The Hostage (1956 film)

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The Hostage
The Hostage film poster (1956).png
Danish theatrical poster
Directed by Harold Huth
Written by Alfred Shaughnessy
Produced by Thomas Clyde
Starring Ron Randell
Mary Parker
John Bailey
Cinematography Brendan J. Stafford
Edited by Peter Pitt
Music by Bretton Byrd
Production
companies
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. & Company
Westridge
Distributed by Eros Films
Release date
  • December 1956 (1956-12)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language English

The Hostage is a 1956 British crime film directed by Harold Huth and starring Ron Randell, Mary Parker and John Bailey. [1] It was written by Alfred Shaughnessy.

Contents

Plot

When Dr. Pablo Gonzuelo, President of Santanio, condemns the revolutionary Vorgler to death, a group of South American revolutionaries in London kidnap the President's daughter Rosa, along with American pilot Bill Trainer. When Vorgler is executed, the revolutionaries are ready to murder Rosa and Trainer, but they are rescued in time.

Production

The film was made at New Elstree Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Harry White.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The absurdities of this improbable thriller are somewhat softened by a well-written script, general technical efficiency and some competent acting (notably by Margaret Diamond). London backgrounds are unobtrusively but quite effectively used." [2]

Kine Weekly said "The picture spends most of its time in London, but the authentic exteriors, loosely pieced together, fail to lend credibility to the penny blood tale. Ron Randell has his moments as Bill and Carl Jaffe makes a dignified president, but Mary Parker lacks experience as Rosa. The supporting cast is indifferent, while the handling of the fights, the fire sequence and the lurid climax leave much to be desired. And what was MI5 doing during all this?" [3]

Picture Show called the film: "A well-photographed political melodrama." [4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Laughably plotted thriller." [5]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Tolerable support." [6]

References

  1. ↑ "The Hostage". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Hostage". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 24 (276): 19. 1 January 1957. ProQuest   1305820559.
  3. ↑ "The Hostage". Kine Weekly . 476 (2575): 15. 20 December 1956. ProQuest   2826278653.
  4. ↑ "The Hostage". Picture Show . 69 (1795): 10. 24 August 1957. ProQuest   1879657127.
  5. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 324. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  6. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 480. ISBN   0586088946.
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