The End of the Line (1957 film)

The End of the Line
U.S.A. poster
Directed by	Charles Saunders
Screenplay by	Paul Erickson
Story by	Paul Erickson
Produced by	Guido Coen
Starring	Alan Baxter Barbara Shelley Arthur Gomez Jennifer Jayne
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey
Edited by	Tom Simpson
Music by	Edwin Astley
Production company	A Fortress Film Production
Distributed by	Eros Films (UK) Jerome Balsam Films Inc.(USA)
Release dates	December 1957 (1957-12)(UK) 1959 (1959)(US)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The End of the Line is a 1957 British second feature ^[1] crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Alan Baxter, Barbara Shelley, Ferdy Mayne and Jennifer Jayne. ^[2] The screenplay was by Paul Erickson. It was released in the US in 1959. ^[3]

Plot

Mike Selby, an American author living in England gets involved with the wife of a jewel fence, who persuades Mike to rob her husband, whilst at the same time giving him a fake alibi. But soon after the robbery when the jewel fence winds up dead, Mike begins to get blackmailed.

Cast

• Alan Baxter as Mike Selby
• Barbara Shelley as Liliane Crawford
• Ferdy Mayne as Edwards
• Jennifer Jayne as Anne Bruce
• Arthur Gomez as John Crawford
• Geoffrey Hibbert as Max Perrin
• Jack Melford as Inspector Gates
• Charles Clay as Henry Bruce
• Marianne Brauns as Sally
• Sheldon Allan as barman
• Harry Towb as Vince
• Barbara Cochran as Cynthia
• Colin Rix as Detective Parker
• Stella Bonheur as Mrs. Edwards
• Charles Cameron as publican

Production

It was made at Southall Studios, now in Greater London. ^[4]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A routine crime story with a highly unconvincing plot which relies heavily on coincidence, this film sticks carefully to stereotyped lines. The acting throughout is remarkably poor." ^[5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Very far-fetched, stickily acted thriller." ^[6]

References

1. Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 129. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
2. "The End of the Line". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
3. "'The End of the Line' (1959) – Charles Saunders – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related – AllMovie".
4. "The End of the Line (1958)". Archived from the original on 16 March 2017.
5. "The End of the Line". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 25 (288): 20. 1 January 1958. ProQuest   1305819795.
6. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 306. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.

External links

• The End of the Line at IMDb