featured Hy Hazell, Michael Medwin and Sid James. An early Hammer film, it is significant as one of five films shot at Oakley Court and the first to feature its famous exterior, located next door to Bray Studios.

<i>Your Witness</i> (film) 1950 British film by Robert Montgomery

Your Witness is a 1950 British drama film directed by and starring Robert Montgomery, Leslie Banks, Felix Aylmer and Andrew Cruickshank. It was released in the U.S. as Eye Witness.

<i>The Flaw</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Terence Fisher

The Flaw is a 1955 British second feature crime film directed by Terence Fisher, and starring John Bentley and Donald Houston. The story and screenplay were by Brandon Fleming.

<i>Treasure Hunt</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by John Paddy Carstairs

Treasure Hunt is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Martita Hunt, Jimmy Edwards, Naunton Wayne and Athene Seyler. It is based on the 1949 play Treasure Hunt by Molly Keane and John Perry.

<i>Just My Luck</i> (1957 film) 1957 British film by John Paddy Carstairs

Just My Luck is a 1957 British sports comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Margaret Rutherford, Jill Dixon and Leslie Phillips.

<i>Up in the World</i> 1956 film by John Paddy Carstairs

Up in the World is a 1956 black and white comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Maureen Swanson and Jerry Desmonde. It was produced by Rank.

<i>Find the Lady</i> (1956 film) 1956 British film by Charles Saunders

Find the Lady is a 1956 British comedy thriller 'B' film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Donald Houston, Beverley Brooks and Mervyn Johns.

<i>Paul Temples Triumph</i> 1950 British film by Maclean Rogers

Paul Temple's Triumph is a 1950 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley, Dinah Sheridan and Jack Livesey. It was the third in the series of four Paul Temple films made at Nettlefold Studios and was an adaptation of the Francis Durbridge radio serial News of Paul Temple (1939). Temple is on the trail of a gang of international criminals trying to steal atomic secrets.

<i>Murder at 3am</i> 1953 film by Francis Searle

Murder at 3 a.m. is a 1953 British crime film second feature directed by Francis Searle and starring Dennis Price, Peggy Evans and Rex Garner. A Scotland Yard detective investigates a series of attacks on women.

<i>The Body Said No!</i> 1950 British film by Val Guest

The Body Said No! is a 1950 British crime comedy film directed and written by Val Guest and starring Michael Rennie, Yolande Donlan, and Hy Hazell. It was shot at Walton Studios near London and distributed by Eros Films.

<i>Forces Sweetheart</i> (film) 1953 British film by Maclean Rogers

Forces' Sweetheart is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hy Hazell, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine. Two gormless soldiers become infatuated with a female entertainer.

<i>Trouble with Eve</i> 1960 British film by Francis Searle

Trouble with Eve is a 1960 British second feature comedy film directed by Francis Searle and starring Hy Hazell, Sally Smith, Robert Urquhart and Garry Marsh. It was based on the play Widows are Dangerous by June Garland. It was shot at Walton Studios. The film was released in the U.S. in 1964 as In Trouble With Eve.

Murder at Site 3 is a 1958 British film directed by Francis Searle and starring Barbara Shelley, Geoffrey Toone and John Warwick. featuring the character of Sexton Blake. It was written by Paddy Manning O'Brine, based on the 1958 novel Crime is My Business by W Howard Baker, and produced at Bray Studios by Francis Searle's own production company.

<i>Dial 999</i> (1955 film) 1956 film directed by Montgomery Tully

Dial 999 is a 1955 British 'B' movie crime drama film directed and written by Montgomery Tully and starring Gene Nelson, Mona Freeman and John Bentley. It was based on the novel of the same name by Bruce Graeme. Produced by Todon Productions, it was shot at the Merton Park Studios in London. RKO Radio Pictures purchased the rights to distribute it in the United States, where it was released in cut form on 11 April 1956.

Celia is a 1949 British comedy thriller film directed by Francis Searle and starring Hy Hazell, Bruce Lester and John Bailey. Made as a second feature by Hammer Films, it was based on a radio serial.

<i>The Diplomatic Corpse</i> 1958 British film by Montgomery Tully

The Diplomatic Corpse is a 1958 British second feature comedy thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Robin Bailey, Susan Shaw and Liam Redmond. It was produced by ACT Films.

<i>Loves a Luxury</i> 1952 British film

Love's a Luxury, also known as The Caretaker's Daughter, is a 1952 British second feature comedy film directed by Francis Searle and starring Hugh Wakefield, Derek Bond and Michael Medwin. It is version of the stage play of the same name by Edward Hole and Guy Paxton, and was made by the Manchester-based Mancunian Films.

<i>Ticket to Paradise</i> (1961 film) 1961 British film by Francis Searle

Ticket to Paradise is a 1961 British second feature romance film directed by Francis Searle and starring Emrys Jones, Patricia Dainton and Vanda Hudson.

<i>Profile</i> (1954 film) 1954 film

Profile is a 1954 British second feature thriller film directed by Francis Searle and starring John Bentley, Kathleen Byron and Thea Gregory. A murder mystery set in a magazine publishers.

References

  1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 109. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. "Stolen Assignment". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  3. Action! Fifty Years in the Life of a Union. Published: 1983 (UK). Publisher: ACTT. ISBN   0 9508993 0 5. ACT Films Limited - Ralph Bond p81 (producer listed as Francis Searle)
  4. "Final Appointment 1954 | Britmovie | Home of British Films". www.britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012.
  5. "Stolen Assignment". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 22 (252): 156. 1 January 1955. ProQuest   1305818139 via ProQuest.
  6. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 379. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.