The Unstoppable Man

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The Unstoppable Man
The Unstoppable Man (1960 film).jpg
Directed by Terry Bishop
Written byTerry Bishop
Alun Falconer
Paddy Manning O'Brine
Based onthe short story Amateur in Violence by Michael Gilbert [1]
Produced byJohn Pellatt
Starring Cameron Mitchell
Marius Goring
Cinematography Arthur Grant
Edited by Antony Gibbs (as Anthony Gibbs)
Music by Bill McGuffie
Production
company
Argo Film Productions
Distributed by Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • 1960 (1960)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Unstoppable Man is a 1960 British second feature [2] crime drama film directed by Terry Bishop and starring Cameron Mitchell, Harry H. Corbett, Marius Goring and Lois Maxwell. [3] It is based on the short story Amateur in Violence by Michael Gilbert. [1]

Contents

Plot

A gang of criminals kidnaps the son of James Kennedy, who is an American executive of a London-based chemical company.

Kennedy ignores the advice of Inspector Hazelrigg of Scotland Yard to try a plan of his own. He doubles the ransom amount, expecting the thieves to have a falling-out over how to divide it. One is indeed killed, and evidence at the crime scene leads Kennedy to a home in Hampstead where the mastermind, Feist, is keeping Kennedy's son.

Hazelrigg comes along, but agrees to give Kennedy a few minutes to enter the house alone. Armed with a flamethrower, Kennedy is able to take his son to safety while the police close in on Feist.

Cast

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, Monthly Film Bulletin said "For its size and type, this is a creditable little production. Though in the familiar tradition of British second feature crime thrillers, it has the benefit of a Michael Gilbert story which, though unconvincing in some of its details, offers an intriguing exercise in detection. The characters are sharply drawn, Terry Bishop's direction – apart from a slow middle section – is slick and resourceful, and the authentic backgrounds heighten impact. Cameron Mitchell makes a strong impression as the businessman, while Marius Goring as the Inspector and Harry H. Corbett as the kidnapper give quieter but equally competent performances." [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN   9783110951943 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 156. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  3. ↑ "The Unstoppable Man". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Unstoppable Man". Monthly Film Bulletin . 27 (312): 173. 1960 – via ProQuest.
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