The Key Man | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Montgomery Tully |
Written by | J. MacLaren Ross |
Produced by | Alec C. Snowden |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Phil Grindrod |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 63 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
The Key Man (U.S. title: Life at Stake) is a 1957 British black and white second feature [1] directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Lee Patterson, Paula Byrne and Colin Gordon. [2] The screenplay was by Julian MacLaren-Ross adapted from his original story. [3] The film was released in the USA by United Artists. [4]
Lionel Hulme is a radio reporter who is trying to trace both the man who committed a robbery 12 years ago as well as the proceeds of the robbery.
The film was shot during a three week period in 1957 in response to an initiative by Anglo-Amalgamated to increase the number of British made B movies available. [5] MacLaren-Ross had been persuaded by producer Alec C. Snowden to write a script in late 1956 and after some doubts about the project delivered a screenplay to Snowden in January 1957. [6] [7]
Kinematograph Weekly called it "a darned good British programmer." [8]
The Monthly Film Bulletin described the film as "...indistinguishable from numerous others of its type; the plot and development are very slight; and the characters negative" with an overall rating of poor. [9]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Brisk but very ordinary thriller." [10]
The story was adapted as a radio play and broadcast on the BBC Home Service in August 1960. [11]